Many independent artists would be content to move forward on that momentum and fan response alone, but DeGregoris ups the ante considerably on his latest album Times and Travels. Wanting to take his lively, introspective look at the places, experiences and people who have shaped his life over the years to the next level musically and production-wise, DeGregoris reached out to a handful of the genre’s most popular “A-listers” (whom he met in various settings) and sent them tracks he believed they would be perfect for on his new project. It’s a testament to the power of his grooves, melodies and stylistic diversity that guitarists Chieli Minucci and Chris Standring, saxophonists Jeff Kashiwa and Eric Marienthal and drummer Joel Rosenblatt (longtime member of Spyro Gyra, another of DeGregoris’ major inspirations) enthusiastically agreed to perform on the 11 track collection.