'Empty Heads' was the winning composition by Nicole Jaques in the small band category of the Jazzorg/Worshipful Company of Musicians 2008 competition.   The composer, Nicky Jaques was born in Whitby in 1986 and started her musical career when she moved to Herefordshire some 10 years later.   Studying clarinet and piano for her A-levels at Hereford Sixth Form led her into the college big band and the discovery of an interest and fondness for jazz.   She developed this interest and began writing her own music during further studies at Nottingham University, where she pays tribute to the help and support of some inspiring young musicians, who worked with her.   During this period, too, she specialised in Jazz Performance, devoting much of her time to improvisation in the jazz idiom.

Nicky has recently completed a graduate diploma in Jazz at the Birmingham Conservatoire, studying under such luminaries as Julian Siegel, Mike Williams, Hans Koller, Liam Noble and tutor in residence, Dave Holland.   In her writing, she is inevitably influenced by such experience and she is constantly looking for ways to distil the jazz with all the other genres that she has studied.   We think that she has succeeded with her composition 'Empty Heads' and that you will enjoy the free-blowing piece with room to develop solos.   There is a Bbm7 (concert) vamp where you could experiment with Bb Dorian and a break into 4/4 for the A section where some minor 7ths over the 4th disguise sus 9ths - try mixolydian on the bass note.

When reviewing 'Empty Heads', Tim Garland commented:
'This piece represents the uniqueness in jazz, to have music evolve throughout its performances.   The theme is both simple and sophisticated, and whereas a more complex piece might serve the purposes of composition alone, this clever theme allows that crucial space where the musicians can really get stuck in and find their own spontaneity within.   It will have a life, and is well played here too!'

Frank Griffith observed: 'This is a very inventive piece without being too clever and is impressive with the cross rhythms over the steady 3/4 meter.   The transition from the 3/4 introduction to the 4/4 melody is ably done and happens seamlessly.   Another attribute is the early statement of the theme by alto and tenor sax and then with trumpet added later.   The rhythm section parts are impressive in their clarity, both in the way they are written out as well as their role in the overall sound.   The integration of improvisation into the ensemble is effective and will lead to surprising and exciting results in the different performances of the piece.'

• Downloads
• Only 3 sample pages of Nicky's composition (from the conductor, alto and tenor parts) are displayed on your monitor and you can get a full pdf download of all the parts and a 'conductor score' by clicking [this link]
• A download of the full MP3 audio version of the composition, played by the Nicky's Sextet, is also available by clicking [this link]

Downloading of copies of the music manuscript are subject to the Jazzorg Licence 2, described under the 'Copyright' menu tab.       You can discuss or comment on this piece in the forums.