Next to Silence

Omar Thomas has written a stunning, contemporary piece reminiscent of the style of the Pat Metheny Group. It has a straight-eighths feel with solos for piano and trombone. This chart requires soprano saxophone and clarinet (with optional bass clarinet). There are meter changes throughout. This piece moves jazz ensemble composition forward. 5-4-4-4 (w/ opt. voice part)

"Next to Silence" is a tribute to Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays. This mixed-metered tune uses a number of the compositional techniques, sounds, and feels they've employed throughout their 30-year collaboration. Written in a straight-8th ECM style, the title comes from the ECM motto: "the Most Beautiful Sound Next to Silence." This piece is contains an optional, yet recommended, vocal part.