My gosh, so many challenges this year. The world scene is so complex, it’s hard to know where to begin. Better to think about 2015! Much new music was created in 2014 that will emerge in the new year:

Music for 16 musicians, in four groups of four, based on 14th century ars nova musical thinking, entitled “Fabliaux”. Had the pleasure and honor to collaborate with Paul Grabowsky and the Monash Art Ensemble in Melbourne, Australia on the performance and recording. Will emerge in the Fall.

Whole handful of new quintet pieces for Jon Irabagon, Matt Mitchell, Linda Oh, and Rudy Royston. Can’t wait to begin touring these in 2015.

Music for and by Wayne Shorter with the Sound Prints ensemble, co-led by myself and Joe Lovano. With Lawrence Fields, Linda Oh, Joey Baron. A lot of you saw us on the road. The record comes out in April 2015 on Blue Note Records. We’ll play at Lincoln Center in May.

New Band! High Risk with Shigeto on electronics, Mark Guiliana on drums and electronics, and Jonathan Maron on bass and mini-moog bass. I play trumpet. We have already recorded and the record will come out in the first half of 2015. I am working feverishly on it right now. Very excited to premiere this new vision of improvised music and electronics.

Greenleaf continues to expand our catalog and offerings. Look for a new Donny McCaslin electric recording early in the year! Can’t wait. Also, more special offerings for subscribers. The Greenleaf Podcast, A Noise From The Deep will continue!

Festival of New Trumpet Music will be back with a new season in September 2015. More info and nonprofit donation information at www.fontmusic.org.

Also, thanks to the French American Jazz Exchange, I will be working in collaboration with French composer and pianist Frank Woeste in January. We are creating a new work around the life and work of surrealist Man Ray. Matt Brewer and Clarence Penn will join us in the ensemble. Looking forward to more new things!

Thank you and have a great holiday!

Dave