Steve Swell - For Rhina P. Espaillat (2023)

Rhina P. Espaillat is a poet whose poem “Why Publish?” (please google it!) imagines how her poetry could touch someone 100 years from now. That poem speaks of her connection with a future reader. It inspired me to see my music the same way and think what it might mean for someone who picks up this recording in the future and connect with it in a way I might not have imagined. It might inspire a future listener to take the risk of creating or doing something not done before. Or be comforted somehow knowing there was someone feeling what they are feeling. My hope is for that kind of connection.