Night Fright!, (Ubusuky Ukuthuka!), for 3 melody instruments, piano, guitar, double bass, percussion, Score and parts

ISMN: 979-0-2063-0493-4

As an American jazz artist and educator based in South Africa since 1999, this is one in a set of pieces that reflect my musical and other experiences in this fascinating country. Night Fright! - Ubusuky Ukuthuka! was composed while on Fulbright with the family to Durban, Kwazulu-Natal. Kwazulu-Natal is set in subtropical, sub-saharan Africa with pounding summer rains and relentless humidity. One night after a shower and in bed with a recent copy of David Hajdu?s biography of Billy Strayhorn entitled Lush Life, I was nearly frightened out of my skin when the largest bug I?ve ever seen fell directly onto the pages of my book. My wife came running thinking I was being murdered by the sound of my screams - thus truly a Ubusuky Ukuthuka! - Night Fright! Performance Tips This is a fun blues to play. The opening vamp can be repeated any number of times. However it?s important to create a freaky, frightful atmosphere by using sparse and scary effects in the intro. Letter A is on cue. Play the accented eighth-notes in bars 4-5 short, straight, but with a meaty and heavy-noted feel. I think my scream can be heard in measure six of letter A. The last four bars of A has a relaxed swing feel to it