Zeke’s Video Game Adventure
This creates the image of a fun-filled video game. An early piano solo that allows the pianist to play each segment in a different order, thereby creating a ‘new’ piece every time.
Around Again
This conjures up the image of a youngster running through green fields on a summery day while holding a colourful wind-catcher. Within the image we see the wind in the child’s hair, the colours of the wind-catcher flashing in the sun and the sounds of the child’s laughter are heard. A fun and flowing piece with changing time signatures to evoke a care-free feeling.
Cool Cat Waltz
This is a jazz waltz for a very cool dancing cat. In A-B-A form, the ‘B’ section presents the melody moving from LH to RH and concluding as equals, while keeping the infectious Jazz-waltz feel throughout.
Ghost Town
This piece was inspired by a photograph that my daughter, Shira took of a house in a real ghost town. “Ghost Town” creates the mood of the photo: a close-up of a row of crooked buildings with dark, glassless windows which seem like deep endless pools of blackness, pulling us into them. There is bleakness and mystery to the buildings that pique one’s curiosity to explore them, but with great trepidation. The short repetitive theme can be the performer’s sense of ‘safety’ or further delving into the foreboding tone. To be really successful in its performance, one must hold the ‘tension’ to the very end, not rushing it and using the rubati and dynamics to ‘milk’ the suspense.
Jazz at the Bistro
The scene is a local Café, where a jazz combo is playing some music. The LH is the bass player, who plays a walking bass in the first section and a boogie-woogie pattern in the second section. The RH represents the other players: a guitarist, perhaps a horn player or two who play chords, melody and rhythmic shots against the bass line, all with some blues influences. This piece presents an opportunity for independence of the hands and a chance to try some jazz phrasing with swing rhythms.
The Goodbye
The image of two people who are precious to each other are saying a bittersweet good-bye. Perhaps they are at a train station as they embrace and each goes their own way.
The Trains at Palmerston
This piece begins and ends at Palmerston Station in Ontario, Canada. We hear the distant echoing blasts of the train whistle as it nears the station. Slowly it lumbers into Plamerston Station and comes to a halt in a cloud of steam. Once all have boarded, the trip begins; slow at first, so we can appreciate the dignity and majesty of the machine. After a short distance the train has reached its cruising speed and we are inside the train, listening to its rhythm while watching the rural sights speed past our window. When the journey is completed, the train slows down and we return again to Palmerston Station in the same way we began – with the echoing blasts of the whistle and gracefully coming to a halt amidst a cloud of steam.
