T.K. Comments on the Song Selections

1. Chant for Peace Eternal - This song was composed and arranged by Tony Branker for his uncle who resides in the spirit world. With all the wars, death, and affliction in the world today eternal peace would be viable option. It is so easy to be a positive human being, allowing peace and happiness to overcome all the negative vibrations.
   
   
2. This is for Albert - Wayne is one of my favorite composers of all time. His melodic and harmonic approach to music is unique and has influenced me tremendously. Merci beaucoup, Brother Shorter!
   
   
3. Evening Prayer - This composition is basically about giving thanks to God for all the wonderful gifts bestowed upon us in our daily lives. The greatest gift of all is good health and life itself.
   
   
4. Hallucinations - Bud is a monumental giant in improvisational music. His compositions are testament to creative genius. I hope one day to record an entire CD of his tunes, paying homage to a true legend of 20th century music.
   
   
5. Another Blue - The entire reservoir of The Blues encompasses such a wide array of emotions, feelings, attitudes and expressions that it is at best extremely difficult to classify every 8 bar, 12 bar, 24 bar, or any variation thereof as simply "The Blues". This genre of music has such a personalized evocation, that each deserves its own category. This particular tune recalls some very mellow times gone by.
   
   
6. You Go to My Head - This is definitely one of my favorite standards. The Clifford Brown and Lee Morgan recordings are my favorites. James came up with this arrangement and it knocked me out immediately.
   
   
7. It's Really All About Love - I guess you could classify me as an optimistic and romantic individual. As Pops (Louis Armstrong) once said "It is all about love, baby, love."
   
   
8. A Night in Tunisia - What more can you say about Dizzy, a true master and innovator of 20th century music. I had the great pleasure and honor to record with him on Randy Weston's "Spirit of Our Ancestors" CD. It's another high honor for me to have a genuine living legend in the spirit of Randy Weston join me in this special tribute.
   
   
9. Crossings - I had the pleasure to tour in Africa with my band on numerous occasions. After a State Department tour of ten countries in west Africa in 1990, I composed this tune. It is a tribute to the ancestors who lost their lives in that terrible voyage across the Atlantic, and to those ancestors who made it to this country and allowed me to evolve into who I am today.
   
   
10. Pileau - Some of us who came from the Mother land went to the islands, which is where my ancestry has its roots (Jamaica and Trinidad). Pileau is a dish indigenous to Trinidad (rice and peas, vegetables, chicken or some other meat, all cooked in one pot.) My cousin "Baby" made the best Pileau when I was growing up.
    
    
11. Solar - Everything composed and arranged by Miles is worthy of study and examination. The legacy of this "African Prince" is monumental. The trumpet chair here is in the very capable hands of Eddie Henderson.