The Three B's

"The Three B’s” is dedicated to Dr. Katey J. Halbert, visiting professor of horn at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA. The inspiration for this piece began after her faculty recital was given in January 2023. The program for her recital included Robert Bissel’s “Song of a New World” which she described as the dichotomy of two underrepresented aspects of horn playing: Utilizing the low range of the horn and the sound and language of jazz applied to the horn. With these two aspects in mind, writing for “The Three B’s” began, with a goal to fill a gap in horn repertoire.

The title references three styles/eras of jazz: Blues; Boogie-woogie; and Bebop. Three different styles—each with unique features—present a challenge to the preparation of this piece along with the emphasis placed on the lower range of the horn.