Fueling Artistic Growth
After all these years in New York City, I still have the most fun on stage when I’m surrounded by friends and fellow artists who are fully committed to their craft. I’ve been fortunate to spend time with incredible musicians who not only love what they do but also love the process of creating. Recently, I listened to a lecture where the speaker explored the difference between a process-oriented pursuit and a goal-oriented one. It’s a concept I’ve heard countless times, but this time it made me pause and reflect on what truly motivates me as an artist.
When I first picked up the saxophone, I wholeheartedly embraced the American mantra: “Competition leads to innovation.” The fire in me thrived on that idea, and I set endless short-term, competition-based goals. Can I play this line faster than someone else? Is my solo more creative than the next? Did I get more applause than the last performer? Success felt amazing, and failure only fueled my drive to improve. But after about eight years into my decade-long musical apprenticeship, the thrill of "winning" began to fade.
I started questioning the point of chasing bigger and bigger external rewards. Was fortune and fame really the highest measure of an artist? Was it all about bragging rights or being judged as "better" than the next person? Those goals lost their shine, but my curiosity never dimmed. So, I leaned into that.
Over time, I noticed something surprising. The milestones I reached in my career didn’t come from directly chasing success—they came as by-products of committing fully to the process. The more I focused on curiosity, growth, and the pursuit of excellence for its own sake, the more the rewards seemed to naturally appear. I realized that what brought me the deepest sense of satisfaction was the ongoing journey toward truth, human connection, and creative expression.
That path has no clear starting point and no finish line. It simply unfolds, and all we can do is keep moving forward and appreciate the view along the way.
In this video, I’m joining my good friend and conga extraordinaire, Kofi Hunter, during his residency at Café Erzulie in Brooklyn, NY. We’ve created some incredible music together over the years, and it’s always a privilege to be part of anything he brings to life. This moment was no exception.
The Takeaway:
True artistic fulfillment comes from embracing the creative process, not chasing external rewards.
Lasting success often emerges as a by-product of dedication and authenticity.
Art is an endless journey—progress is made by moving forward and appreciating the process.
