SHIRLEY - I wrote this as a dedication to my wonderful wife Shirley, of course. It's a simple, swinging melody, based on the sound of her name. Isn’t it amazing how, with as complicated as the world is today, you can fall in love with the simplest of things? The opening bass line sets the mood, and then "Shir-ley". This is from The Soldier Sessions, with the Jazz Ambassadors. The music is earmarked to be used by students and educators, and that's the best part of all. I learned a lot from Shirley, so maybe they will, too.