Robin Haffley - Collage (2019)

This CD is several collections in one. It's a collection of younger musicians working right alongside older and more experienced ones. The music is a mix of hard-bop, swing, bossa nova, fusion, third stream jazz, and 20th century American Art music. Off hand, I can't think of a recording that is so diverse! Some of the compositions are my own, while others were commissioned works composed by Larry Mc Kenna and Michael B. Nelson. Two of the works are historical compositions that had been forgotten gems composed by jazz pianist/composer Gene Di Novi and film composer Alex North. Neither of these works received a recorded debut in their original form, and have not been heard in over 60 years.

This CD had several preliminary titles that included Back On Track, Making Tracks, and My Favorite Things. How did I settle on Collage as the title? This CD had a distinct feel and approach from beginning to end-it represents my work, beliefs, and vision of what music education should look like and sound like. Sure, it also displays my work as a woodwind doubler, jazz and classical performer, composer/arranger, and producer-that is my teaching by example. This is my method to pass great music on to the next generation. -Robin Haffley