I always feel like the best way to work on music is to, well, work on music. Scott Hall at Columbia College in Chicago facilitated a program where I have a group of students composing, rehearsing and creating their own music. As part of that program, we will all be performing together at Jazz Showcase from March 12 to March 15. There’s a matinee on Sunday, March 15. I haven’t done a matinee in a long time.

There are at least 9 new original student works. We will also play a handful of my pieces arranged for the group. And the program is still in process, so new pieces may come in, or new arrangements may get made, in the course of the week.

Nothing like putting everything at risk! It heightens the sensitivities and channelizes the energies. I am confident we will play right through all of it. It’s going to be a great adventure.