Contemporary smooth jazz music is often comprised of solo saxophone and rhythm section; occasionally a trumpet or flugelhorn is used as well. The concept for Windborne was to create a new sound somewhere between smooth jazz and the more traditional big band by combining a rhythm section with a brass ensemble. 　　 　　All but two of the compositions are originals written for this project. The exceptions are St. Thomas, which is a dynamic, high energy treatment of the Sonny Rollins standard; the other is Back Country, originally written by Wayne Harrison for the Dallas based trombone band, Them Bones. 　　 　　About the Artists... 　　Co-writers John Wasson and Mathew Nicholl both attended the University of North Texas. They played in the world-renowned One O'clock Lad Band and were jazz arranging teaching assistants. Mathew is now on the faculty of the Berkeley School of Music in Boston; John is a full-time composer, producer, publisher, and church musician in Dallas. 　　 　　Dallas Brass tours nationwide performing with five brass and percussion. Their repertoire focuses on American classics from marches to swing, Dixieland, Broadway and more. Since Dallas Brass does not tour with a full rhythm section, their standard repertoire does not typically include the music heard on this CD. Windbourne remains a unique and distinctive studio project for Dallas Brass.