See Sharp or Be Flat--C# or Bb NMUSA 2017 grant segment # 1 by Michael A. Moss

In January 2016, I fractured my left femur by tripping over a curb. Homebound for months, I composed a piece entitled C# or Bb, See Sharp or Be Flat. It grew from a 32 bar phrase into a contrapuntal theme and variations for 22 musicians. C# or Bb, See Sharp or Be Flat is a contrapuntal theme and variations mixing jazz, rhythm and blues, and the joy of dance. I compositionally refer to pop thematic material, e.g., Norwegian Wood (Beatles), I Feel Good (James Brown), and Bag’s Groove (Modern Jazz Quartet). We expand familiar big band trope by featuring the most exciting and experimental musicians on the planet. This band can really stretch out and swing!
This work sample represents soloists from the string section, brass section, and one reed section member. I have excerpted solos from a 20’ 38” piece recorded Oct. 10, 2016. The soloists are Jason Hwang (violin), Rosi Hertlein (violin), Stephanie Griffin (viola), Lenny Mims (cello), Steve Swell (trombone), Ras Moshe Burnett (tenor sax), Waldron Mahdi Ricks (trumpet), all New York based. Between most solos are full orchestral interludes. The soloists are representing the sunny side of the street while the interludes suggest dark, complex emotion, the essence of C# or Bb.