Research
Project

This research explores how short piano improvisations can be transformed into fully developed compositions for large jazz orchestra. Using a practice-led methodology, the project emphasises experimentation, self-recording, and collaboration with ensemble musicians to shape narrative-driven music. Through a process involving recorded improvisations, group sessions, and reflective feedback loops, four original works - 1441, Wind and the End, Spit or Speak, and Lunar Eclipse - were created. Influenced by thinkers such as Butch Morris, Keith Sawyer, and Michael Hannan, the study highlights the role of storytelling in composition and arranging. The findings reveal that combining hands-on musicianship with reflective analysis enhances creativity, improvisational awareness, and compositional development, offering a model for composers seeking to integrate intuitive and structured practices.​