American Jazz and More Clarinet

Free optional backing tracks, available to download.

CALIFORNIAN COAST
All the excitement of a sunshine holiday should influence the style and liveliness the soloist should capture in their performance of this piece. The soloist has an obligato tune in the middle section accompanying the piano.

MIAMI SUNSET
Indulge in the colour of the harmonies to enhance the relaxed feel to this sentimental tune as you watch the sun set over the shores of Miami.

CHICAGO SIDEWALK
This piece has a more modern approach to the harmonies while the instrumental part remains simple but quite rhythmic. The mood is dark and relaxing with long musical phrases. The melody is constructed over two different modes: the Aeolian and the Lydian. The two modes used for the improvised solo are the Lydian and the haunting Phrygian mode, both of which come from the same major scale to simplify the solo.

LAS VEGAS CASINO
Project the highly energetic nature of this piece through the rhythms and the articulation. The piece can be extended to include an improvised solo using the blues scale given or the more advanced player can improvise over the written chord sequence.

HOLLYWOOD STARS
Glamour, film stars, and show business are the setting for this grand and glittery piece. Imagine the fanfare as the stars arrive for the awards ceremony. The solo line should be played in a sustained and flowing way to achieve a majestic feel to the music.

NEW YORK SUBWAY
Feel the hustle and bustle of the fast-moving subway system. The energy is created here by a lively 6/8 time signature outlining the shuffle feel. The soloist’s ‘off beat’ rhythms should fit exactly with the piano accompaniment and, again, there is the opportunity to extend the piece with an improvised solo.