Music
Recordings, scores, writings, and analyses.
Jake's music expertise focuses and expands upon both the Contemporary Classical/New Music and Jazz traditions. Whether composing or performing, Jake believes that the most profound music utilizes both the predetermined and the spontaneous. Jake finds that music that is thoughtfully and meticulously composed and also promotes individual improvisation is not only enjoyable to listen to, but is how to push contemporary music forward. His work attempts to fuse the complex compositional systems employed by classical New Music composers and the expressionistic method of improvisation employed by the Jazz tradition.
Videos:
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic (The Police)
Jake D'Ambra - Tenor Saxophone and Arrangement
JP Heston - Bass
Caleb Cronan - Drums
Music Mansion - Providence RI 12.13.24
Just the Two of Us (Grover Washington Jr.)
Jake D’Ambra - Saxophone
Johnny Santini - Bass
9/26/2024
PHUC - G Whiz
Jake D’Ambra - Saxophone
JP Heston - Bass
Caleb Cronan - Drums and Composition
3/29/2024
George Gershwin’s Do it Again
Jake D’Ambra - Piano
9/19/23
Finnissy’s They Are Writing Songs of Love but Not for Me
Excerpt of Michael Finnissy’s They Are Writing Songs of Love but Not for Me piano arrangement, part of a series of arrangements that reimagine the works of George Gershwin.
Jake D’Ambra - Piano
7/19/22
Alexander Scriabin’s Caresse Dansee
Jake D’Ambra - Piano
7/9/23
Erik Satie’s First Gymnopedie
Jake D’Ambra - Piano
1/23/23
Exploring Jazz Music in Boston with Jake D'Ambra
“The latest installment of our ongoing ‘My Own Boston’ series features business student and jazz musician Jake D’Ambra (Questrom’19). Wait—business and jazz? Together? D’Ambra explains as he takes us on a tour of his favorite jazz clubs in Boston, Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen and Wally’s Café, with a pit stop at West Campus record store In Your Ear.”
3/22/2018
Recorded Works
EXQUISITE CADAVER
PHUC
Jake D’Ambra - Tenor Saxophone
JP Heston - Bass
Caleb Cronan - Drums
August 2021 (Streaming, Limited Edition
Lathe Cut Records)
Hug the Devil
Charles Colizza Group
Charles Colizza - Guitar
Billy Drewes - Soprano Saxophone
Jake D’Ambra - Tenor Saxophone
Nick Panoutsos - Double Bass
Lukas Akintaya - Drums
December 21, 2020 (Streaming)
This Entity Makes Music
NR4
Nick Rousseau - Guitar
Jake D’Ambra - Tenor Saxophone
Sean Hannon - Double Bass
Tima Volozh - Drums
September 30, 2022 (Streaming)
scallions
PHUC
Jake D’Ambra - Tenor Saxophone
JP Heston - Double Bass
Caleb Cronan - Drums
December 24, 2022 (Streaming)
Toy Conscious
Toy Conscious
Jake D’Ambra - Saxophone
Nick Rousseau - Guitar
Sean Hannon - Double Bass
Caleb Cronan - Drums
October 20, 2023 (Streaming)
Barberia’s Delight
Anthony Wonsey - Piano
Jake D’Ambra - Tenor Saxophone
Nick Rousseau - Guitar
Marshal Herridge - Double Bass
Tima Volozh - Drums
October 27, 2023 (Streaming)
You Have The Floor
PHUC
Jake D’Ambra - Tenor Saxophone
JP Heston - Double Bass
Caleb Cronan - Drums
December 21, 2024 (Streaming)
Original Works
Original compositions written for solo piano and/or improvisational ensemble.
