With David Baker (R) and James Moody (L) at Ravinia Music Festival, 2002.

The original Saxophone Cartel sextet in 2004, at Bear's Place in Bloomington, Indiana. A peak musical experience.

Performing with David Miller (trumpet) and Steve Johnson (bass) in Art Deco Quartet at Cafe Django, Bloomington, IN. Probably 2006.

The Art Deco Quartet at Cafe Django in Bloomington, IN.

My first studio release as co-leader of the (x)tet, from Bloomington, IN. Recorded in 2007 and released on Watercourse Records in 2009.

Michael Eaton Quintet at The Shrine, 2011.

Lifesquad at Spectrum NYC.

Performing Adam Minkoff's arrangement of Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" at Rockwood. A peak artistic experience.

Tribute to Prince with Crystal Durant at Rockwood Music Hall.

Minkoff/Anderson/Eaton power trio at Spectrum NYC.

Mike Eaton/Brad Whiteley duo.

Dorian Wallace Big Band at Somethin'.

An early edition of Lifesquad at ABCNorio.

Playing some flute at Rockwood Music Hall.

With Jon Crowley's Heart of Darkness at World Music LIve! in Philly.

The brass band for Justin Randolph Thompson's performance piece "Tossin' the Rag".

Wedding gig with another of Adam Minkoff's groups.

Playing the Red Lion with Ital Rain back in 2010.

A wedding gig in the Lower East Side with one of Adam Minkoff's groups.

Minkoff gig at Rockwood.

Minkoff birthday gig at Rockwood.

George Mel Quartet at The Kitano in 2012.

Playing with Randemonium at Rockwood.

Katie Chauvot's Collective Pursuit at The Underground Lounge in 2009.

Collective Pursuit at The Underground Lounge in 2009.

Collective Pursuit at The Underground Lounge.

Chris's Jazz Cafe gig with the Sam Raderman Quartet.

Chris's Jazz Cafe gig with the Sam Raderman Quartet.

Chris's Jazz Cafe gig with the Sam Raderman Quartet.

The long defunct Vox Pop jam session in Ditmas from about 2009. I met many great players there.

Playing a gig with Sam Raderman Quintet at Chris's Jazz Cafe in Philly. Jon Crowley is to my right.

Tutuma Social Club from ca. 2009, with Elias Meister (guitar), Javier Moreno Sanchez (bass), George Mel (drums)

The Saxophone Cartel plays for Make Music New York in the Lower East Side.

The David Liebman Saxophone Masterclass participants of 2012.

Mike Eaton 4 at The Shrine (Harlem) in 2012.

Playing at the Chatterbox in 2013 with Greg Artry (drums), Jeremy Allen (bass), and Zach Lapidus. A very memorable gig with an open, modern, yet hard swinging band, with super satisfying improvisations.

Lifesquad at Spectrum NYC.

Rehearsing at Henry Street for Crystal Durant and Paul Bertolino's Prince tribute at Le Poisson Rouge.

LPR green room with Crystal Durant and Brittany Anjou.

Michael, Brad Whiteley, Scott, Shareef, and Chairman Steve.

Bewaa: Interpretations of Ghanaian Xylophone Music (w/Brittany Anjou, Adam Minkoff)

Performing at National Underground with Paul Bertolino, May 5, 2013, for the International Pop Overthrow Festival. Also included at cohorts Brad Whiteley (left) and Adam Minkoff (right).

At Peter Karl Studios, recording unheard music from the 1930s. February 19, 2014. Photo by Adam Minkoff.

Performing at Fife & Drom's CD release show at Rockwood Stage 2. Photo by Luis Ruiz (Larufoto).

The WEB Trio in 2013, left to right: Carter Bales, Michael Eaton, Rus Wimbish. Photo by Dani Gros.

The WEB Trio in 2013. Photo by Dani Gros.

Playing "Loose Blues" (Bill Evans) with the Brittany Anjou Trio, March 17, 2014 and Rockwood Stage 1. Photo by Manish Gosalia.

Recording tracks with Dave Liebman at Bunker Studio on May 19, 2014. Photo by Luis Ruiz, Larufoto.

A light hearted moment with Lieb. Recording at Bunker Studio on May 19, 2014. Photo by Luis Ruiz, Larufoto.

Recording with David Liebman at Bunker Studio for the Individuation sessions. Photo by Luis Ruiz.

Performing at Rockwood Stage 2 with Adam Minkoff's Vaalbara group. One of the strongest Vaalbara gigs ever. From left to right: Brittany Anjou (vibes), Brad Whiteley (keyboards), Michael Eaton (tenor sax), Sean Dixon (drums), Adam Minkoff (bass), Joel Newton (guitar)

Poster for the Individuation CD release concert. Design by Sachiko Asano.

