14 Nov Asphalt Cocktail
John Mackey (b.1973) holds a Master of Music degree from The Julliard School and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with John Corigliano and Donald Erb respectively. Mr. Mackey particularly enjoys writing music for dance and symphonic winds, and has focused on those mediums for the past few years. Mr. Mackey has received numerous commissions for his writing, including works for The American Bandmasters Association, the Dallas Wind Symphony, and a concerto for New York Philharmonic Principal Trombonist Joseph Alessi. The composer best describes this work in his own words: Asphalt Cocktail is a five-minute opener designed to shout from the opening measure, “We’re here.” With biting trombones, blaring trumpets, and percussion dominated by cross-rhythms and back beats, it aims to capture the grit and aggression that I associate with the time I lived in New York City. Picture the scariest NYC taxi ride you can imagine with the cab skidding around turns as trucks bear down from all sides. Serve on the rocks.”
Program Notes by Marcie Phelan
Reference Recording