How did the gigs with the Chick Corea Elektric Band and David Sanborn come together?
Evelyn Brechtlein, from Chick’s organization, called and asked me to go to Florida in order to play with Chick at his house. I got the offer on John Patitucci’s recommendation. I went, I played, I got the gig, and had what was, and continues to prove to be, the richest musical experience of my life. I gained more knowledge in those months than I still know what to do with. I continue to sift through it. In a way, I’d probably have been more successful at that gig if I hadn’t paid so much attention to what was going on around me. I couldn’t help it though. I knew I was walking into an entirely unique situation, unlike any I’d seen previously, and I was hell bent on soaking up everything I possibly could, maybe even to the detriment of my immediate performance. It’s ok though because life is a big picture, and I’m so much more of a musician for having done that. I only wish that it hadn’t been my first highly-challenging, high-profile road gig. If I’d have gotten my road legs together in
