“I can’t climb without hearing a song. Most of these songs had their origins during a climb. I usually hear simple melodies and groove when I’m alpine climbing and frenetic, more complicated melodies when I’m rock climbing… then again sometimes it’s the opposite”
“This music was composed to give expression to the uniqueness and the natural gifts we have here in the Pacific NW. Growing up in Portland, I’ve always been grateful. I’ve always recognized how lucky I am that I can drive 15 minutes and be at the foot of the rocks. Drive and hour and be at the foot of the mountains. Every day I can see the mountains, St. Helens, Rainier, Hood, Adams...ok, most days are too cloudy to actually see them, but I can feel them, I know they’re there and I want to climb. And on those rare days when the sky is clear and cold, or when the setting sun turns them red, purple, yellow, black, those mountains take my breath and my soul they are so incredibly beautiful.
To me, the art of improvisation and the art of climbing are much related. A lot of what makes a great climber is the same as what makes a great improviser: Courage, strength, creativity, total awareness of environment – the ability to focus pin-pointedly and generally at the same time, and finally, to let go of all ambitions, inhibitions, thoughts… and play”
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