Back Home from Gradient by Machado Mijiga

Another piece written for the guest performing on it; "Back Home" is a piece I had originally written for my long-time friend Rob Araujo to include on his debut record "Hybrid Eyes" in 2016, but ended up being finished too close to the studio date to attempt to record.

The piece was never written in sheet music format for live performance until 2019 to play on my headlining set for PDX Jazz Festival on a double bill with Mark Giuliana, which eventually became my live album "Fellowship."

I played a very groove-oriented electronic version of "Back Home" for that to compliment Mark's "Beat Music" project, but I originally intended the piece to be more of a musical rumination on the feeling of returning to your roots. In my case, this came from a trip to Portland in 2014 whilst away for college that reminded me of how much the Rose City felt like home to me.

I wrote this piece at the piano, and it is still the melody I reach for when I see a piano that I'd like to play. Rob remembered the melody and played it on piano without ever having seen the sheet music or practiced the part, which shows how fitting this tune was for his sophisticated touch and sensitivity as a pianist.

This piece has TWO BASS SOLOS! An upright solo by Garrett, and a bass guitar solo by Sam Arnold, who was the original bassist for the first recording of "Back Home" I have off of the live album.

Tracklist

10.	Back Home	8:13

Credits

from Gradient, released March 13, 2022
Personnel:

Rob Araujo, piano
Sam Arnold, bass guitar
Garrett Baxter, bass
Machado Mijiga, drums

License