Like many musicians, I've spent considerable time in pursuit of the skills demanded by my craft. At times it seems that practicing scales, learning the idioms of jazz and blues, and studying technique are as much a part of life as eating and sleeping. And, like so many others, I've discovered that these skills are only a part of what it takes to have rewarding experiences in performance. The rest is made up of intangibles, not the least of which is a good chemistry with fellow musicians.
Improvised music, like good conversation, is an exchange of ideas perpetuating itself in a dynamic, stimulating fashion. Responsive interaction almost always leads to that fertile territory which is all but unattainable solitarily.
From the first time Lewis and I played as a duo (in a basement in 1980), we've enjoyed an ease of communication that we've valued and cultivated over the years. Every time we get together for a performance, I can count on Lewis to put some real wind in my sails, and I always look forward to the next time. I hope you enjoy our efforts to capture this friendship on disc.

--Jon Gagan