Born in Chicago. B.Mus. in composition (University of Illinois). 1978 Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. Six years as a featured soloist with that band and its successor, Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra (now The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra). 1981 began his 4-year tenure with the Stan Getz Quartet. 1990 until 1995 pianist, Phil Woods Quintet. At the present time, he appears as soloist at concerts and festivals worldwide. In 1996 re-joined The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra as pianist and Composer-in Residence. He is former chief conductor, now composer-in-residence, with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band; former chief conductor with the Danish Radio Big Band; and guest conductor with the Metropole Orchestra, the Swiss Jazz Orchestra, and the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw. As composer/arranger and conductor he has earned 12 Grammy nominations. He won a Grammy for his work on the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra’s “Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard”. He has 20 albums under his own name. The latest is “Rituals”, with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band and Chris Potter (“…a fascinating listen, a dramatic homage of breathtaking breadth and sophistication that succeeds on every level. ✶✶✶✶✶”—Ed Enright, DownBeat). He is professor emeritus in jazz composition at Manhattan School of Music. He was also involved with the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop for 24 years, 16 as musical director. He has also done clinics and major residencies at dozens of institutions all over the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKHGztNTEtA