Composed for Pharoah Sanders. I was fortunate to play several night-club dates with Pharoah in Little Rock in the 1980s. Pharoah had a composition named "Blues for Santa Cruz." My title is a pun. Pharoah was very kind to me, and I count our relationship as a blessing. I remember the first time I met him. I was playing, eyes closed, with Art Porter, Sr. After I finished my improvisation on Stanley Turrentine's composition, "Sugar," Pharoah started improvising. I knew who it was before opening my eyes. After the selection was over, Pharoah looked at me, smiled, extended his hand, and said, "Hi, I'm Pharoah Sanders. I like your playing."

This live video/concert with an in-studio audience was funded by a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Fellowship (received 1985/completed 1986).

Musicians: Tom Richeson (trumpet, composer, arranger), Gary Topper and Buck Powell (tenor saxophones), Gene Rush (piano), Ken Walker (double bass), Dave Rogers (drum set). Production: Recorded (audio and video) live at Trimble Production Studios by Grady Trimble, Dave Rogers, Todd Smith, and Keith Lynch (1986). Remastered by Keith Lynch at Family LifeStudios, Little Rock (2005).