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| Composer Zhengtao Pan's "SCENERY IN MY STORY," Big Band Compositions Chronicling His Worldwide Journey Composer ZHENGTAO PAN loves how music can tell the story of one's inner life. On his debut big band album, SCENERY IN MY STORY, he creates a musical collage drawn from his fascinating life experiences. Originally from Shanghai, China, Pan moved to Boston to work as a jazz composer. Although he is already well-known in the computer gaming world for his scores of many top-tier video games and is currently working on a big budget, high-profile video game to be released by Sony, Pan was attracted to big band jazz for its blend of freedom and structure, offering him a new avenue for his creativity. Pan has collaborated with some of the top names in contemporary jazz, including Steven Feifke's Big Band, Alexa Tarantino, Walter Smith III, Andrew Gould, Benny Benack III, and Itai Kriss. His achievements in music composition have led to his works being recognized for Best Large Ensemble Composition from the Jazz Education Network, First Place Award from ASMAC's Pat Williams Composing & Arranging Competition, DownBeat's Student Music Awards for Best Small and Large Ensemble Composition/Arrangement (3-time winner), the Ravinia Festival's Bridges Composition Competition, and the Bill Conti Big Band Arranging Award for his composition "On That Bus" from SCENERY IN MY STORY. The multi-talented, cross-genre composer has also worked with the European Recording Orchestra, Shanghai Symphonic Orchestra, Budapest Scoring Orchestra, and many more acclaimed ensembles. SCENERY IN MY STORY chronicle's Pan's experience of moving from Shanghai to Boston, experiences shaped by the people, places, and events with which he interacted. As the scenery and landmarks of any given place define the identity of that place, it has also given direction and definition to his story. In many ways, the album is a loving homage to every step Pan has taken up to this point. "The central theme of this album is my story, but it encompasses more than just myself, " Pan says. "It's about the people I've met, the music I love, the things I've observed, the places I've visited, and the stories I've heard. Every moment holds meaning for me." Drawing from influences like Maria Schneider, Miho Hazama, and his mentor, Steven Feifke, as well as classical luminaries like Debussy and Stravinsky, Pan is also influenced by folk music from his native China. Pan says, "My goal was to create music that communicates emotionally without requiring listeners to understand complex compositional techniques. Some tunes are extremely dissonant and compositionally complex, reflecting my negative feelings. Others are simple and straightforward, capturing the joy of good weather or the charm of a passing cat. Regardless of whether the music is consonant or dissonant, I strive to keep the melodies memorable and engaging, as I believe melody is essential to storytelling." To realize his vision, Pan brought on board a multi-national band of accomplished and up-and-coming musicians, including BENNY BENACK III (voice); ITAI KRISS and PIERPAOLO PECORIELLO (flutes); ANDREW GOULD (alto saxophone, flute); WALTER SMITH III (tenor saxophone); MANUEL TRABUCCO (saxophones, clarinet); MATTIA FELICIANI (bass clarinet); JESSE MCGINTY (saxophones, trombone, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet); ANDREA GUERRINI, MIKE CORDONE, and NICK FRENAY (trumpets); MASSIMO MORGANTI, BOB PILKINGTON, and ANDREW ALCOCER (trombones); CHEN WANG and MEN DI (guitar); ISAMU MCGREGOR (piano); NOAH JUSTICE (bass); FEDERICO GUCCIARDO, KEVIN VAN DEN ELZEN, and ROSS PEDERSON (drums). Pan also plays piano and bass on several tracks. Each track SCENERY IN MY STORY encapsulates an experience, observation, or impression from Pan's life, creating a mosaic of his inner life. The opening track, "Windy Days, " sets the tone for album. The coastal breeze in Boston reminds him of Shanghai, which is also a breezy, coastal city. The melody of "Hometown" was influenced by traditional folk tunes and children's songs. Pan very much misses his family, and you can hear his longing in the music. "City Machine" opens with the rat-a-tat machine sound of drums, which introduces Pan's first impressions when he arrived in New York City. The music changes pace on "Dancing in the Dream, " which Pan wrote about a woman who dreams about becoming a dancer despite a serious leg injury. The music swirls like a ballerina performing a pirouette. Pan re-imagines "It Could Happen to You" as a hip, abstract warning that things, like Covid, can happen to you. Pan was inspired to write "Liars" after observing a close friend's experience of navigating a relationship and wrestling with the ethics of lying to someone you love in an attempt to protect them. Pan evokes this concept by maintaining strong levels of tension throughout the piece. The song features a vocal by Benack III. Pan wrote the dark tune "On That Bus" to commemorate the people who died in an accident involving the bus. "Mirror, Floating on The Water" has a gentle, wafting feel, almost like watching your reflection in gently rippling water. "Nardis" was inspired by Joe Henderson's version of "Inner Urge." Shanghai, like New York, is a city of skyscrapers. "Nightfall Over Shanghai" is Pan's homage to the city's stark beauty which he first experienced standing atop the Jin Mao Tower, one of the tallest buildings in Shanghai. Pan closes the album with title tune "Scenery In My Story, " a lush, sweeping composition that encompasses the beauty and excitement Pan feels about his journey through life. SCENERY IN MY STORY is a very modern but very accessible big band album. Pan imbues each composition with rich textures and melodies that create a unified tapestry of musical imagery. # # # SCENERY IN MY STORY will be available digitally on selected platforms on April 11, 2025. CDs and Vinyl will be available at Amazon (https://amzn.to/3X8qtim). Tracks 1. Windy Days 2. Hometown 3. City Machine 4. Dancing in the Dream 5. It Could Happen to You 6. Liar 7. Mirror, Floating on the Water 8. On That Bus 9. Nardis 10. Nightfall Over Shanghai 11. Scenery in My Story write your comments about the article :: © 2025 Jazz News :: home page |