A Recent Improvisation

Exploring the Practice of Creativity

At a recent gig, I found myself winded with one number to go. My pianist and I had played a series of driving tunes and I was ready for a break. I looked at my watch and we were 18 minutes into a 20 minute set. One more tune was needed. I let my pianist, the phenomenal and sensitive Justin Nielsen call the tune. Canteloupe Island, the Herbie Hancock composition, would be our final offering.

I hadn’t played Canteloupe Island since my days as a regular at Buster Brown’s Tap Jam at Swing 46. That was the late 1990’s and a few of Hancock’s tunes were often called, including Chameleon, Watermelon Man (my personal favorite), and Canteloupe Island.

So, here I am with an old tune, and a tired body, hoping to get through a big finish. See how it played out in this video: