Bill Dobbins

Elegy

Elegy is dedicated to the memory of Bill Evans, certainly one of the most important pianists in the history of jazz, and a personal favorite of mine. It features the piano, both in written statements of the theme and in an improvised solo. Soprano lead in the saxophone section and flugelhorns for the trumpets help to create a reflective mood in this medium tempo jazz waltz, a favored genre in Evans' repertoire. The piece is not too technically demanding for the ensemble, allowing for concentration on musical and expressive details. The saxophone section is featured in the second statement of the theme and there is a shout chorus for the full ensemble, which brings the piece to a climactic point while still leaving the brass section in a comfortable register.