Composed in December 2014 during a visit to Palm Bay, Florida, Not Without You was written for my wife, Debbie. I recorded it with Tom Glenn for our CD New Song. Set in a jazz waltz rhythm, the melody carries a strong sense of forward motion, balanced by an 8-bar bridge that provides a moment of calm before returning to the final A section.
Though the piece is governed by the key of B minor, it begins unexpectedly on a B7 chord—a harmonic choice that I found especially satisfying. There’s a degree of ambiguity in the harmony, which I find compelling, so long as it doesn’t undermine the tonal center. Striking that balance between harmonic mystery and key stability was a challenge I enjoyed exploring.
Track from the Goodis & Glenn CD New Song
