This album is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission, who without their generous support this work would not have been possible. Kotka on the Sill represents the work of American saxophonist and composer Teddy Raven, after living for one year on the prestigious Fulbright Fellowship in Plovdiv, Buglaria. While in Bulgaria, Teddy studied the kaval (traditional Bulgarian shephards' flute), traditional composition, and regularly performed with the acclaimed Karandilla Gypsy Brass Band, being one of a few outsiders to get this rare opportunity. This record functions as a metaphor for Teddy's overall musical experience in Bulgaria. The CD features many sonically different tracks, from folk orchestra, women's choir, jazz quintet, and Gypsy brass band. These seemingly different ensembles come together through the lens of an outsider to pair the exotic with the traditional, the foreign with the local, and expose listeners to something new. A story about the title: "I was sitting in my second story apartment in Plovdiv one day at the end of winter, when I noticed some movement on my window sill. I looked over, and there was a little cat sleeping on the cement sill which was about 1 foot (or 16 cm wide). I opened my window, and the cat, frightened by my movement, scurried down the tree it had come up on. Several days went by with the same meeting, and each day the cat grew less and less afraid. I started to put out food, which is clearly the way to a cat's heart, and eventually the cat stayed when I opened the window and even let me pet it around the ears, purring softly. At the same time as this, I was reading the book "Kafka on the Shore" by the Japanese author Haruki Murakami, in which cats play a central role of the book, both real and metaphysical. I was also writing a song for Bulgarian folk orchestra featuring myself on tenor sax, and thought that these serendipitous events must be remembered, so I decided to name the song after the cat, or "kotka" in Bulgarian, while alluding to the book I was reading at the same time. Hence the name "Kotka on the Sill." When deciding what to name the album, the same name just made sense and felt natural, and I realized it could act as a metaphor for my stay in Bulgaria. I was like the cat; looking into the window of Bulgaria for a relatively short period of time, learning as much as possible from the culture, and soon as things began to feel comfortable, I was gone." Hopefully, this album will remain as a testament to my time spent in the beautiful country of Bulgaria, the great musicians I met and collaborated with, and be a launch pad for future projects. THANK YOU to the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission for thinking my proposal was worthy, and for helping to fund the production of this album. Lyuben Dossev for your support from the very beginning, and for your amazing and patient guidance on the kaval. Тhe Academy of Music, Dance, and Fine Art in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Milcho Vassilev for your discerning ear and taking the time to comb over my compositions. Victor Liolov for your willingness and generous support for setting things up with Karandilla, and for your friendship. Miroslav Turiski and the Plovdiv jazz scene for welcoming me warmly and offering support when I really needed it. Dimitar Liolov and Ivan for showing me how to play Bulgarian ornaments on the sax. Todor Chorbov for your audio production expertise, professionalism, and good attitude. Maria Nalbantova for the amazing artwork. All of the wonderful friends I made in Bulgaria who each showed me a different piece of what makes your country so special. Много се радвам да покажe тази албум. Хаиде Настраве!