News Articles
The 100th Birthday of J.J. Johnson
January 22, 2024 marks the 100th birthday of jazz trombone great J.J. Johnson. One of my career highlights was working with him. In 1984 I had just finished a spotting session with Earle Hagen on the Warner lot for the best-forgotten “Dukes of Hazzard.” J.J. and Earle were both scoring [...]
The Musical Gift L.A. Offers Public School Kids
By Kris Bowers It was a perfect summer’s day in June 1999. As a tender 10-year-old, I nervously approached the 1952 mahogany Winter baby grand piano that sat in the courtyard, center stage. I had been invited to perform solo for the students and their parents at my fifth-grade graduation [...]
Problematic!
Taking an old film score and dropping it into a new film is “like wearing somebody else’s underwear,” veteran composer Earle Hagen used to say. Hagen, the Oscar-nominated, Emmy-winning composer of such classic themes as “The Andy Griffith Show,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “The Mod Squad,” would have [...]
The American Prize – Finalist Honorable Mention
Just Announced Today, November 30, 2023, by The American Prize Finalist Honorable Mention: Composers, COVID-Related Compositions Bruce Babcock, Pasadena CA Time and Again
Carnegie Hall Premiere of Nevertheless
The narrative of Los Angeles-based American composer Bruce Babcock’s engaging new Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano “Nevertheless” is not so much it’s enigmatic, even passive aggressive title and real time story, as the tightrope of barely contained energy and powerful narrative colors that reap substance and satisfaction from the [...]
A Review of Nevertheless
The narrative of Los Angeles-based American composer Bruce Babcock’s engaging new Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano “Nevertheless” is not so much it’s enigmatic, even passive aggressive title and real time story, as the tightrope of barely contained energy and powerful narrative colors that reap substance and satisfaction from the [...]
Silver Medal for Springscape
On September 28, 2023, Global Music Awards announced the winners in their September, 2023 competition. “SpringScape,” recorded on the Klavier and Navona labels, earned a Silver Medal in the Contemporary Classical category. “SpringScape” was composed for and performed and recorded by the Debussy Trio, consisting of my longtime friends and [...]
Violinist.com Review of NEVERTHELESS
A nice mention from Violinist.com linking to my piece NEVERTHELESS […]
“Nevertheless” on new album from Trio Casals August 11
Trio Casals (Ovidiu Marinescu, cello, Anna Kislitsyna, piano, Alexandr Kislitsyn, violin) have a new album to be released on August 11. A Grand Journey, Vol. 2 includes my piece "Nevertheless." A Carnegie Hall premiere will take place November 10, 2023.
Metaphor Two score/video posted on YouTube
This piece was recorded by the brilliant pianist Robert Thies at The Bridge in Glendale in 2013 […]