NOW, A JAZZ MOMENT...

MUSIC:

Duet For Contrabass & Piano
CD: The Visibility of Thought
2001 Mutable

EXCEPT FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF STUDY AT CHICAGO MUSICAL COLLEGE, NEA JAZZ MASTER MUHAL RICHARD ABRAMS IS LARGELY SELF-TAUGHT. AFTER YEARS OF OBSERVATION, ANALYSIS, AND PRACTICE, HE COMMANDS RESPECT IN JAZZ, CLASSICAL MUSIC, AND MUCH IN BETWEEN -- AS BOTH A PIANIST AND COMPOSER.

Muhal Richard Abrams: I've always been fascinated by the idea of composing and writing for different sized ensembles. So I had to teach myself how to respect those structures. A part of teaching oneself is to listen to the type of group or orchestra that you want to write for and to you know just determine how to use the apparatus properly.

MUSIC: up and fades

THIS JAZZ MOMENT WITH PIANIST AND COMPOSER MUHAL RICHARD ABRAMS WAS CREATED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.