With VISIONS, Mark Leonard, Nick Skrowaczewski and Stanley J. Zappa reveal an aesthetic and methodology informed by the music of the 60's that later supplanted "Jazz." The trio looks to John Coltrane, rather than John Cage as being the principal architect of today's improvised music. This aesthetic orientation is evident in VISIONS. VISIONS is further informed by the trio's longevity, resulting in a sound that is elusive to many of the "ad hoc" ensembles performing and recording today. VISIONS is the first recording by the trio. It was recorded for Archive/Edition, Bill Dixon's own label dedicated to his projects (Odyssey being the first) and those projects by musicians somehow related to his life as educator and artist. After hearing the first 5 tracks on VISIONS, Bill Dixon responded enthusiastically, suggesting the trio release that material on Archive/Edition. In light of this invitation, the trio decided to record again with the intention of creating a more substantial document for both the trio's debut and the first non Dixon Archive/Edition release. The final seven tracks were recorded by Steve Lobdell of the Davis Redford Triad and Faust. VISIONS features original artwork by Bill Dixon as well as a liner essay by Ben Young. The trio (Bassist Mark Leonard, Percussionist Nick Skrowaczewski and Saxophonist Stanley J. Zappa) met at Bennington College in 1991. There they studied with Bill Dixon and played in his ensemble. The trio later moved to New York City. In addition to their own work, Stanley and Mark were sidemen in groups led by Rashid Bakr (Cecil Taylor's drummer of many years) with principal performances at the Knitting Factory, NYC. Towards the end of his stay on the East Coast, Stanley began performing with Lawrence Cook, with performances at Bennington College and the Zeitgeist Gallery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Eventually Mark, Nick and Stanley left the East Coast and now live in California, Minnesota and Oregon respectively.