Tiny Alligator

tiny alligator faces mammoth project, quakes in tiny boots.

O, I am fortune’s fool.

About six months ago, jazz composer and trombonist Sara Jacovino and I decided that we needed an orchestra. A really, really big orchestra.

Both new to New York, we were overwhelmed by the glut of friendly, creative and insanely gifted players in this city. Two composers in such a candy shop could surely come up with something delicious.

Which we are. Next week, Thursday March 19th, we’re facing down a reading session of epic proportions, featuring 48 musicians playing 30 minutes of original jazz music. We’re bringing in Rebecca Pellet from Canada, a talented composer and sound engineer.

This is an ideal project for me to put together the two things I’ve been studying this year- jazz composition and orchestral conducting. I’m thrilled for the chance to put these two sides of my brain together in one place.

I had thought, having spent the last four years running a 16-piece big band, that I knew a thing or two about contracting large ensembles. But ye gods, those skills are being stretched to the max. Were it not for having two fabulous collaborators on the project, I would have caved some time ago. The sheer number of emails and phone calls required to make this happen is truly amazing.

So it’s with extreme excitement and not a small amount of fear that we head into our final week of part copying, contracting and detail-wrangling. Stay tuned to www.myspace.com/orchestralcommission for posted recordings of the group, once they become available.

And if you’re in Manhattan next Thursday and would like to check the session out, drop me an email and I’ll give you the details.

None but the brave deserve the fear….