This past year, I was one of several musicians selected to be a part of the Artist Propulsion Lab, a program created by New York City’s classical radio station, WQXR. This program offered the opportunity to create content for the radio medium, something which I’d never done before.

I chose to create a podcast episode that centers around American composers Samuel Barber and John Cage, for which I wrote the script and performed the musical selections. The process was a fascinating one. In the episode, discuss the philosophies of these two icons of post-war American music, as well as my feelings and thoughts on playing their compositions. You can listen to the episode using the player below, or by following this link.

Pianist Janice Carissa joined me in studio for Barber’s Canzone and Cage’s Six Melodies. The podcast also features my recording of Barber’s Violin Concerto with the Bellingham Festival Orchestra from July 2023.

1. Sullivan Fortner's new album, Solo Game

My first introduction to the pianist Sullivan Fortner came through one of my favorite jazz vocalists, Cécile McLorin-Salvant. I remember listening to her 2018 album "The Window," entranced as always by her indescribably colorful, fluid voice and colors for days, then found myself increasingly drawn to what the piano was doing. I recently heard Cécile and Sullivan live at the Village Vanguard, where they played a set largely from The Window. Sullivan’s playing blew me away. He’s like a sculptor, working in seemingly infinite mediums. His playing carves wood, molds wet clay, chisels stone. What he is able to do on the piano transports me to some of the farthest reaches of sound and harmony that I've experienced and flows seamlessly and elegantly between worlds. On his new album Solo Game, his virtuosity, heart, wit, and creativity are on full display. I can't recommend this album enough. Listen again and again and be moved, amazed, and surprised each time.

Favorite tracks: King's Table, Space Walk

2. Pigeon pose

I've been getting back into yoga lately, after a years-long hiatus brought on by a persistent wrist injury. I used to be somewhat obsessed with hot vinyasa yoga, and that obsession seems to be creeping back into my life. Beyond the comfort of a hot room in these chilly fall/winter months, I leave the room with my whole body vibrating and my mind calm. I have a few favorite poses: revolved triangle, virasana (hero's pose), dancer...but maybe my favorite of all is pigeon. I walk a lot on a daily basis, so my hips are always tight. There's nothing like spending a few breaths (or, even better, several minutes in a yin sequence) on each side. I'm always surprised at how much tension I'm holding and can begin to let go within a few breaths. We’re so lucky to have so many amazing yoga studios and teachers here in NYC. I've been trying a few out over the past couple months and really finding some gems.

3. A new untitled cocktail

I improvised this recipe randomly one day because I a) love easy 1:1:1 ratios, and b) had a bunch of limes and a container of cherry syrup from some amaretto cherries lying around. It's sort of like a Naked & Famous but with fewer specialty ingredients.

1oz mezcal
1oz Montenegro amaro (can replace with any other amaro, also try any sweet-ish liqueurs!)
1oz lime juice
1/2oz cherry syrup (or other syrup of choice)

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What I'm listening to this week, Volume I (click here for the Spotify playlist):