Time fades or obscures many things, but thankfully, good friendships aren't one of them. It's been ten years since Quincy Davis and I last recorded together and even longer since we were roommates in college, practicing and listening to music together every day. We'd been talking for years about recording again, but for some reason this time, we took action. Quincy reached out to Steve and Vicente, I reached out to John, and all of a sudden the opportunity to play with some of my favourite musicians in New York City was very real and right before me, to seize or pass up. Now, not all opportunities have to be seized. That's not a phrase you'll stitch on a pillow one day, but I think it's worth mentioning. People often talk about the courage it takes to answer "yes" when opportunity knocks, but rarely mention the wisdom it takes to say "Not yet!" In this particular case, I wasn't sure which answer was called for. Playing jazz is the real-time combination of wisdom and courage. Improvising freely requires the audacity to take risks, the wisdom to know your limits, and the patience to wait for the right moment. And like so many things, it's only in looking back that you'll know whether your choices were courageous or unwise. In terms of the recording, it was relatively short notice to prepare an album of new music in time, but... the opportunity was exciting, so I went ahead. In the months following​, however, unexpected challenges in my own life left me without much time or energy to devote to ​the album​, ​and I very nearly cancelled the trip. I'm not sure what stopped me - the need to keep my word, the reluctance to pass up a great opportunity, or the feeling that ​​the album was a necessary distraction. When life feels unmoored, concrete goals can be the faraway beacon off a ship’s bow; a reminder that things always move forward. And sometimes moving forward is progress enough. ​ This is where the familiar proverb "Time and tide wait for no man" came to mind. At once simple and expansive, it suggests that every action in our lives is insignificant, and at the same time absolutely important. Seize the day, and all that, because the day is all we have. Because writing all new music was no longer possible, the music presented here is a mix of songs I've written over the last ten years. Some pieces were written in Vancouver and Montreal, some in Shanghai, and one on the flight to New York. They're all songs that, for some reason, have stuck with me over the years. Hopefully, they'll stick with you too. The chance to work with​ ​musicians as ​gracious and talented as ​John Stetch, Vicente Archer, Steve Nelson (the epitome of wisdom and courage), and my old roomie Quince was as rewarding as it was eye-opening. ​Truly ​a unique and valuable opportunity. And now, on to the next one. I hope you enjoy. - JAMES DANDERFER Thanks to Mike Marciano and everyone at Systems Two Studios, Chris Gestrin at Public Alley 421 and Steve Mynett. Thanks to Quincy, Vicente, John, and Steve Nelson for the inspiration. Much love to my family:​ Ken, Cathy and Megan. And finally, to my wife Shauna, thank you for being my partner on this journey. I love you.