Chris Merz

Incident @ Perkins depicts, in the hard bop style, what can happen if you forget to ask for a plastic fork to go with your to go order of pie: sweet, sweet petty theft! This chart is full of parallel...

Commissioned by Massachusetts chapter of IAJE for the Massachusetts All-State Jazz Band of 1995. Written in the slippery shuffle style of Steely Dan, this piece has lots of engaging ensemble passages....

A lyrical jazz waltz in the ECM style, featuring fluegelhorn soloist. The harmony is influenced by Wayne Shorter. Running time is approximately 6 minutes. Medium difficult. No doubles.

Straight eighth notes in the ECM style. This multi-section piece in 6/4 time features tenor saxophone over modal changes and electric guitar (solid body) or soprano saxophone over pedal point and slas...

This uplifting piece was written to honor one of the greatest jazz drummers of South Africa, Lulu Gontsana. Even eighths. The introduction is built on major seventh chords over a driving beat, which o...

Not quite a ballad, not really a jazz waltz, this haunting piece features soprano saxophone throughout. The modal harmonies are of long duration, challenging the melodic invention of your soloist as w...

Commissioned for UNI president Bob Koop's farewell celebration. Koobism is a straight ahead swinger in the hard bop style. The A section of the 32-bar theme is based on Coltrane's Resolution, and the...

Commissioned for the Waukee (Iowa) High School Jazz Ensemble I, this piece is written on Monk's Epistrophy changes. The groove is a modified baion feel with occasional swing. Piano and Vibes (optional...

Is it an unholy dessert? Maybe, but the title actually refers to the short-lived outfield combination of Angel Pagan and Felix Pie, active with the Chicago Cubs for a brief time. This straight ahead s...