The gift of creativity, in its various forms, is an attribute of the Creator that serves as a sanctuary and salvation for many artists—a conduit of calm, control and clarity that protects and preserves against the toxicity of culture and environment, while also providing a connectivity to the artistic intelligence that informs their talent and ability. This dynamic was highlighted in the recently released documentary, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool—an all-encompassing view in

No one practices or prepares to make a mistake, particularly in the midst of creating or performing, but mistakes are an unavoidable part of the creative process, particularly in the early stages of artistic development. They are uncomfortable to endure in the short term and sometimes expensive, in time, merit or money, but hold currency towards the mastery of craft, undiscovered knowledge, and the cementing of individual style and artistic expression. However, that same curr

What is faith—exactly? It is often lauded within pop and start-up culture as the common denominator to success along with hard work, discipline, desire and talent. Faith has traditionally been defined by the ability to maintain optimism in the face of disaster. In other instances, it has unfortunately been reduced to a simple state of hopeful emotion. Per scripture, faith is defined as: The substance of things hoped for; to be certain of the unseen—And without it, works are d

Life imitates Art, and Art imitates Life. It is a familiar saying derived from the original quote within Oscar Wilde’s essay, “The Decay of Lying”, and reflects the symbiotic relationship between life and art—and the potential power of art towards change, influence and reinvention. Given the parallel dynamic between artists and culture, it is ironic that we find ourselves living in a time of chaotic uncertainty, as art initiatives and programs are experiencing drastic cuts o

Improvisation is defined as “the ability to create and perform spontaneously without preparation; to produce from whatever is available”. It is a celebrated skill within art and entertainment, specifically within music—as demonstrated in Hip-Hop, and most notably Jazz. The ability to improvise is a key signifier of merit of a jazz artist, and is an attribute that is synonymous with the art form. The creation of new melodic and harmonic language within the closed vocabulary of