Description:
Earth, Wind, Water, & Fire is an original composition inspired by John Coltrane's interpretation of Mongo Santamaria's Afro Blue. Written for jazz sextet, the work explores layered polyrhythms and contrapuntal interaction between the ensemble voices while maintaining a strong modal foundation.
The composition features independent rhythmic layers throughout the ensemble: the tenor saxophone performs a melody grouped in fifteen, the soprano saxophone in five, while the rhythm section establishes a three-over-two polyrhythmic framework. The alto saxophone carries the primary melody, creating a rich tapestry of interlocking rhythmic and melodic ideas. Harmonically, the piece is centered on D♭ Lydian and includes an open solo section for improvisation.
Written for advanced jazz musicians seeking challenging and distinctive contemporary repertoire, Earth, Wind, Water, & Fire is well suited for live performance, concert programming, and recording projects.
This product includes a full score and individual parts for soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, piano, bass, and drum set.
Brief description: As a modern day renaissance man, Andrew Hanna is one half musician one half engineer. Hanna began composing at the young age of five while sitting next to his father watching him play a Wurlitzer organ. Growing up in a musical household he took interest in the saxophone early on. Throughout his teen years he spent many hours reading music textbooks and listening to many jazz and musical greats. His musical perseverance lead him to the University of the Arts. Finding it difficult to adhere to the stodgy and restrictive music curriculum, Hanna composed and improvised in a fashion fitting to his taste while tolerating the ire of his teachers. After a self imposed decade long hiatus from music, Hanna returned in 2020 to edit his older compositions and began composing anew. Today, he's not just a composer, but an aeronautical and electrical engineer. Influenced from a variety of sources his composition and improvisation style draw from such musicians as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Igor Stravinsky, and Tool. He has created a style that has one foot in jazz-fusion and the other in the progressive rock genre.