Great Northern Express

Commissioned by the Northern Michigan University Jazz Ensemble, this jubilant tone poem portrays the Great Northern Railway that ran for a century from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Ocean. Beginning quietly in the distance, the chart builds steadily through a series of colorful variations and roars by at full throttle five minutes later. The fast swing "train" groove drops a beat every four measures (4-4-4-3) from start to finish. This is truly a marvel of modern jazz ensemble writing for proficient groups by one of the nation's most innovative composers. Duration 6:00.