Inspired by a week-long boat excursion with friends in Southeast Alaska, from the towns of Petersburg to Sitka. On our second day out, with perfectly clear and still water, we encountered a large pod of humpback whales, at least 30 or more. While we did our best to maintain a respectful distance, they literally surrounded our boat, breaching, spy-hopping, diving and inspecting us. Twice we tried to leave, and the whales cut us off, swimming straight at us (to our delight!), before eventually moving on. We felt enveloped by wisdom and gentleness. I chose the Hawaiian word for the whales, Na Kohola, because many of the whales we met were the Hawaiian humpbacks that migrate thousands of miles every summer to Alaska to feed, returning to Hawai’i in the winter to give birth.

The opening piano melody is composed in the style of Hawaiian “slack key” guitar, specifically in the manner of Keola Beamer, a great guitarist with whom I have collaborated over many years. This is followed by a rubato melody (sung by Gillian Margot), then an ensemble passage in tempo with multiple entrances zigzagging all over, appearing and disappearing. Next comes a group improvisation featuring the piano, electric piano, voice, trumpet, soprano and tenor saxophone, and trombone. Another ensemble passage winds down eventually into the opening guitar-like theme. The entire band gets to be the “pod”, coming up for air every now and then!