I´ve been giving some thought to the process of working things out in the practice room, and how this translates into actual playing situations. What I came up with lately is that this process of finding new things to play is perpetually at work, especially when one is playing on a regular basis. For example, I was playing a cadenza the other night on the tune Easy Livin, and I stumbled upon a pattern that I began to move around in a variety of ways. It had a nice sound, abstract and melodic at the same time. The germ was C, down to A, F, D, then up to E. and then G. The next starting note can be A or A flat. (A,Fsharp;D,B,Csharp,E).

What I realized is that, as a composer and a player, the act of composing in the moment is always in play - the ability to be fluid and fresh results from the act of feeling relaxed, confident, and open to what is going by. In a sense, I feel like I´m not playing the notes. I don't put my opinion or agenda on the music. I merely let it come out and interact with the other players in a gracious and unassuming way. What a relief! It is so much easier this way.

I did practice for 6 hours a day when I was younger. This deffinitely was an integral part of developing the musicianship I have today. But the recent growth has come mainly from being vigilant in live playing situations.

Be an instigator. Write some music, get it played and recorded. Hook up a performance of the music in a bar, school, church, community center, art gallery, jail ... whatever. It is on us to get it happening.

Swing on!