12.21.2018 - Flatline
8.21.2020 - Plinko
5.14.2021 - Redbill
5.15.2021 - Spooner
10.18.2021 - Insider Trading
11.8.2021 - Bar Crawl (Car Brawl)
8.16.2020 - Two Parti
12.16.2021 - To Step
5.11.2021 - Mr. Meisels
2.4.2022 - Pitch Hike
2.16.2022 - Sweet Hands
3.25.2022 - Van Guardian
5.9.2022 - Early Mourning
6.13.2022 - Buttoned Up
7.31.2022 - Penny Waltz
1.18.2023 - CP2023 #5, The 15th Terrace in Bb major
12.31.2022 - CP2022 #2, Fanta Sea in Eb Major
1.11.2023 - CP2023 #4, In Perpetuity
1.4.2023 - CP2023 #3, Spandrel Viventium in F# minor
1.21.2023 - CP2023 #6, Where Nine Lives in Ab major
2.7.2023 - CP2023 #7, Distant Relative in D minor
4.2.2023 - CP2023 #8
5.25.2023 - CP2023 #9
10.17.23 - Untitled Original
Original Arrangements of Existing Music
D’Ambra - Star-Crossed Lovers (2022, work in progress)
Part of a series of original piano arrangements inspired by select compositions by the great Billy Strayhorn. This project focuses on highlighting the genius of Strayhorn’s compositions while reinterpreting the material in the contemporary classical style. This project is similar to the Gershwin Arrangements by Michael Finnissy, in which Finnissy rearranges select jazz standards by George Gershwin through a contemporary classical lens.
Work in Progress
D’Ambra - Stella by Starlight (2022)
An original piano arrangement inspired by Victor Young’s timeless jazz standard Stella by Starlight.
9/15/22
D’Ambra - I’m in the Mood for Love (2022, work in progress)
An original piano arrangement inspired by Jimmy McHugh’s jazz standard I’m in the Mood for Love.
Work in Progress
Repurposing of Contemporary Classical Works for Improvised Ensemble
A current selection of late 19th century onward classical pieces that have been converted into lead sheets for improvisational ensemble. The melody/bass counterpoint and inferred harmony for improvisation serve as a reduction or repurposing of the original material to be played similarly to how jazz ensembles approach jazz standards. These works are part of an ongoing project to create a “Real-Book” of over 100 classical to improvisation works.
8.13.23 - George Gershwin’s Waiting for the Sun to Come Out
5.14.22 - Gareth Hughes’ Romantic Evening
4.5.22 - Riccardo Malipiero’s Invenzioni IV
12.4.21 - Ruth Crawford’s 3. Semplice
3.12.22 - Anton Webern’s Klavierstück
2.23.22 - Anton Webern’s Satz fur Klavier
2.16.22 - Béla Bartók’s Op. 14, Scherzo
2.11.22 - Alexander Scriabin’s Sauvage, Belliqueux
2.5.22 - Alexander Scriabin’s Caresse Dansée
12.2.21 - Ruth Crawford’s Kaleidoscopic Changes
12.11.21 - Béla Bartók’s Bulgarian Rhythm II
12.2.21 - Ruth Crawford’s Kaleidoscopic Changes
Analyses and Writings
Collection of analyses of primarily contemporary classical works that analyze form, harmony, motives, and commentary.
9.15.20 - Analysis of Arnold Schoenberg’s Vergangenes (Times Past), from Five Orchestral Pieces, Op. 16 (1909)
10.6.20 - Analysis of Ruth Crawford’s Music for Small Orchestra, Movement 1 (1926)
10.13.20 - Analysis of Igor Stravinsky’s Concerto in E flat, (‘Dumbarton Oaks’) Movement 1 (1938)
10.20.20 - Analysis of Anton Webern’s Variations for Piano, Op. 27, Movement 1 (1937)
11.12.20 - Analysis of Toru Takemitsu’s The Dorian Horizon (1967)
12.1.20 - Analysis of Jonathan Harvey’s Mortuos Plango Vivos Voco (1980)
12.8.20 - Analysis of Pierre Boulez’s Memoriale (…explosante-fixe…Originel) (1985)
12.21.20 Analysis of Amok Amor’s The New Portal (2017)
1.27.20 - New York University Master’s Thesis: Charles Lloyd, A Memphis Born Saxophonist; Penetrating Other Music Genres to Further the Jazz Medium
5.15.22 - Analysis of W.A. Mozart’s K.457, Movement 1 (1784)