Eli

“Eli” was composed right after I first heard the song “Three Card Molly” on Elvin Jones’ 1982 album, Earth Jones. One of my best friends, Japanese bassist Shota Ishikawa, played this record for me at his place during a late-night hang. We listened to music until the early hours of the morning. When I returned home, the sun was already up. Exhausted, I nonetheless sat down at my piano and let the melody to “Eli” flow through my fingers. I felt something very powerful happen then, and envisioned an intense image of great strength. Thus, I named my new tune “Eli” after the Semitic term for “deity”.