This piece is from a suite of five pieces pitched at a school jazz band. The suite is "The Fairground".
One of my favourite big band pieces is Paul Harts "Concerto for Jazz band and Classical Guitar". The balance between the guitar and the brass must be interesting in a live performance - but his piece was great.
Roller Coaster is meant to reflect that slight unease at a Fairground - it could all go so terribly wrong at any minute I've always felt. One my boys had a real love/hate feeling about rides and the enjoyable (?) feeling of the excitement. Hence the funny key changes, occasionally resolving but always moving.
