Bison, Zui Quan, Anti-War March and Soulnimsky are in what I like to refer
to as: Chant Form; whereby, one or more instruments is playing a repetitive
figure (chant), while another states the theme and improvises using the
thematic form as a guide-- whether rhythmically, harmonically or melodically.
This is shared by all of the musicians playing. The remaining compositions
are more typical in structure: melody-improvisation-melody; with the
exception of Gardenia, which is more in the singers tradition of: melody with
improvised accompaniment (piano).

This is not an attempt to tell you what to hear or to listen for; it is merely an explanation of each song title.

Bison – refers to Howard University. I am proud to be a Howard Bison and this song was inspired by my experience there as a graduate student.

Zui Quan (drunken fist) – refers to a traditional Chinese martial arts style, which imitates a "drukard's" staggering movements. The art of deception.

Secret Handshake* – inspired by stories I'd heard about Duke Ellington and his closest friends having a secret handshake. Some of my friends and I thought that that was cool and we came up with our own. The title also refers to mutual understanding.

Anti-War March...

Earth - A sound exploration based on the idea of earth and all living things; the good, the bad, and the scary.

Soulnimsky * - this piece was inspired by the scholarly work of composer Nicolas Slonimsky, who in 1947 published Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns.

Gardenia - an ode to Billie Holiday, was inspired by the scholarly research of Ms. Holiday by Professor Jessica Boykin-Settles (Howard University).

Grandmother Tells of Africa* - is the title of a short story written by my great-aunt, Celestine McRae (self-published in 1953); the melody was inspired by the spirit of this book.