Melodic Rhythms, Intervals, and Harmonies in Selected Works of Jerry Bergonzi
Presented
by
DR. BENJAMIN NICHOLS
WEBINAR OVERVIEW
A presentation from the
Jazz Education Research and Practice Journal,
a publication of the Jazz Education Network.
Jerry Bergonzi (1947- ) is a late-twentieth and twenty-first-century jazz saxophonist and composer, often associated with the 1970’s New York Loft Scene. This presentation discusses methods Bergonzi uses to write original compositions and arrangements of jazz standards. Through the use of specific rhythmic, intervallic, and harmonic shapes, Bergonzi uses techniques inspired by John Coltrane, Olivier Messiaen, and Arnold Schoenberg. Bergonzi’s compositions “It’s the Same,” “Philipino,” “Ryvim with Ding,” “Awake,” “Do It to Do It,” “Ellwood,” “New in the Neighborhood,” “Czarology,” “Cadiz,” and Bergonzi’s arrangements of “Night and Day,” “I Love You,” “Solar,” and “Stella by Starlight” are studied. Through formal analysis, this project gives insight into Bergonzi’s compositional and arranging methods used in the selected pieces.
ABOUT DR. BENJAMIN NICHOLS
Saxophonist and composer, Dr. Ben Nichols, has travelled across the globe, performing at large venues, intimate city concerts, and countless jazz festivals throughout North America, South America and Europe. He is known internationally for his expressive sound and energetic artistic style. He is frequently asked to play in many genres and has performed and recorded with contemporaries such as: Ben Wendel (GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist), Wycliffe Gordon (Juilliard Instructor), Jon Faddis (GRAMMY-nominated trumpeter), Jeff Coffin (three-time GRAMMY-winning saxophonist), Eric Marienthal (GRAMMY-winning saxophonist), Terreon Gully (Christian McBride Band), Chris Buono (Flaming Headless Torsos), Brian Bromberg (GRAMMY-nominated bassist), Steve Smith (legendary drummer of Journey), Wayne Bergeron (GRAMMY-nominated trumpeter), Kirk Whalum (seven-time GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist), Noah Preminger, Tito Carrillo, Justin Copeland, Larry Grey, David Alvarez III, and Vaughn Stoffey.
Dr. Nichols is currently the Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he runs the saxophone studio (classical and jazz), directs saxophone quartets, runs a jazz combo, and teaches courses on improvisation, commercial music theory, and woodwind methods. He also taught as a faculty member at the University of Illinois – Springfield, where he was the jazz ensemble director, and at Lincoln College, where he taught saxophone, clarinet, music theory and music appreciation courses.
Ben is the founder and director of the Crossover Saxophone Quartet. He was a featured soloist with this group as they world premiered his original arrangement of “Just Friends” at the North American Saxophone Alliance (N.A.S.A.) Conference in 2020. Ben was also a featured lecturer at the 2019 N.A.S.A. Conference, presenting research on contemporary intervallic compositional/arranging methods. Ben was also selected to perform and present at the March 2021 N.A.S.A. Conference. In January of 2021 Ben presented research at the Jazz Education Network Conference.
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