Solo Piano Works

Urban Counterpoint Manifesto

The curse of pop music and jazz is that they are too predictable. Ideally art music should demand unpredictability.

In these piano works, the musical language used is in the vernacular (which is the language of pop music and jazz). Unpredictability is introduced into this setting through a rampaging polyphonic/polymetric texture.

Because of the importing of unpredictability into the mix. the listener is forced to think about the musical relationships. What would ordinarily have been a vernacular pop/jazz situation is now replaced by a serious/art music one. This replacement is what the 29 short piano works (Vols. 1-4) and the longer Classical Soul and Three Chaconnes in Blue (Vol. 5) address.

The 29 are stand-alone pieces. A unifying factor can be found in the effect these works give of Tatum-like improvisation in a contrapuntal situation.

Volume 1-Blues

1 - Cell Fone Blues

2 - Zone Blues

3 - The Old School

4 - Vacant Lot Blues

5 - Child's Play

6 - Secret Society

7 - Stefin' Fetchit

VP 101 - $45.00

Volume 2 Gospel/Soul

 8 - Sunday School

 9 - Church Boys

10 - Phunky Phrogs Rag

11 - Double Jointed

12 - Backyard View

13 - Engine Of Mercy

14 - Library Card

15 - The Four Corners

VP102 - $45.00

Volume 3  Jazz

16 - Bobbing And Weaving

17 - Jumping Jitney

18 - Lucky Charms

19 - Hip Hop Scotch

20 - Satellite Dish

21 - Heat Seeking Missile

22 - Roller Blades

VP103 - $45.00

Volume 4 Film

23 - Playground Dreams

24 - Inner Voices

25 - Rooftop Parking Lot

26 - Up Escalators

27 - Neon Gardens

28 - Higher Level

29 - Concrete Curtains

VP104 - $45.00

Volume 5 Extended Works

30 - Three Chaconnes In Blue

       -  First Chaconne

       -  Second Chaconne

       - Third Chaconne

31 - Classical Soul

        - First Movement

        - Second Movement

        - Third Movement

VP105 - $45.00

32 - Any combination of 3 of the Urban Counterpoint piano pieces 1-29 are available for $24.50

VP 106 - $24.50

Assorted Piano Works

Sketches Set Seven

Recorded by Althea Waites on the CDs: Urban Classical - The Music of Ed Bland, Cambria Master Recordings #1026 and, Black Diamonds, Cambria Master Recordings #1097.

This quite accessible work is in 5 movements. At times lively, lyrical, dramatic and highly contrapuntal; driven by cyclical thematic treatment, it is a compelling journey for pianist and audience alike. For an advanced player.  12 minutes.

P103 - $19.50

Fragment For Piano 1948

A one minute, virtuosic piece; very good for encores. Early work from composer's student days.

P104 - $7.95

Suite #5 From  "Music for a Global Village" - Solo Piano with the Virtual Percussion Ensemble CD

Very accessible and jazzy. Melodic with World Music currents. Very listener friendly. 10 minutes.

EA102-5 - $18.95

Piano Study #1

4 minutes. Spare. Very independent hands. Overly quite melodic. Sparse. Contrapuntal.

P101 - $12.95

3 Chaconnes In Blue

Study of Blues harmonic patterns. Melodic and highly lyrical. Very Accessible. Virtuosic demands on player. Tatumesque. Jazzy. 14 minutes 3 mvts.

P102 - $25.95

Classical Soul

3 mvt. work. That bridges the divide between Black gospel music and atonality. This 13 minute piece could be best described as "Ray Charles meets Charles Ives." A virtuosic work. Tatumesque.

P105 - $25.50

Piano Trio

3 mvt. work. Very challenging. Exciting. Atonality that swings (vln. vcl. pno). 12 minutes.

T 102 - $15.95 (score) Parts available on rental basis

Clarinet Trio

Clarinet, Piano and Cello. Commissioned by Michele Zukovsky, principal clarinetist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. This 4 mvt., 12 minute work is quite accessible, melodic, colorful and jazzy.

T101 - $24.95 (score) Parts available on rental basis

The Four Corners - Duet for Clarinet and Piano

Circa 5 minutes. This duet emphasizes the coupling of concert music virtuosity with the funk associated with Soul music.

D 159 - $15.95