Bootleg Hoedown was composed for the Unheard-of//Ensemble during their 2-day residency at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati.
When composing Bootleg Hoedown, I was very much inspired by memories of
my upbringing in the south. Although not heavily involved with "hoedown" music, I knew of its deep cultural roots. Being from Birmingham, Alabama, I'm mostly a city dweller, but a southern city gives you the opportunity to experience many cultures within a modern town. The term "bootleg" generally refers to something that is fraudulent or not authentic. Being that my roots are mostly R&B, Gospel, and Jazz, this piece is a "bootleg” of a hoedown; my remix of what a hoedown sounds like!
