This thesis examines four of my recent compositions for jazz quintet. The compositions were conceived to comprise a collection or suite, with each piece inspired by the work of a master of a particular creative discipline. Moved by the work of Haruki Murakami (literature), Wassily Kandinsky (painting), Jim Jarmusch (cinema) and Frank Gehry (architecture), I composed a piece as an homage to each of them. My intent was to convey through the compositions the mood, atmosphere and imagery communicated by these masters through their own art. I discuss the development of each of the compositions, as I moved from the compositional analogues to putting notes on paper. I describe specific concepts, structures and techniques I used in the process, and the motivating factors behind those decisions. I cite certain composers (present-day and deceased) whose work impacted my own, and illustrate the ways in which they informed my work
