Steve Newcomb Orchestra – The Caterpillar Chronicles

Eastside Radio’s Album of the Week is The Caterpillar Chronicles by Steve Newcomb Orchestra.

With intricate jazz sounds flowing through the very core of the album, talented composer Steve Newcomb’s latest creation is a slow-burning and mellow affair. Its combination of horns, strings, the occasional vocal and the tinkling of piano keys make the sound beautiful and soft. Then suddenly, the ground beneath you is shaken, as the tone is set to a more up-beat pace. It’s a technique that instantly surprises yet also intrigues the listener, making this album stand out amongst its peers.

Steve himself has had much to say about the influences for this fantastic work.

“I took inspiration from my daughter, who had inquired about the life cycle of a caterpillar. My aim was to take the stages of this cycle, and for a moment pause on the middle stage where the creature is still inside a chrysalis, imagining what music would be heard by the creature as the world moved on around it. Day changes to night, human activity continues on around in varying states of motion. On a musical level, an idea of transformation or journey was aimed for in the whole piece from start to end, in instrumental colour, morphing of sound, and the addition of new sound (voice, then tabla, then trombone and guitar) as the piece progresses. The segmented nature of seemingly unrelated musical statements placed together also aims to symbolise the shape and contour of a caterpillar’s body, with thematic ties present throughout the piece to forge a coherent link. A caterpillar can become either a moth, or a butterfly. The story resonates for me as one of astounding transformation, renewal, and reflection”.

Caterpillar Chronicles was a commission piece for Australian National University Jazz Orchestra at the request of Miroslav Bukovsky. It’s creative, innovative and a perfect fit for Eastside’s Album of the Week.