Longtime collaborators Kevin Pike and John Kotchian are joined by multi-instrumentalist David Seay on this abstract exploration of the Great Plains, past and present. The album features unique orchestration for a jazz trio, including hurdy gurdy, yak horn and musical saw combined with sax and drums. 　　 　　Each track title refers to a different event or aspect of life in the Great Plains: 　　1. The Great Gathering at the Platte 　　About the annual Sandhill Crane migration in Nebraska where 500,000 cranes gather along the Platte river each spring 　　Orchestration: hurdy gurdy, saxophone, bass and drums 　　 　　2. Prehistoric Fish 　　In the Great Plains, states like Nebraska and Kansas were part of the ocean in prehistoric times. 　　Orchestration: musical saw, alto saxophone, drums 　　 　　3. I-80 　　Interstate 80 runs across Nebraska and other states in the Great Plains 　　Orchestration: alto sax, harmonica, bass and drums 　　 　　4. The Ballad of Chief Standing Bear 　　Native American Chief Standing Bear of the Ponca tribe played a prominent role in the history of civil rights for Native Americans. The landmark case Bear v. Crook in 1869 established that Habeus Corpus applies to all people in America regardless of race. 　　Orchestration: didgeridoo, yak horn, bugle, saxophone, drums 　　 　　5. Dust Bowl 　　Severe drought and poor farming methods caused the Dust Bowl in the 1930's, a devastating time in depression-era Great Plains. 　　Orchestration: alto sax, harmonica, bass, drums 　　 　　6. Green Sky 　　Powerful storms and tornadoes in the Great Plains are always preceded by a green-colored sky. 　　Orcestration: bass, wind chimes, baritone saxophone, whirly tube, rainstick, thunder sheet, alto saxophone, drums 　　 　　7. Where the Buffalo Roamed 　　American Bison once roamed the Great Plains in huge numbers, only to reach virtual extinction in the 1890's from white settlers and hunters during the buffalo "gold rush." 　　Orchestration: gourd ocarina, ocarina, shekere, tiple, saxophone, banjo, drums 　　 　　8. Out of the Plains 　　Orchestration: hurdy gurdy, baritone saxophone, alto saxophone, drums 　　 　　9. Home Away from Home 　　Orchestration: alto saxophone, bass, drums, chimes 　　 　　David Seay: hurdy gurdy, saw, harmonica, yak horn, didgeridoo, bugle, tiple, banjo, ocarina, thunder sheet, whirly tube 　　Kevin Pike: alto sax, baritone sax, gourd ocarina, rainstick, whirly tube, wind chimes, orchestral chimes 　　John Kotchian: drums, bass, shekere, rainstick, thunder sheet