Greetings and warm wishes to you all. I hope this message finds you in the process of doing something positive for your mind, body and spirit, and helping others along the same path. I believe this is the most valuable tool we, as part of the world population, have to offer. Tolerance and open mindedness must be in the mix as well. For it is better to understand than to be understood!

About 3 weeks ago there was an article in the New York Times about a professional symphony orchestra in Baghdad, Iraq. Amidst all the turmoil and violence in the city, the orchestra has persisted in rehearsing and planning for upcoming concerts. The orchestra members are divided amongst all the warring factions found in the country today. They manage to put religious and philosophical differences aside and they sit down and make music together. They do this despite the many dangers they face in the process. Further evidence that music and the arts can bring people together in the most dire situations, and allow people to leave their differences at the door.

Sitting at home these days between weekend work trips. Working on some big band arrangements for a new recording we’ll be doing in February as well as new tunes for the Yellowjackets, a project of Icelandic folk tunes arranged for big band, and trying my best to write a good ballad. This somehow is the hardest thing to do. What I do is write for a while, and then do some listening to a bunch of different kinds of music, then get back to the writing. This seems to regenerate my energy, and allows for a fresh re-entry to the writing process. I’ve been listening to some old Keith Jarrett recordings, old Miles Davis, and Stian Carstensen’s cd called Farmer’s Market. Some wild music with crazy time signatures and beautiful playing!

In the name of trying to stay in shape, I’ve developed an exercise regimen that can be done anywhere. I first lean up against a wall or desk and stretch my hamstrings in the back of my legs, one leg at a time. Straighten the leg and lean forward gently until you feel some tightness in the back of the leg. Alternate legs a few times. Next I raise my arms above my head and stand as erect as possible. With straight legs I try to touch my toes (don’t force it) and then return to the position with arms straight up over your head. This is great for the posture and neck. I then do some curls with my saxophone case, one arm at a time. Next grab on to the bathroom door (in a hotel room, anyway) and, with your feet remaining on the ground, do some pull-ups. You don’t have to go all the way up, just enough to flex the muscles. I do 20 of these twice. Next I do 40 push-ups, 40 setups, and repeat the pushups and situ-ups one more time. This all takes about 20 minutes, and gets the heart pumping as well as works all the muscle groups.

Thanks goodness for music! It is the reason I get up every morning and try to be a better person, musician, friend, husband, father, and student of life. Like the orchestra in Iraq, music can give us the strength to make a difference in the world, and carry on with a positive outlook despite the craziness and inequities that surround us. I feel like If I can put some positive, resonant music in the air, it may negate some of the bad energy floating around right now. This may seem naïve to you, but it keeps me going.

Keep the faith!