COMMISSIONED BY: Kevin Day
WRITTEN FOR: Kevin Day, Jordan VanHemert and the Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra
WORLD PREMIERE: October 20, 2019 | Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra (Jordan VanHemert, director), Kevin Day (guest artist), Josh Trentadue (conductor) | Holland Christian High School, Holland, Michigan

The first time I ever saw Kevin Day playing piano was during an impromptu session one night at a local bar in Chicago. As much as I had known at that point how phenomenal of a composer he is, I quickly learned just how brilliantly gifted he also is as a jazz artist. It was in that fleeting moment that I knew I needed to write a new piece of music for him - something that could exemplify, demonstrate, and bring to life this amazing side of his artistry.

There's a scene in the David Lynch & Mark Frost show "Twin Peaks" where, at a welcoming party, one of the main characters suddenly finds themselves sobbing and dancing the moment big band music unexpectedly plays over speakers. It's confusingly chaotic and strangely comedic on the surface, but with an underlying darker tragedy behind all of it. This specific moment inspired "A Solitary Nightcap", the last of four tunes comprising a larger suite that resulted from this commission titled “Four Ethereal Planes”. This tune is a fast-paced swing number which becomes wilder and wilder the further it goes, leading into a ridiculously over-the-top yet fulfilling conclusion.

I am incredibly thankful to Kevin for being open to this project and for the opportunity to write this work for him. I am also thankful to Jordan VanHemert and the Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra for their incredible collaboration with us and bringing this piece to life.