Samsara

I went on a month-long trip to Northern India in 2015 with my team, we were making a documentary about Buddhism, and I was engaged to write music for this film. The melody of this composition came pretty much well formed in a quiet moment when I was sitting on the grass field facing Prinirvana Stupa in Kushinagar. This is where Gothama Buddha took his last breath, as legend has it. Samsara is the concept from Buddhism, meaning the wandering world, the cycle of aimless drifting or mundane existence. The first recording of this composition was done in 2016 with my band, WVC Malaysian Jazz Ensemble, with a string octet. Thanks to Jon Gardner, it is such an honor to have this new arrangement for the Accidental Big Band. This is the story of one's spiritual journey through life. Coming to grips with real-world problems and how we fit into the world around us. Soloists include piano, soprano saxophone, and drum set. Please enjoy this arrangement of Samsara.