It's not all-out jazz but maybe what some call smooth-jazz but with a bit more jaz and a touch of the classics mixed in.

4 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Swing/Big Band, JAZZ: Smooth Jazz



Details:
About the Music:
(Music notes by Bob Craft)

"StarDate:" (8:11 min.)
We used to use the "main theme" from this as a sort of break/theme tune when I was still playing with my band. John Kaye, my sax man at the time, was very inspirational in its' evolution, and I tried to capture some of the things I feel he might play when we were playing together.
Sadly, John and his girlfriend were both victims of a tragic murderer on Labor Day, 1984. "StarDate:" is dedicated to the memory of John. He also named it.

"StarDate:" begins mysteriously, with the eerie voices stating the main theme, but quickly changes pace, introducing a bass line and piano/guitar & percussion rhythm that sets the feel for the rest of this composition.
The main theme is established by brass that gives way to a bass solo accompanied by underlying voices followed by a piano solo and sax solo building to a climatic return of the main theme by brass. This all winds down to a recap of the opening theme of voices and a journey on to the unknown.
A new beginning? As John always said, "Everything is relative".

"Sometime" (5:31 min.)
"Sometime" begins with just a single note piano melody and underlayment of trem-strings with light voices in the background. As it develops into a more complex piano piece, french horns mingle into the background. "Sometime" builds to a brief full orchestra statement followed by a momentary change of key but returns to its' root key of E flat and at closing, a descending chromatic scale. Ending quietly and peacefully. I always felt that "Sometime" is about the struggles and difficult times of life. That it is saying, even if life has given you a weak hand to play out, don't bluff. Fold your hand. "Move on in your life ..... Do some good". My mom and dad were a lot like that. This song is for them.

"In Search Of The Dance" (14:23)
(The Stoy Of The Dance}
"In Search Of The Dance" is the showcase of this CD. Its' purpose is to tell the story of "The Dance" and join all of the music up to this point together into one larger work. And, to prepare us for the last composition of this of this CD. The beginning is a bit of mysterious sounding melody to be developed into an "opera like classical character".
This soon evolves into a free form solo entry by the saxophone that quickly moves on to a full fledged Samba rhythm. This is when the main melody line begins. "The Dance", that seems to repeatedly find its' way back into the melody to remind you it will always be an influence to be dealt with. "The Dance" now begins to work its' way thru a tempo and rhythm transition to become a more aggressive "Big Band Jazz-era" sounding orchestra, with the trombone taking the first solo followed by a change of tempo and a trumpet solo. This builds to a climatic crescendo in preparation for the classical portion of this composition. Sort of a "Romeo and Juliet" and "Phantom Of the Opera" or maybe "music for an unwritten play", but all in one act. Then, the samba gradually returns. From this point I am trying to create a feeling of satisfaction that I have completed most of the task expected of me in my life.
I know, there will be other challenges. But what? Have I learned "The Dance" well enough? (The reason for the big echo at the end.)

"I Know That We Will Always Be" (8:11 min.)
This last song, I wrote for someone very, very special to me. Someone I love very, very much.
My wife June.
I started writing this song about 1978 and have always tried to find a way to present it. Well, thru the magic of computer technology, I feel I have accomplished that.
I hope the music speaks for itself.


About Bob Craft:
Although he now plays piano and uses synthesizers extensively, Bob began his music studies on the Accordion at the age of 12 with the world famous teacher and Jazz musician Tony Dannon and continued his training at the Detroit Institute Of Musical Arts. Most of his training was classical. He studied hard and progressed quickly.
Always creative, often writing his own arrangements and compositions. He began playing professionally at the age of 16 and began teaching for Tony at 18. He has many successful students, including, John Katalenic who now works for Disney World and has a very successful recording studio. Not to mention he is one of the finest Piano players and composer/arrangers to come from the Detroit area. So many fine players started their music careers with the accordion. It's truly surprising.
His influences have been widely varied, and many. Art Van Damme, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Oscar Peterson and many others. Tchaikovsky, Rockmaninov & J.S. Bach are among the classical favorites.