My goal in music and as a composer has always been to search out ways to combine spontaneous improvisation with well formed compositions that have a real sense of direction and intent. In most cases the instrumental parts will be notated and the drum part (usually playing in a jazz or rock style) will be improvised, but I do often have an improvised flute, horn or guitar solo. It's important for me to employ drummers and soloists with a real sense of creativity, who respond energetically to the notated parts of the piece, and in many cases I will be asked if some of my notated parts are in fact improvised, a query that I take as a compliment. When I was living in New York City, I worked frequently with drummers Elvin Jones and Rick Cutler and would assign the horn solos to such top players as Joe Farrell, David Liebman and Jimmy Owens, but now back in my home town of St. Louis I find that there is absolutely no shortage of skilled musicians to fulfill the requirements of my music, form pianists Greg Mills and Jim Hegarty, to sax players like Paul DeMarinis, guitarist Dave Black, vocalist Debby Lennon, and of course, really top drummers - Gary Sykes, Kevin Gianino, Charlie Dent and Kevin Cheli. So enjoy! and let's keep the good vibes (and good drum rolls)..... rolling!