End-of-year whirlwind, including a NY recording

Almost two years into the pandemic, we’ve learned not to take anything for granted, so the recent whirlwind of performances – several performances with Arun Luthra’s Konnakol Jazz Project, a few performances with my own group, a couple of first-time gigs with the world-class singers Sofija Knezevic (NY) and Staci Griesbach (LA) – has been an extra-special delight, as has been the opportunity to direct the UW Jazz Orchestra in front of appreciative live audiences! But even among all those, a recent trip to NYC was a special highlight, since it was the first time in 14 years that the original lineup of the Dennis Mitcheltree Quartet (Dennis Mitcheltree, tenor sax; Jesse Crawford, bass; Bill McClellan, drums; and me on piano) got to play together again. We did five tours and a couple of albums from 1997 to 2007, when Dennis moved to LA and I to Oakland. Putting the band back together for a sold-out gig at NY’s iconic Smalls Jazz Club was a thrill, as was going into the recording studio the next day. Look for the new album sometime next year!