Steller's Jay

Steller's Jay uses the chord progression from Charlie "Bird" Parker's tune "Bird Blues," which is a complex adaptation of the 12-bar blues. The underlying groove is derived from a New Orleans' Second Line feel, incorporating a secondary jazz element, but certainly with a bit of that cool "West Coast" jazz feel.

Program Notes

The Steller's Jay greatly resembles the Eastern Bluebird, but lives on the West coast in the woodlands and coniferous forests of the Rocky Mountains and Northern Pacific coast states. The chord progression for this Steller's Jay percussion ensemble is based on the "Bird Blues" - a complex adaptation of the 12-bar blues developed by jazz saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker during the bebop era. The underlying groove is derived from a New Orleans Second Line feel, incorporating a secondary jazz element, but certainly with a bit of that cool "West Coast" jazz feel.

The EDGE Series
The EDGE Series is a collection of percussion ensembles featuring many popular musical styles - from funk to calypso to techno. It was developed to excite a wider range of ensembles, directors, and audiences while retaining the level of integrity you have grown to expect from C. Alan Publications.

Grade Level: 3
Copyright: 2015
Number of Players: 8+
Duration: 2:30
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Series: Edge Series
Category: Percussion

Listen to Recordings

Instrumentation

Bells
Xylophone
Vibraphone
Marimba 1 (4-octave)*
Marimba 2 (4.3-octave)*
Bass Guitar (optional)
Bongos
Congas & Cabasa
Drum Set

*Marimba 1 & 2 may perform on the same 4.3-octave instrument.