Mel Bay Travis Reuter: Compositions

Guitarist, Travis Reuter's compositions focus on abstract forms, complex rhythmic structures, timbre and polytonality, while continuing to explore the improviser's role in a traditional setting. His music is inspired by contemporary classical music and draws heavily on influences from the music of composers Elliott Carter, Brian Ferneyhough, and Jason Eckardt. Each composition experiments with combinations of form, counterpoint, and new devices for improvisation. Underlying this approach is an implicit skepticism of the aesthetics of the mainstream jazz establishment and a deep hunger to integrate elements from other forward-looking genres. Reuter's integration of the motivic and rhythmic language of the classical modernists sets him apart from other young guitarists from the modern jazz lineage, and such material drawn from outside of the jazz tradition acts as the glue that holds this music together conceptually. This volume contains nine original compositions that give the reader insight into the compositional language of Travis Reuter.