For some guys, a mid-life crisis means buying a red sportscar.  For me, it meant becoming a jazz composer.

After being a fan of jazz all my life, I started taking jazz piano lessons a number of years ago.  I slowly learned how to play some tunes in a jazzy way -- learning about all those interesting chord voicings and changes.  But the real challenge was improvisation, the heart and soul of jazz.  Improvisation is like songwriting, but in real time.   That takes more than creativity and interesting sounds in your head; it takes real technical skill to be able to make your fingers do what you want them to.

After struggling with that one for awhile, it occurred to me that I could slow the clock down by figuring out the new music by writing it down rather than trying to play it on the spot.  I always had new melodies rattling around in my head, but never bothered to write them down or otherwise preserve them.  Then a small revelation:  why not?

Pretty soon, my piano lessons became composing lessons and the tunes started flowing.   Lucky for me, my piano teacher is a top-flight performing musician who knows and plays with lots of other top-flight performing musicians.   As a result, my music could leave the narrow confines of my lead sheets and get played by really talented guys.   Putting my tunes in the hands of great players has given them a life that I could only imagine.

At first, I handed the musicians the lead sheets for my tunes and let them have at it.  It was entirely their responsibility to turn my melodies and harmonies into multi-instrumental arrangements.   After the first two sessions, I became more ambitious and starting arranging the tunes for the musicians.  Figuring out what horn players and guitarists and so one should be doing turned out to be at least as large a creative effort as writing the tunes in the first place.  But learning is fun and I keep raising the bar on how much I do.

Each recording session so far has defined a new stage in my unexpected journey in composition, arranging for jazz ensemble and musical project management.  I hope that you enjoy the results -  I sure do!

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To read my occasional rants on random subjects, check out my blog here: randysimonjazz.blogspot.com

• Adrian Cohen  piano on Light It Up, Awakening, Susp Motion
  
• John Menegon  bass on Light It Up
• Danny Whelchel  drums on Light It Up, Awakening, Susp Motion
• Kevin Barcomb  tenor & soprano sax, flute on Light It Up, Awakening
• Pete Bellino trumpet and flugelhorn on Light It Up, Awakening
• Paul Borrello vibes on Light It Up
• Mike DelPrete bass on Awakening, Suspended Motion
• Lee Russo  tenor sax on Suspended Motion
• George Muscatello  guitar on Awakening