The music of Michael Daugherty (b. 1954) music borrows from all forms of American popular culture, from Barbie to Liberace. He is widely acclaimed as a gifted composer with a truly original voice. He is currently a Professor of composition of the University of Michigan, for whose excellent bands he has produced much original music.
Daugherty wrote Alligator Alley in 2003 on a commission from the American Composers Forum for their educational BandQuest series. He wrote it as a bassoon feature for his daughter, who was then in middle school. It has quickly gained popularity as both a bassoon feature and Daugherty's only work accessible to younger bands. (This does not mean that it is necessarily easy to play well - several other-than-perfect performances of it can be found scattered about the web, none of which I will single out here. Search youtube for a taste.)
Finally, a good recording (accurate, if not exactly spirited) from Hal Leonard. Don't mind the beeps during the piece. These are Hal Leonard's effort at copy protection.
BONUS: an interview with Michael Daugherty about all aspects of music. This is just part one - if you like it, check out the rest!
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