Bill Milkowski is a New York-based freelance writer who has contributed to several publications since the 1970s, including DownBeat, JazzTimes, JAZZIZ, Bass Player, Guitar Player, Modern Drummer, Absolute Sound, and Jazzthing. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he began his career in music journalism, he relocated to New York City in 1980, moved to New Orleans in 1993, and returned to New York in 1997. Milkowski was named Writer of the Year for 2004 by the Jazz Journalists Association.

Grammy-winning saxophonist and composer Joe Lovano is fearless in finding new modes of artistic expression. With 12 Nominations and a Grammy for his 52nd Street Themes, he has won DownBeat magazine's Critics and Readers Polls many times as Tenor Saxophonist, Musician of the Year, and Jazz Album of the Year. Joe has recorded with a long list of jazz greats including Woody Herman, Mel Lewis, Bob Brookmeyer, John Scofield, Paul Motian, Bill Frisell, Gunther Schuller, Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, Ed Blackwell, Dave Holland, Hank Jones, Dave Liebman, Michael Brecker, Ravi Coltrane, and many others.