Scene from Afar

"Scene from Afar" is a pseudo-Impressionist jazz ballad for big band. The name is a reference to the often blurred nature of landscapes (especially distant landscapes) in Impressionist paintings such as those of Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne, and Matisse. Musically, the piece takes considerable inspiration from the quartal harmonies of Claude Debussy and Erik Satie and the polytonality of Darius Milhaud. Like other jazz compositions that draw on quartal harmonies and the impressionist movement, "Scene from Afar" has a drifting, somewhat unfocused quality that is deeply satisfying and introspective. The piece features prominent roles for soprano saxophone and flugelhorn, as well as space for improvised solos.