This recording began as a fill-in date at The Jazz Kitchen.

My quintet had just performed there, and rather than repeat the same material, I chose to strip things down, to listen more closely, to leave space. What emerged was a trio.

I called William Menefield on piano. Our history in the trio format goes back to the mid-2010s, when he invited me to be part of his residency at The Greenwich in Cincinnati. Over time, we developed a shared language rooted in trust, risk, and deep listening.

That language deepened in 2021 when we worked alongside drummer Cassius Goens on the jazz orchestra album No More Apologies, led by saxophonist Damani Phillips.

In that setting—surrounded by large-ensemble writing and collective responsibility—our trio chemistry sharpened even further.

The title On the Shoulders of Giants reflects the lineage behind this music. The performances are guided by the influence of overlooked jazz artists from the Midwest, the musicians who built scenes, mentored generations, and shaped the sound long before recognition followed.

Their legacy lives in the way this trio listens, responds, and carries the tradition forward. This album begins a larger conversation that will continue through Unsung Giants, a forthcoming project dedicated to honoring those artists whose contributions have too often gone unrecognized.

— Brandon Meeks