Music
Grace Notes
I like to write tunes dedicated to people who have inspired me or had an impact on my life. “Peter the Painter” was written for a guy who paints houses and apartments for a living. He does great work, is an honest person, and is someone who understands quality.
“Aaronology” is named for the son of an old friend of mine. I met Aaron when he was two-years-old. His quietly inquisitive nature and bright red hair inspired me to write this tune. It took me sixteen years to finally record this memory of a unique little boy who is now getting ready to go to college.
Playing “live” is a completely different experience than making music in a recording studio. Things happen on the bandstand that just don’t happen anywhere else. The audiences in Japan, true jazz fans, always inspired us to try something new.
I wrote ‘Potter’s Planet” for the brilliant saxophone player Chris Potter.
“Ivan the Terrible” was written for the director of a school I worked at one summer teaching music improvisation to day campers who ranged in age from 5-18.
“The Little Things Mean So Much” was Teddy Wilson’s theme song in the 1940s when he led a big band.
