Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1926 in Chicago, IL

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Orchestral

 

Ed Bland was an American composer, arranger, and conductor who was born on November 25, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of a jazz pianist and grew up in a musical family. Bland began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the trumpet and trombone. He attended the University of Chicago, where he studied music theory and composition. Bland's early career was focused on jazz music. He played in various bands and worked as an arranger for artists such as Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie. In the 1950s, he moved to New York City and became involved in the avant-garde jazz scene. He played with musicians such as Cecil Taylor and Sun Ra and was a member of the Jazz Composers Guild. In the 1960s, Bland began to shift his focus to classical music. He studied composition with Aaron Copland and Gunther Schuller and began to write orchestral works. His compositions were often influenced by jazz and African-American musical traditions. In 1963, he wrote his first major orchestral work, "Symphony in Black," which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic. Bland's most famous work is "The Cry of Jazz," a 1959 documentary film that he wrote, directed, and scored. The film explores the relationship between jazz and African-American culture and features interviews with musicians and intellectuals such as Sun Ra and Langston Hughes. The film was controversial at the time of its release and was banned in some cities due to its frank discussion of race and politics. Bland continued to write music throughout his career, including operas, ballets, and film scores. He was also a professor of music at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and taught composition and theory. He died on March 14, 2013, at the age of 86. Bland's music is characterized by its fusion of classical and jazz styles and its exploration of African-American musical traditions. His compositions often feature complex rhythms and harmonies and incorporate elements of improvisation. He was a pioneer in the field of jazz-classical fusion and paved the way for future composers such as Wynton Marsalis and John Adams. In addition to "Symphony in Black" and "The Cry of Jazz," Bland's notable works include "Requiem for Malcolm," a tribute to Malcolm X, and "Urbanology," a suite for jazz orchestra. He also wrote the scores for several films, including "The Cool World" and "The Connection." Bland's legacy as a composer and musician is significant. He was a trailblazer in the field of jazz-classical fusion and helped to bridge the gap between these two musical traditions. His music continues to be performed and studied by musicians and scholars around the world.

More....