To win what we yearn for, what do we learn for?

It is under the mantle of this oddly phrased question, one that seems to answer itself, that I summarize the holistic experience of my time in Iowa. This album, as with all my music, is also meant to tell a story; and while it’s a tale deeply personal to me, the songs here are just a much a tribute to my personal journey with the music we refer to as “jazz”, and truly Black music at large, as they are to the remarkable people with whom I’ve embarked on the journey over the past couple years. It’s been both my honor and pleasure to spend the time I have with the musicians and friends who lent their talents and voices to this album.

Featuring the talents of Giauna Neville on drums, Jacob Pembelton on acoustic and electric bass, Cole Peterson on alto saxophone, Joey Schnoebelen on trumpet, Marvin Truong on tenor saxophone, Peter Stoltz on drums (on Wad It In Cellos), Tristan Smith (talentisalive) on vocals, and yours truly on piano, Rhodes, synths, and vocals, with lyrics written by myself and Tristan Smith. Mixed by Christopher Jensen at the University of Iowa (except for Wad It In Cellos, which I mixed myself in the humble Team Real New studio!)