In November, I had the opportunity to collaborate with the great Dick Oatts on a project in which I served as both director and arranger. After selecting a selection of historic standards by a wide variety of composers, including Monk and Ellington, I developed original arrangements that would allow for interaction with a string septet composed of two first and two second violins, two violas, and a cello. I then conducted the ensemble, ensuring the jazz musicians had appropriate solo spaces.