American composer Derrick Skye is quickly becoming one of my favourite composers. Skye was born in Los Angeles. Through both his studies and his music, he has embraced the many musical traditions which have made a home in contemporary California. He has studied Western classical music, Persian classical music, Balkan music theory, Hindustani tala, and Ghanaian percussion. Skye is, at heart, a percussionist, and rhythm plays a big part of Skye s music. This has given his music incredible momentum. In this sense, it reminds me of percussionist Sarathy Korwar s music. He often takes diverse elements from many different traditions which move irresistibly in delicious twists and turns. This is wonderful, joyful music! Derrick Skye has just released a new album "This Place" with four compositions which demonstrate this. We will start with the first piece, "god of the gaps" for violin, tar, and electronics. It is a guided improvisation based on Persian music, but also wit