The Billy Strayhorn Foundation and Billy Strayhorn Songs, Inc. joined companies like the Grammy Foundation, Jazz At Lincoln Center, and Downbeat Magazine to participate in the 6th annual Jazz Education Network conference in San Diego, California.  With prime placement in the conference’s exhibition hall, raffle events in partnership with print publisher Alfred Music, and a special presentation detailing the business of inheritance, the estate packed the conference’s four-day schedule with Strayhorn centennial news.

In the midst of such celebration, still a moment was found for music, with multi-instrumentalist and educator Daniel Ian Smith leading a Latin-influenced tribute to the composer known as ‘Sweet Pea’.  In an intimate setting, fans and fellow musicians listened to a heartfelt ode that saw “Take The ‘A’ Train” whimsically reimagined as “Which Train Do I Take?”, and several similar reinventions.

While on the West Coast, the Strayhorn clan was interviewed by the JEN marketing team, to be included in a forthcoming video recap of the weekend.

Reservoir will be celebrating Strayhorn right alongside the family, helping to secure tributes, coverage, and reimaginations of the legendary catalog from its headquarters in New York City.