The collective played their first show in 2009 as a quintet to an intimate crowd at the infamous Vitello s in Studio City, CA. Since then the group has expanded to an octet with a full horn-section playing to sold-out audiences at Southern California s most prestigious jazz venues including Herb Alpert s Vibrato in Beverly Hills and the Catalina Jazz Club on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood - where this CD was recorded LIVE! The ensemble is comprised of some of the world s current and future jazz legends with a collective résumé that includes: alumni from the legendary Stan Kenton Orchestra; touring and recording artists with Natalie Cole, six time Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval, classic rock group the Steve Miller Band, alternative rock group the Violent Femmes, and performances with the L.A. Philharmonic. The band consists of five alumni and three current faculty members of the USC Thornton School of Music. All the members of this group also have their own projects including a Grammy nominated album. It is truly an honor for me to be the Musical Director of this amazingly talented hand picked group. Together we explore our musical influences through a jazz lens, including original arrangements and compositions from the group s members as well as my own. Enjoy this LIVE recording sprinkled with magical moments to be discovered and appreciated through out. I would like to acknowledge the jazz community and all of our friends, family, colleagues, students and fans for being there with us for this journey; one that for me began 20 years ago when I got my first set of drums. Namaste, -Jason