Projects
Jim
Crow's Tears
Written and composed by Kris Johnson, Jim Crow’s Tears is a jazz
oratorio influenced by the history of minstrelsy and blackface
entertainment in the United States. This educational presentation
combines musical, theatrical, and visual arts to tell the story of a
young slave who was forced to become a minstrel performer. Jim Crow’s
Tears makes ties between minstrel shows and modern day media, focusing
on the perpetuation of the negative stereotypes of African Americans.
The composition is
orchestrated for vocal quartet, jazz octet, string quartet, and
woodwind quartet, featuring text read by a
narrator. It also showcases a black iconography slide show of negative
images from the past and present that contribute a great deal to the
audience’s understanding of the demeaning and disturbing nature of the
racial prejudices formed against African Americans in this
country.
Un Voyage dans les Rêves: a journey through a
dream
Un Voyage dans les Rêves is a musical representation of the
various realities we experience while asleep. By taking the listener
through one night, this work stunningly brings to life the alternate
worlds and possibilities that comprise a dream.
This piece is composed by trumpeter Kris Johnson, and will be performed
by a jazz quartet and a string quartet. It will premiere at the
Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills on July 31, and an encore
presentation will be held on August 1st at Campus Martius in Detroit.
Publications
Rick
Roe’s Voicing Evolution for Jazz Pianists: Vol. 1 – 3
This book teaches a number of voicings and comping techniques for jazz
pianists. Each voicing is presented in an organized and logical
progression, with a focus on its application to common jazz
progressions. It also shows the application of these
methods to the blues form, “rhythm changes”, and several jazz
standards. Additionally, there are examples of Rick Roe’s
approach to comping, soloing, and harmonizing the melodies to several
jazz standards.
Anthology
Series: Anthology of Scales,
Anthology of Chords, Anthology of Intervals & Sequences
The anthology series has been created to teach musicians fundamental
elements of music theory. With easy to read instructions and step
by step examples, musicians at any level can benefit from the
information found in each book. There are three anthologies, the
Anthology of Scales, Anthology of Chords, and the Anthology of
Intervals and Sequences. Each book begins with an introduction to
the piano keyboard, enharmonics, whole-steps and half-steps, and double
sharps and double flats. Next the structure of the various theory
items are taught and each scale, chord, interval, and sequence are
shown in all twelve keys.
Random Variation
Random Variation is a system of flash cards used to help musicians
manage their practice sessions. It uses controls and variables to
determine what items will be practiced and in what combination.
The instruction manual explores multiple ways to practice scales,
chords, intervals, and sequences that will help musician’s gain better
technical facility.