Jazz Souls on Fire brings the Afro-Semitic Experience back to elements that drive most of us in this ensemble. It brings us back to an ineluctable authenticity because we have to face the vital origin of each of our artistic selves. It brings us back to the groove and passion of blowing, dancing, and soaring freely in sound and spirit—it brings us back to our jazz roots. And by making this recording we get to pay tribute. Face it, everything under the sun comes from somewhere and while the origin of all things may be vibration, the vibes put down by our musical forefathers avail much in making our music easy to cull, inspiring us to create deeply from within ourselves, and be in touch with what keeps us all common, our humanness. In addition, we could never sneeze at the struggles Black musicians did bear, in spite of the fecundity of spirit and inventiveness shared in the art of song, dance and musicianship. The Afro-Semitic Experience gets to pay tribute to this in a real way with this album. What you hear on Jazz Souls on Fire is our interpretation of music that touched at least one or more of us as we were coming of musical age. And now, as torch bearers we lean forward and shed light, our light, on those fires that lit something in us. Yes, the Afro-Semitic Experience is made up of black and white, male and female, Jew, Christian, Muslim, Yoruba and other differing perspectives on many different things all contributing to something which we all believe is a necessary part of our lives. And yes, there are times when it bears mentioning because that is one way of perceiving who we are. But please remember, no matter what the political context may be at any given time, regardless of the "isms", "ations", and "ologies" inherent in the reasons we are chosen to share what we do with the world - we are first and foremost PLAYERS PLAYING! Jazz Souls on Fire is our interpretation of music that touched us collectively and individually as we were coming of musical age. And now, as torch bearers, we want to pass the torch forward. So, we invite you to be warmed by the sounds and rhythms inspired by our funky, soul-based ancestors.