In 1986 I had the opportunity to compose music with dancers in mind. I wanted to compose a work dedicated to the victims of the famine in Ethiopia. The work is entitled "Ethiopia Suite" and is written for Solo Contrabass with String ensemble, another contrabass, Trap set drums, a percussionist and 10 Dancers. The work was performed as part of the "Celebrate Brooklyn" Dance Festival sponsored by the New York State Council for the Arts.

That year also found me doing trio arrangements and concerts
of the music of Duke Ellington for piano, bass and cello.
The musicians were Mulgrew Miller, Akua Dixon and myself.