The Dude Abides

The Dude Abides was commissioned by the California Band Directors Association for the 2007 IAJE/CBDA California All State High School Jazz Band. If you like your jazz with a healthy dose of distorted guitar, angular ostinati and an overabundance of minor9 chords, or if you simply enjoy strange pieces with wild dynamic ranges, textural free sections and complex rhythmic counterpoint, this one's for you. Beginning with a heavy metal-inspired ostinato in the bass and piano underneath a floating long-tone melody accompanied by minimalistic riffs in the vibes and guitar, this piece eventually snakes through a muted-brass brush solo in the drums, a quasi-afro-cuban 12/8-ish tenor solo and some well-placed collective improvisation in the winds, culminating in a gentle straight 8 waltz featuring the same melody from the heavy beginning. Solo space is best for advanced tenor and pianist, with additional room for upright bass and drums. Alto I doubles flute, Alto II and Tenor II double clarinet, Bari doubles Bass Clarinet.