Three For Now-Modern Jazz Suite

Three For Now was the name given to a suite of short dances to jazz music. At times it was called the Modern Jazz Suite or Two for Now depending on how many musical selections Alvin Ailey decided to use at any given time. He wanted these works to open the program and introduce the company to audiences. He called them “music visualizations of jazz music” and what he wanted to express was “the freedom and interplay between dancers and instruments, the feeling of improvisation.  Reflections In D, an abstract solo usually performed by a male dancer, came out of this format and remains in the Ailey repertoire to this day. In addition to Duke Ellington, other jazz artists Mr. Ailey used in his jazz suites from 1960 to 1962 were John Lewis, John Coltrane, Lalo Schiffrin, and Jimmy Giuffre.