Before the first set at Cornelia Street Cafe, for the Individuation CD release, October 14, 2014. Photo by Luis Ruiz (www.larufoto.com)

Playing "Interior Designs" with Jon Crowley at Cornelia Street Cafe for the Individuation CD release. Photo by Luis Ruiz (www.larufoto.com)

Performing at Cornelia Street Cafe for the Individuation CD release, October 14, 2014. Photo by Luis Ruiz (www.larufoto.com)

Listening to Dorian Wallace and Daniel Ori on "Guru" at Cornelia Street Cafe for the Individuation CD release, October 14, 2014. Photo by Luis Ruiz (www.larufoto.com)

Portrait from the Individuation CD release show at Cornelia Street Cafe, October 14, 2014. Photo by Luis Ruiz (www.larufoto.com)

Recording at Bunker Studio for an unreleased free improvised recording with Adam Minkoff, Nick Anderson, Brad Whiteley, and Dorian Wallace. Photo by Reuben Radding.

Rehearsing the Rite of Spring arranged for octet by Adam Minkoff. (Photo by Akie Bermiss.)

November 14 + 15, 2014 concluded with recording Adam Minkoff's arrangement of Igor Stravinsky's Rite of Spring for octet (alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, electric guitar, organ/keyboard, electric bass, and drumset). All in all, the process took about 16 hours, with more to go on organ, bass, guitar, and drums. Performing the Rite in May 2013 at Rockwood Music Hall was a peak musical experiences, and it opened up new musical vistas for me.

Performing at Westport Coffee House in Kansas City, February 18, 2015. (Photo by Cindy Svehla)

At Westport Coffee House with some of my first band directors and instrumental teachers. Left to right: Randy Cunningham, Danny Watring, me, Susan Martinez, Cindy Price-Svehla.

Sax quartet after a recital.

Beyond Quintet at ABC Norio., May 31, 2015. Left to right: Gene Coleman, Cheryl Pyle, Michael Eaton, David Tamura. (Photo by Scott Rifkin.)

Sax quartet with Michael Eaton (soprano), Stacy Werdin (alto), Travis Calvert (tenor), Lathan Hardy (baritone). Performing at Church Street Music School's Happening on May 17, 2015. Photo by Azikiwe Mohammed.

Poster for Michael Eaton and Adam Minkoff Present John Coltrane's Ascension at ShapeShifter Lab, June 8, 2015. Photo and poster design by Dani Gros.

Michael Eaton and Adam Minkoff Present John Coltrane's Ascension at Shapeshifter Lab, June 8, 2015. Photo by Don Mount.

Michael Eaton and Adam Minkoff Present John Coltrane's Ascension at Shapeshifter Lab, June 8, 2015. Photo by Don Mount.

August 27, 2015: Post gig hang out at Joe Henderson tribute at Bears Place. From L to R: Cam Collins, Tom Walsh, Luke Gillespie, Joel Kelsey, BJ Cord, and Michael Eaton.

September 27, 2015: Beyond Sextet at ABC No Rio. L to R: Bern Nix, Cheryl Pyle, William Ruiz, Gene Coleman, David Tamura, Michael Eaton

Throwing down on some blues with Abbey Ahmad and Mark Marshall, playing the classic "I Want Some Sugar in My Bowl" at Freddy's Backroom in Brooklyn.

Destiny Records showcase at Cornelia Street Cafe in October 2015. Cameron Mizell plays guitar to my left. Photo by Laura Torres Shalda.

Playing with Scott Sharrard's Brickyard Band at Rockwood Stage 2, December 12, 2015. To my right is Dan Brantigan (trumpet), and in the background is Moses Patrou (drums, vocals). Photo by Vernon Webb.

Performing at recordBar in Kansas City, MO for Jeff Harshbarger Presents an Alternative Jazz Series on December 20, 2015. L to R: Jeff Harshbarger, me, John Kizilarmut, Peter Schlamb. Photo by Kristina Ning.

Sharing a moment with Akie Bermiss at Rockwood Stage 1. Photo by Luis Ruiz.

Michael Eaton Individuation Quartet plus Travis Reuter at Rockwood, March 2, 2016. Photo by Luis Ruiz.

Dialogical session May 27, 2016 at Sear Sound with Daniel Ori, Lionel Loueke, Shareef Taher, Brad Whiteley, and George Shalda.

Playing at my buddy Carter Bales' recital at the New School in April 2016. With Nitzan Gavrieli (p), Julian Smith (b), and David Bertrand (f).

Playing with Rockwood Organ Lounge in January 2017.

Playing with Beyond Group - this time Cheryl Pyle (flute), Claire de Brunner (bassoon), and Jamie Baum (alto flute).

Sweet Sounds Downtown Jazz Festival in Westfield, NJ. From L to R: Daniel Ori, Kenny Warren, ME, Kenneth Salters.