Search - Adam Cruz :: Milestone

Drummer and composer Adam Cruz did not choose the title of his debut album lightly.
Milestone is both a professional and personal marker.

I ve had a vision to do something with my composing for a long time, says Cruz. But I ve also felt a certain ripening needed to happen. This is a big step for me. I ve invested a lot of time in practicing and studying, working at my relationship with the piano and developing a compositional voice. I ve just turned 40 and I m happy the record is coming out now. There s a certain amount of growth and maturity that I have gone through, deepening my dedication as a drummer and composer, particularly over the last decade.

Comprising eight original compositions, and featuring a true all star band including Miguel Zenón, alto sax; Steve Wilson, soprano sax; Chris Potter, tenor sax; Steve Cárdenas, electric guitar; Edward Simon, piano, and Ben Street, bass, Milestone, which was made possible by a grant by the Aaron Copland Recording Fund, marks a before and after in Cruz s development as an artist.

This wasn t something I put together in a few months, where I wrote a few tunes, theme-solos-theme, and went to the studio, says Cruz. I ve been watering the seeds over the years, sitting at the piano and going through much trial and error. We all have a tendency to rush things to try to just get them done, and for me it was important to take time to see what was there. I tried to listen for when something felt true, and original.