Alan Ferber

The sound of the cello is a constant in my life thanks to my wife, Jody. Her sound comprises one fourth of this string quartet, but her ‘violet soul’ radiates through all of it. A ‘violet soul’ characterizes someone who creatively raises consciousness in the world and possesses a deepened understanding of the spiritual aspects of life. This general aura combined with my familiarity with her playing provided the initial inspiration for the piece.

The piece was written within a standard AABA form. I wanted to write something melodically simple and harmonically substantial in order to both highlight the beauty of the ensemble’s collective sound and expres­siveness as well as feature violinist Sara Caswell’s improvisational prowess. I know each of these players musically and personally, and wanted to write something they would really enjoy playing and feeling together.

After the theme’s introduction in the cello’s rich mid-range, the melody is handed off from one player to another, gradually rising in range to brighter tone colors and building to Sara’s beautifully improvised solo. The piece is bookended by a return of the introductory idea, which allows the energy to wind down and ultimately find a sense of conclusion.

Through the piece’s melodic and harmonic unfurling, I hope the listener is drawn to be fully present with the quartet’s sonorous tone, providing a moment of peace and reflection.

3-time GRAMMY-nominated trombonist/composer Alan Ferber has been called “one of the jazz world’s premier composers and arrangers for larger groups” (AAJ-NY) and has been recognized annually over the last decade in Down Beat magazine’s International Critics’ Poll and Readers’ Poll. He has released eight albums as a bandleader, most recently Alan Ferber Big Band: Jigsaw, nominated for a 2018 GRAMMY award in the ‘Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album’ category. Ferber has been a band-member for artists including Esperanza Spalding, Miguel Zenon, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Charlie Hunter, Lee Konitz, John Hollenbeck, and Don Byron. He has recorded extensively in other genres with artists including Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon, Sufjan Stevens, The National, and Dr. Dre. As an educator, he has served on the faculties of New York University, the Peabody Conservatory, Montclair State University, and the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.