The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage
Warriors of the Wonderful Sound
The Wizards of the Saxophone Meet the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound: Creating a 21st-Century Jazz Vocabulary
2009 Grantee
$50,000
Warriors of the Wonderful Sound was awarded a $50,000, two-year grant to present “The Wizards of the Saxophone Meet the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound: Creating a 21st-Century Jazz Vocabulary” as part of Montgomery County Community College’s Lively Arts Series. WWS will commission composer/alto saxophonists Rudresh Mahanthappa and Steve Coleman to write major works for Bobby Zankel and the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound, the Philadelphia-based 15-member big band. Mr. Mahanthappa and Mr. Coleman have each extended the jazz lexicon with distinct approaches to composition: Mr. Coleman through advanced systems of rhythmic structure and pitch organization; Mr. Mahanthappa by integrating elements of Indian music with progressive jazz. For the performance of Mr. Coleman’s work, WWS will be joined in concert by the composer’s ensemble, Five Elements. The project includes panel discussions with the composers and open rehearsals.
Warriors of the Wonderful Sound was founded in 2001 to support, promote, and encourage compositions, performances, recordings, interdisciplinary collaborations, and educational activities devoted to 21st-century jazz. In 2008, WWS, in collaboration with local avant-jazz series SciFiPhilly, established its first commissioning project for young composers/improvisers.
Steve Coleman, photo by Juan Carlos Hernández