or 38 (soprano Sax, Chinese ball chimes)

In Taiwanese slang, 38 means "silly girl." March 8th (3/8) is also “girl Day” in Asia. This is about meeting my friend Chen Yi-Chun who is, incidentally, 38.

Three Steps Down (tenor sax)

What is your 5-year plan? In the last 2 years, I have found I'm so far away from where I want to be. In trying to climb up my own ladder of success, I have found myself taking three steps down.
(After Ken Vandermark & John Zorn)

Jagged (alto sax)

Life is filled with rough edges, but one must continue to seek a level path.
(After Eric Dolphy)

Neptune (tenor sax, sleigh bells)

My friend Yi-Chun says she’s from Neptune. I guess she’s related to Sun Ra! This is about sharing a pursuit of creating art.
(After John Coltrane)

Viva Guatemala! (flute, bassoon, rain stick, clapping)

In the fall of 2000, two friends and I drove from San Francisco to Guatemala. It was the first extended vacation I had had since 1993. On the long drive through Mexico, we kept saying “Viva Guatemala!” as a rallying cry for the adventure.
(After Roland Kirk and Julius Hemphill)

35¢ (bass clarinet)

My friend Jay Carter has introduced me to many musicians I have not heard of before. One was the clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre. The title of this piece comes from a story told by Steve Swallow, the bassist in one of Giuffre’s most ground breaking trio configurations (with pianist Paul Bley), about the night their group broke up after a gig that paid each member 35¢.
(After Jimmy Giuffre)

Head Bobbin' (soprano, tenor saxes, bass clarinet)

Sometimes things go your way, and you get into a good groove.

Cogitation (alto sax, bassoon, bass clarinet, singing bowl)

Sometimes one must look within for answers. This is a meditation on life, past and present.
(After Pharoah Sanders & John Zorn)

Early Exit (soprano, alto & tenor saxes, flute, bass clarinet, bassoon, singing bowl, tambourine, Chinese cymbals, hooves shaker, nutshell shaker, sleigh bells, Agogo bells)

This piece is an extended tone poem about the day a friend of mine died at work. Jos Claerbout (June 14, 1974 - August 20, 1999) was only 25 years old when he left us. The poem begins with my waking up and going to work as on any other day, then seeing paramedics carrying out my friend who had died suddenly of heart failure. Jos had arrived early to work, and was found in his cubicle soon thereafter slumped over at his computer terminal. There was absolutely no indication that anything was wrong. He was in great health had no vices, rode his bike to work, and was a vegetarian. It was a long day of confusion and reflection, and, afterward, an evening spent alone waiting for my girlfriend to come home.
(After Albert Ayler & Tim Berne)

Malevolence (flute)

My ex-girlfriend liked to demonstrate her independence by purposefully doing something perverse, simply to prove her point.
(After Eric Dolphy)

Less (soprano sax)

At the end of a long time love affair, you might find your soul smaller.
(After Julius Hemphill)

Amblin’ (bassoon)

Riding my motorcycle and hiking in the mountains near San Mateo is my mode of escape.
(After Charles Mingus)