Amber Alley was partly inspired by the distinctive sounds and textures of the 1970s ‘Neo-Noir’ film genre, which at the time revived the classic 1940s-1950s film noir genre for contemporary audiences. I’m fascinated by the dark and mysterious colors mixed with the tranquil and jazz-filled harmonies found within the music, and I wanted to create my own piece inspired by the sounds of the genre. Over time, I mixed these concepts with other jazz elements like Swing, Bossa Nova, and Showtunes, some of my other favorite aspects of the jazz world.

 

While composing Amber Alley, I was reminded of the color of my hometown's streetlights, which glow a vibrant amber hue at night. The music brought back memories of these oddly beautiful lights, and it ultimately helped shape the rest of the piece.