Driftwood Children is a six-movement suite of original compositions that are based on the stories and folkloric cultures of my family's native land, the Philippines.

Three years ago in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of Spanish colonialism of the islands, I decided to begin researching, composing, and personally reflecting on how to honor this tragic and complicated history as an artist.

The resulting suite is a musical celebration of the persistent and joyous spirit of the Filipino people through the strikingly energetic sound of a chamber jazz ensemble. This album is structured around melodic and rhythmic developments of motifs featured in the eponymous track. Each movement also fuses together elements of Filipino traditional dances with jazz forms, grooves, and harmonies.