Doug Wilde
Composer/Keyboardist

What happens when a composer with a keen sense of melody creates music with an unconventional tonal system? Doug Wilde has a long history of creating memorable yet unique music, often seamlessly incorporating complex harmonic and rhythmic material. Music created for The Sixth Dimension goes one step further… or maybe many steps further, taking us into a harmonic world that has rarely been used for jazz and probably never been used in this way. The ten compositions on this recording are melodic, mysterious, beautiful and utterly unique. Because Wilde has spent a good part of his musical life creating music to enhance visuals and/or the spoken word, his music is often evocative, picturesque, and scenic. Each of these pieces opens the door to a different harmonic world – worlds that sound both familiar and extraordinary./p>

While the specific details of Wilde’s compositional process may only be of interest to music theory enthusiasts, a brief explanation is in order. The music on this recording was created using six-note scales – also known as hexachords. There are fifty of these scales/hexachords. A different six-note scale was selected for each of the ten pieces on this recording. Except for the improvised solos, no other harmonic material was used. In this realm the seven note collection from which we derive major and minor scales and the modes has been abandoned. Wilde’s intent is not necessarily to write atonal or dissonant music but rather to use imposed limitations to inspire new directions – to redirect creativity!

While this compositional process may appear overly complex, perhaps too academic, maybe even unappealing – you may be surprised by what you hear. There is a good chance that the listener will be intrigued, transported and perhaps moved by this musical dimension. Jazz is a musical language that has always been in flux, eager to fuse with, or borrow from, other traditions. Wilde’s fresh approach demonstrates that even when the harmonic language is dramatically altered, there remains something musical that presents as jazz. Joining Doug on this project are his good friends – some of Canada’s finest players – Colleen Allen on woodwinds, Henry Heillig and Paul Novotny on bass, Charlie Cooley on drums and James Ervin on trumpet. While this latest project “The Sixth Dimension” is without a doubt something completely different, you can still hear Wilde’s elegant craft. The technique does not get in the way of the music!