See & Listen
DVD Excerpt:
Jazz String Quintet is immersed in the traditions and performance practices of classical music, while simultaneously expanding and exploring all the truest elements of jazz. Each composition frequently references the music and recordings of many celebrated jazz artists; our sound is firmly rooted in jazz harmony, melody & rhythm. Most importantly, improvisation plays an integral role in each composition and contributes greatly to the spontaneity of every performance.
Music from live performances:
Well You Needn’t - Thelonious Monk
Recorded live at the Cultural Center in Chicago.
Monk is one of my favorite composers, his music lends itself to a most creative and wild interpretation.
Universal Soul - Jim Gailloreto
It is truly a pleasure to work with an incredible artist such as Kurt Elling. His talent and passion brings beauty to every measure. Universal Soul is an original prayer song with lyrics from a poem by Jalaluddin Rumi. The poem is from the collection Bird Songs.
The music is a prayer song. Listen for the Ohm of meditaion placed throughout the piece.
Admit One - Jim Gailloreto
This is a piece I originally wrote for a group called the Marcel Du Champ Memorial Players.
During this time I was enchanted by the sounds of music boxes. I would take them apart,
alter the keyboards and change to result of the song.
Giant Steps - John Coltrane
This composition uses many excerpt from John Coltrane’s solo from the 1959 recording on
the Atlantic label. The upper three strings are set with the task of starting this piece with a
three part harmonization of Trane’s first chorus.