I have had your solo cd for a while now, It is a great cd and it is such beautiful music.
I find that a large part of it has more in common with free music than straight jazz, which seems to be most of your focus and background.
Parts of it are really similar to ideas Barre Phillips, Joelle Leandre or I work with.
Do you have much experience playing or listening to free music?
Anyway, I love your bass playing and really enjoy the openness and creativity of that recording.
(it is available on emusic.com for anyone who doesn't have it.)

Hi Damon,
Thanks for the compliment about the "Solo Flights" Cd on Omnitone. I am flattered to have that compliment coming from you. I know you live on the West Coast and have played with a lot of creative artists.
I listen to a lot of different styles. I have had the pleasure of hearing Joelle and Barr live among several other avante players like Dave Holland, Sam Rivers, etc. I have seen many people live from many camps. I feel it is important to have a large pallette from which to draw. I have a good collection of LP's, CD's and cassettes. The bulk of my recordings are straight ahead, but I have recordings that were an "outer influence" on me such as Dave Holland's solo records, his duos with Sam Rivers and Barre Phillips, Anthony Braxton, Mark(s) Dresser and Helias, Circle, Rabbath, Trane, Mingus, Coleman, and Dolphy. Classically, Shostokovich quartets, Stravinsky, Ives, and others are in the mix too. Even at the early stages of my exploration into jazz, there was some free jamming. It helps me to explore the ability to hear what the next note I really want to play is. It has helped my ability to play/hear lines over changes too. Part of my practice is to play standards rubato like some of the tunes on the CD. I wait and not play until I hear the next note in my head and focus on following the line to it's musical conclusion.
Yes, I have made my living playing straight ahead for the most part. I really like to walk over changes, play the blues, and swing.

Thanks for the quick reply. I would really recomend that cd to anyone here, there are qualities we all can enjoy.
I also really enjoy your approach to the straighter material, it sounds very original but similar to Red Mitchell in terms of the freedom and creativity within the idiom.
"Trane's changes" is just awesome. I love that burly but clear arco sound you get. Hopefully you will make it to the SF bay area sometime soon. I'd love a bass lesson if you are out this way, let me know if one of your projects gets to Yoshi's or SF jazz.

Damon,
I have no plans to be in the Bay area at the moment, but hope that something comes up in the future. If you are at the International Society of Bassist's Convention in June, I will be there. Here is the website: www.isbworldoffice.com