Medium Ensemble
Ryan's professional hobby band is the Medium Ensemble, a 12-piece group featuring some of the best jazz musicians in the Chicago area. Founded in 2008, the group features original music in various styles and has performed regularly around Chicago including extended residencies and several themed concerts at local schools. The band is a frequent Jazz Education Network Jazz2U grant recipient, and is available for clinics and performances upon request using the contact form.
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A selection of charts with score previews, recordings, and ordering information are below, and if you don't see the chart you're interested in please contact me. All charts are also available for standard big band instrumentation.
April in Paris
Vernon Duke, arr. Ryan Erik Adamsons
Solo feature for Alto Saxophone, hip hop style with a Basie swing ending
Boogie Stop Shuffle
Charles Mingus, arr. Ryan Erik Adamsons
Classic Charles Mingus minor blues with a great riff and a tough post-bop head.
Caravan
Duke Ellington/Juan Tizol, arr. Ryan Erik Adamsons
Afro-Cuban arrangement of the Ellington standard.
Folks' Song
Ryan Erik Adamsons
Original latin tune loosely inspired by Cuban folk music. Score features optional notated rhythm section parts.
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
Charles Mingus, arr. Ryan Erik Adamsons
Classic Charles Mingus blues ballad, features tenor sax.
Hello Dear
Kevin Kozol, arr. Ryan Erik Adamsons
Very fun ballad by Kevin Kozol as performed by his band "Spare Parts".
Hiding in the Spotlight
Ryan Erik Adamsons
Original modern style ballad featuring tenor sax and guitar.
I Mean You
Thelonius Monk, arr. Ryan Erik Adamsons
Arrangement of the Monk standard using rhythmic variation and polytonality.
Machito Forever
Tito Puente, arr. Ryan Erik Adamsons
Arrangement of Tito Puente's theme song when he led the house band at Machito's. Fun and flashy salsa tune that goes through all 12 keys and features everyone in the band.
Moanin'
Charles Mingus, arr. Ryan Erik Adamsons
One of Charles Mingus's best known compositions, features bari sax.
Mr. Clean Teeth
Ryan Erik Adamsons
Original composition taking themes and ideas from Chick Corea, Roy Hargrove and others.
My Romance
Richard Rodgers, arr. Ryan Erik Adamsons
Deconstruction of the original standard, presented as a theme and variations representing a commentary on romance. I promise I wasn't upset when I wrote this, and it's worth noting that I am happily married.
New N'Awlins
Ryan Erik Adamsons
Original composition using a modern take on traditional New Orleans jazz ideas.
Night Music
Ryan Erik Adamsons
Original composition highly influenced by John Hollenbeck and David Morgan.
Pithecanthropus Erectus
Charles Mingus, arr. Ryan Erik Adamsons
Charles Mingus composition poking fun at the "primitive" nature of his music.
Sabor
Joao Donato, arr. Ryan Erik Adamsons
Arrangement of a salsa standard with reharmonization to create changes that utilize the diminished cycle. Score features optional notated rhythm section parts.
Sandero
Ryan Erik Adamsons
Original composition mixing traditional cha cha and hip hop grooves. Small group version was winner of 2015 Jazz Palettes Composition Contest sponsored by the American Jazz Museum.
WEB
Ryan Erik Adamsons
Rhythmic contrafact based on Louis Armstrong's iconic introduction to "West End Blues".