Looking Back Again is a reflection on the decision to drop out of college and play music. As 0th generation immigrants, my parents were not down with my pursuit of music at all. It was always just considered a hobby. I managed to convince them to get me a bass when I was 17; there was a lot of fighting for it. I went to college for international affairs in DC but dropped out because I wanted to dedicate myself to the bass.
This ballad harkens back to the standards of old. I found that the sonority of dominant13 #11b9 chords really gives a sense of déjà vu, of reminiscing and even questioning. The song builds on that feeling toward end of the form and then leaves us pensive with the Emaj7#11 before the turnaround back to the top.
Trumpeter Harry Spencer’s orchestral modern jazz has cinematic scope, inspired here by dissidents throughout history. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 3, 2023