Combating Writer’s Block, Composing for Big Bands, and Extended Techniques

We sit down with composer and saxophonist Anna Webber to explore her disciplined compositional process and look ahead to her upcoming nonet album, It's Easier to Imagine the End of the World. Anna explains how she maintains a daily composition practice by avoiding time crunches, relying on pencil and paper, and utilizing "rogue cop police walls" to combat writer's block. We dive into her strategies for writing difficult "etudes" designed to challenge heavy-hitting musicians, and the financial realities of co-leading a big band with Angela Morris. We also reflect on her time studying in Berlin with John Hollenbeck and how she integrates extended techniques and microtonality into her work. Finally, she previews her upcoming nonet release, inspired by the writings of Noam Chomsky, Angela Davis, and Naomi Klein as a hopeful response to late-stage capitalism. Note: Birch Grove Media does not own the recordings featured in this episode. Timestamps: 01:47 - Developing a daily, disciplined compositional process 05:14 - The benefits of writing slowly without time crunches 07:05 - Composing with pencil and paper vs. the computer 10:07 - Strategies for breaking out of writer's block 14:42 - Studying in Berlin with John Hollenbeck 17:39 - The financial realities of co-leading a big band with Angela Morris 23:21 - Finding inspiration in extended techniques and microtonality 28:52 - Navigating misogyny and the "boys club" mentality in jazz education 36:08 - Previewing her upcoming nonet release, It's Easier to Imagine the End of the World BIRCH GROVE MEDIA Web: birchgrove.io Follow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram. Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia Get the Record: Shop our current 180g LP and digital releases on our website. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.