West Point Military Academy is just around the corner from where I live. But since I’ve never had any reason to go there it’s almost like a separate planet. A beautiful planet — the layout is just spectacular.

Yesterday I was invited to a rehearsal with the base’s big band, the Jazz Knights. We read through a few things from A Single Sky and few new charts I have been working on. They sound great ! It was a little disconcerting at first, standing in front of a group of musicians in what looked like (granted, to my untrained eye) full battle fatigues. But this band is like a hidden treasure, they are making so much of their service to the country and playing their a##es off while doing it.

Jazz Knights I salute you. Thanks for the music and I hope to visit again soon.