Does this album have a conceptual idea? Something you intend to communicate?

I feel like the title “The Weather” just felt good for how the album was just sort of blown together… every part of the process had to be allowed to run it’s course with some things turning out sunny and others obscured by thick fog. As an artist and especially a leader, it can be hard to release one’s instinct to control everything and to simply let things flow, succeed or fail by themselves. That was a wonderful lesson I learned in the process and am very thankful for it. In the end what made it on the album was what felt the best to play that night and sounded the best placed together in the days after. I also think there is something very funny about how much importance we put on the weather sometimes even though normally it doesn’t really matter… it’s always changing and we can’t really control it… It’s also subjective as in a lot of people, myself included like rainy days... sometimes…

Where do the compositions come from? how do you work them? what inspires you?

The first two compositions where composed for, inspired by and dedicated to two very good friends of mine and were composed specifically for the concert in Vic which also happened to be the first time that they were ever performed. Both very new for the trio. The following two were part of a ten song compositional project that the trio had recorded earlier in the year. And the last three were old compositions from circa 2005 - 2009 that had never been recorded before that I thought would be good vehicles to feature each of us as soloists on. 

As far as my compositional style is concerned it can be best described as Melodic/atonal… I compose a singable melody, add a logical and singable countermelody that feels like a bass line and then colorize both using simple harmony. The melody is the most important element and since it is not associated with any one key overall, the harmony is considered to be atonal. Singing and expressing Melody is what inspires me…

What would you highlight about the music on this recording?

The music on this album is special because it was a live performance and very much improvised and created in the moment by all of us working, listening and forging ahead the best we could, together, with what happened in the moment. The audience members who were there could see, feel and hear that without explanation. This Music can also give a listener in the privacy of their own home the chance to experience the music the same way. It is not meant to be listened to as background music in a crowded bar but silently with eyes closed and ears open.

How would you define Bill and Masa as musicians? What do they contribute to the project?

Bill being one of my oldest friends and musical associates has had an egnormace impact on my musical evolution. An amazing teacher by word and even more importantly, by action, it has always been a sought after challenge and privilege to share the bandstand with him whenever possible and I have asked him to collaborate in many of my projects as a leader. His very personal voice, tone and melodic choices are instantly recognizable and he always has something to say, taking his time to present, build upon and break up his musical ideas and stories. Masa is a unique force of musical nature. Having had the pleasure of working with him over the last 20 or more years, I have come to love the absolute rock solid dedication that he delivers to absolutely every note, his ability to know how and when to support and also when to take over and sprinkle his magic all over the music. By uniting these two together on the bandstand with me, I as a drummer need to simply strap in, open my ears and do my best to present my own musical voice as solid as theirs, without getting in their way. A job and responsibility that has been my intension from the beginning.