Musicians: Danny Charvat - piano Nils Andreason - tenor and soprano saxophone Graham Ring - double bass Elias Williamson - drums

Repertoire:

Fresh Air…………………...…….…….Danny Charvat

Dolphin Dance…………...……….….Herbie Hancock

By The C………….………..……….…...Graham Ring

Easy Living….………….….Ralph Rainger/Leo Robin

Look to the Sky…………....…..Antonio Carlos Jobim

Spain ……………………..….……………Chick Corea

Blue in Green…….…………....Miles Davis/Bill Evans

Phytoplankton…….…………...…...….Danny Charvat Program Notes: This set list is compiled to demonstrate a well-rounded mix of tempos and styles within the jazz idiom. I have chosen a mix of classic jazz compositions along with more modern jazz songs in order to display the growth of my playing since coming to Lewis and Clark. The standards I have chosen relate to the feelings they give me when I play them. Some of them are lighthearted, while others inspire me to contemplate more serious themes.

Fresh Air I wrote Fresh Air during the beginning of March, when we were getting our first full days of sunlight. It was relieving to be outside and enjoy the bright days of early spring. With this on my mind, I came up with a melody that lends itself to a more spacious feel. However, spring isn’t all sunshine. Therefore the B section modulates to a minor key to represent the darker days, along with a falling melody which represents the ever-present rain.

Dolphin Dance Written by Herbie Hancock, Dolphin Dance explores harmonies unlike any other song in my collection of tunes tonight. It was first recorded in 1965 as the fifth and final song in the album Maiden Voyage. We’ll take this one at a slower pace in order to explore the intricacies of Herbie’s harmonies.

By the C This waltz was written by my bassist Graham Ring while he was studying abroad in London, spring of 2020. He wrote it on the accordion, and it was initially intended to be a string quartet. Yet he decided to arrange it for this quartet, and after some workshopping, we have this transcendent version. The name is a double entendre; on one hand he was living by the sea, and on the other hand the melody and harmonies are always circling By the C. Easy Living Billie Holiday was the first of many to record this uplifting ballad written by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin back in 1937. Easy Living has a unique melody with large leaps, along with a chord progression that takes you back in time. I recommend a cocktail of your choice to go along with this song.

Look to the Sky This lesser-known Antonio Carlos Jobim tune captures the essence of Brazil in the late 60’s. With beautiful harmonies and a distinguishable triplet melody, Jobim has laid the foundation for us to explore the intricate rhythms that distinguish bossa nova music.

Spain One of Chick Corea’s most well-known compositions, Spain explores complex rhythmic motifs at a brisk tempo. Chick passed away this past February at the age of 79, and his loss is felt heavily throughout the jazz community and beyond. Tonight we will present to you our fastest and most complex tune in honor of the great inspiration and innovator, Chick Corea.

Blue in Green Although Miles Davis took credit for writing Blue in Green, it was actually Bill Evans who constructed the majority of the song. As the story goes, Miles gave Bill the first two chords, and told him to write a song with it. What came afterwards is a beautifully simple yet intricate ballad. The 10 bar form is unconventional and the chord extensions are juicy, yet the melody displays the ‘less is more’ aspect of jazz.

Phytoplankton I first wrote this piece in February of 2020, and it has gone through a handful of changes since then. No, I don’t only write one song a year, but these are the only two that I feel were adequate for this recital. The piece came to be called Phytoplankton because when first conceiving of the piece, I went for a surf session in northern Oregon. The water was murky brown, and I was worried that it was pollution, but it turns out there was just a bunch of phytoplankton floating around. The piece lends itself to an easy-going feel with some odd harmonies. Then comes the driving swing section, emulating a phytoplankton being tossed around in a wave, just to come back up again and continue its mellow and somewhat odd lifestyle. Biography: Danny Charvat grew up in Manhattan Beach, California, and began taking classical lessons at the age of five from an elderly Hungarian lady across the street, named Ms. Marriane Csanky. After nine years with her, he took a year off from lessons to pursue other hobbies such as surfing and skateboarding. He then started solo jazz and classical piano lessons with another instructor from the area, David Nuñez, before going into his last year of high school. Upon arrival at the first Lewis and Clark jazz combo auditions in 2017, Danny realized he had a lot of work to catch up on in order to stay afloat. Lessons with Randy Porter, along with advice and criticism from Dan Balmer, gave him the tools and motivation he needed to survive and later thrive in the jazz program. Danny has played in seven Lewis and Clark jazz combos throughout his time at this institution, along with a handful of other house show bands. He is hoping to return to playing shows with audiences in the near future.

Acknowledgements: I would like to first and foremost thank my bandmates for dedicating their time to learning and practicing these tunes without an incentive. I would also like to thank the Lewis and Clark Music Department for providing me with the resources needed to become the best musician I can be. In particular, I am grateful for Dan Balmer and Randy Porter who have provided invaluable feedback and knowledge throughout my fours years at this institution. Lastly, but certainly not least, I want to thank my parents for supporting me in this journey.