Distant Valley (Book VI) is a playful and imaginative collection of original jazz compositions by Gregg Hill that blends music, wordplay, and visual art into a single creative project. The concept began as an experiment: taking familiar musical terms and transforming them — through rearrangement or embellishment — into whimsical, character-like names or fantastical ideas. For instance, the musical term “arpeggio” becomes “Peggy Arpo,” reimagined as a short-order diner waitress.
 
Building on this idea, Hill composed a series of tunes inspired by these invented names and concepts. To bring them into a visual dimension, he collaborated with Michigan artist Dennis Preston, who created illustrations based on selected pieces. Their collaboration sparked a shared sense of humor and creative momentum, resulting in a finished volume that combines 34 jazz compositions with 18 original illustrations.
 
The book is not just a music collection but a multidisciplinary work that invites readers (and musicians) into a quirky, imaginative world where musical language becomes character and story. It hints at possible future expansions — perhaps even live interpretations of these characters — Enjoy the journey into Distant Valley!
 
Book price $29.95 + $10 shipping/handling = $39.95
 
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