Description
While creating new works, artists are always chasing the muse—they’re searching for a divine spark of inventiveness. Inspiration for new music can spring from many sources. Sometimes my imagination is kindled by classic jazz artists, while at other times, modern non-jazz styles spark creative ideas. Nonmusical influences also inspire me, including people, ideas, nature, the cosmos, stories, travel, and other art forms like painting, film, or sculpture. Once I have an inspiration, I try to sculpt and refine musical sounds, and the music seems to organically develop its own personality and direction. Jazz is such a rich musical tradition, and I love composing contrafacts (new melodies written over the chord progressions of existing songs) as well as completely original works that blend straight-ahead jazz with other styles. This album features both types of compositions, and I hope you enjoy my efforts to chase the muse alongside this world-class Utah-based rhythm section!
—Josiah Boornazian