With Miguel Zenon and Joe Hunt at Jordan Hall for NEC’s JazzLab 2015

Several years ago, I was lucky enough to be involved in the design of a great summer camp for high school jazz kids, New England Conservatory of Music’s JazzLab.  This video was shot by an audience member at a JazzLab Masters concert.  Even though there could be a few improvements in fidelity and resolution, the spirit of the concert comes through.  It was an absolute blast to play with Miguel Zenon and Joe Hunt again.  Miguel is a MacArthur Fellow, and this distinction is well-deserved.  I have known few musicians who have worked as hard to take the talents they were born with and improve to the level he performs and composes with.  His own recordings are invigorating and challenging, at times intellectual but always beautiful.  Joe Hunt is not only one of my favorite drummers in Boston, but he is a drummer I have listened to since…forever.  When I finally had a chance to play with him years ago, after obsessively listening to his playing on Stan Getz’ “Getz Au Go Go” and George Russell’s “Ezz-thetic”, I was nearly too excited to speak to him.  They are both amazing musicians.