Dance on a Volcano is steeped in the music of Sicily, fusing the sounds of the island’s folk music with its contemporary jazz.

In particular, the melodies and rhythms in this piece were influenced by listening to field recordings of Sicilian folk songs (collected by American musicologist Alan Lomax) and the vibrant music of Sicilian jazz musician Enzo Rao. Sicily’s Mt. Etna—Europe’s largest and most active volcano—provided the initial spark of inspiration, imparting unforgettable memories of my trek to its summit in 2009.