Here's a little background on the tunes on our first CD:

First introduced by the original Gary Burton Quartet, which featured guitarist Larry Coryell and tune-namesake Steve Swallow on bass.  On the original LP, Gary Burton was credited as the composer.  On a recent Larry Coryell CD, the composer is listed as Coryell.  So who wrote it?  We'll guess Larry, since the tune is in the "guitar key" of A (meaning that the key of A is more of a natural key for guitar than for a keyboard).  The tune has an unusual 15-bar structure.

Beautiful waltz/ballad by the late, lamented Kenny Kirkland, heart and soul of the Branford Marsalis Quartet until his death in 2000.

O.P.!  Scott chose this as his feature/tour de force – adapted from the original version by composer/bassist/legend Oscar Pettiford.

"Blackberry Winter" is a Southern term - it refers to a brief cold spell in the spring when blackberries bloom, typically early to mid May.  Whether or not you have any Southern blood, Alec Wilder compositions have a way of evoking warm, nostalgic memories, no matter where home is.

One of the most challenging tunes we've attempted, this Chick Corea composition was an inspiration to all of us and no doubt helped define the musical direction of the trio.  The form is 18 bars in length, which is subdivided into 9 + 9 for the drum breaks.

Other Chick favorites of ours: Tones for Joan's Bones and the tune Bud Powell.

A captivating Harold Land composition with a relaxed Latin groove.  From the highly-recommended album Mapenzi.

By Monk, of course, but Monk never did this in 7/4 (to our knowledge).  The bridge is primarily in 4/4.  Since we love experimenting with odd time signatures, it's actually surprising that this is the only such tune that made it onto the CD.  We also enjoy playing in 5/4 (I Didn't Know What Time It Was, Magnolia Triangle, I'll Take Romance), and we perform a number of other tunes in 7/4 (Yes or No, Poinciana, Conception).

Who else but Henry Mancini could have written such beautiful, yet sorrowful, music?

Composed by master pianist Cedar Walton We're currently playing a couple other Walton tunes live - Martha's Prize and Fantasy in D - and working on a few more.  (We like Cedar!)