Compared to some jazz music, New Nostalgia’s music is really demanding, highly notated and specific. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle, where the song only works if all the parts are arranged and performed just right. 

That being said, I do try to find pockets in the music for everyone to have their moments of creative freedom––and I’ve come to rely on a lot of the band members to exercise that freedom. I could never come up with the fills + textures that Brandon (our guitarist) plays, or the wild, endlessly varied interludes that Larry (our pianist) comes up with between tunes on our gigs. 

I think, as a saxophonist, I get a lot of satisfaction playing a part just as the composer intended it––realizing their vision. So I’m super grateful to have bandmates who are willing to see my vision and use their insane musicianship to help us get there together :)