Commissioned by Dr. Norman Bethune C.I. (Toronto, Ontario), Zhongdian features trumpet (opt. flugelhorn) in a captivating rock ballad setting. It breaks new ground for emerging jazz ensembles with imaginative textures and a free, but carefully crafted rubato introduction. In James Hilton’s 1933 novel “Lost Horizon”, Shangri-La is a utopian monastery high in the mountains of Tibet whose inhabitants display remarkable longevity. In 2001, the Chinese town of Zhongdian officially renamed itself as Shangri-La, claiming to be the inspiration for “Lost Horizon”. Rhythm parts are fully notated. Written ranges: trumpet Bb5 (opt. C6), trombone G4.
(Instrumentation: AATTB saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, guitar, bass, drums)