Bill Dobbins

Many different possibilities for harmonizing the same melody are illustrated and analysed, using techniques by such influential arrangers and composers as Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Oliver Nelso...

The notated transcriptions must be a landmark of sorts. These solos give a real sense of how David Liebman and Richie Beirach approach music individually, and as a duet.

These piano preludes have developed from my longtime love of the music from both the classical and jazz traditions. I have intentionally adopted a format which may or may not include improvisation. Th...

Six preludes for solo piano using vocabulary from both the classical and jazz traditions.

Six preludes for solo piano using vocabulary from both the classical and the jazz traditions. Prelude XIII (G flat) focuses on a lovely right hand melody that sits on top a constantly shifting set of...

Song for Jaco is a warm and lyrical ballad of Peter's, which is dedicated to the legendary electric bassist, Jaco Pastorius. Solo contributions are heard from the lead trumpet, the baritone saxophone...

Prism is a modal composition which is based largely on several reharmonizatios of a simple 8-bar melody. It is a jazz waltz and features the lead alto sax. Correlated with Vol. 1 of the Jazz Workshop...

This arrangement of a great Peter Erskine tune is a real tour de force for the entire ensemble, and always brings the audience to its feet. It features solo space for trombone, soprano sax, piano (or...

Clare Fischer originally recorded Strayhorn in 1962 with his trio on Surging Ahead. We have asked Bill Dobbins to arrange it as a piano feature. He completely wrote out the solo piano part so that it...

A beautiful series of harmonic variations on this well-known Christmas favorite is developed with modulations through several different keys, featuring the individual instruments in both solo and ense...

A medley of What Child Is This? (Greensleeves), The First Noel, and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is developed through fresh and colorful harmonic variations. The chromatic harmonies and changes in temp...

This spirited traditional carol is taken on a musical voyage through several different tempos, keys and moods, including a Latin section with an optional shaker accompaniment. The chromatic harmonies...

The Stranger is titled after the novel of the same name by the French existentialist philosopher and writer Albert Camus. The piece seems to capture some of the general mood of the story, with its und...

Elegy is dedicated to the memory of Bill Evans, certainly one of the most important pianists in the history of jazz, and a personal favorite of mine. It features the piano, both in written statements...

Song for Jaco is a warm and lyrical ballad of Peter's, which is dedicated to the legendary electric bassist, Jaco Pastorius. Solo contributions are heard from the lead trumpet, the baritone saxophone...

This arrangement of a great Peter Erskine tune is a real tour de force for the entire ensemble, and always brings the audience to its feet. It features solo space for trombone, soprano sax, piano (or...

Burungkaka is an Indonesian folk song which is known throughout Malaysia. It is about an old parrot which sits near the window, singing. The children make fun of it in a good-natured manner. Originall...

Clare Fischer originally recorded Strayhorn in 1962 with his trio on Surging Ahead. We have asked Bill Dobbins to arrange it as a piano feature. He completely wrote out the solo piano part so that it...

A medley of What Child Is This? (Greensleeves), The First Noel, and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is developed through fresh and colorful harmonic variations. The chromatic harmonies and changes in temp...

This spirited traditional carol is taken on a musical voyage through several different tempos, keys and moods, including a Latin section with an optional shaker accompaniment. The chromatic harmonies...

A beautiful series of harmonic variations on this well-known Christmas favorite is developed with modulations through several different keys, featuring the individual instruments in both solo and ense...

A medley of What Child Is This? (Greensleeves), The First Noel, and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is developed through fresh and colorful harmonic variations. The chromatic harmonies and changes in temp...

This spirited traditional carol is taken on a musical voyage through several different tempos, keys and moods, including a Latin section with an optional shaker accompaniment. The chromatic harmonies...

This spirited traditional carol is taken on a musical voyage through several different tempos, keys and moods, including a Latin section with an optional shaker accompaniment. The chromatic harmonies...

A beautiful series of harmonic variations on this well-known Christmas favorite is developed with modulations through several different keys, featuring the individual instruments in both solo and ense...