Jazz musicians loved Conrad Silvert—as a human being, jazz writer, and huge supporter of the music.  In his early thirties he began a losing battle against testicular cancer.  He was encouraged to ask musicians with whom he felt particularly close to participate in a benefit concert to help defray his huge medical bills.  We were all very touched to be part of what everyone knew would be Conrad’s musical epitaph.  The spirit and collaboration that night was very special, and the concert lasted well over three hours.

Because of contractual restrictions, many musicians do not appear on this double LP release.  (Click here to see the poster and group photo showing everyone except Sonny Rollins.) Conrad had the idea of creating new combinations of musicians, which heightened the sense of adventure.

I opened the concert with a solo piano version of my composition “Cascade”, then played “As Long As There’s Music” with Charlie Haden as a duet, then morphed to a quartet with the addition of Pat Metheny and Tony Williams for “ All the Things You Are.”  Later that night, Herbie Hancock and I did the two piano piece, “ Free Form/Straight No Chaser,” which appears on the album, and followed with a terrific version of “ ‘Round Midnight” that I hope will someday be included in a multi-CD re-issue that is being considered by Sony. 

The concert was dedicated to Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans.  This album was dedicated to the memory of Conrad Silvert, who died just a few weeks after this unique evening of music.