American drum-set doyen Pheeroan akLaff believes that the arts are a way to give thanks and to work for change. His drumming with adventuresome composers includes tours of Africa, Asia, and Europe with musical luminaries Wadada Leo Smith, Oliver Lake, Anthony Davis, Amina Claudine Myers, Henry Threadgill, Sonny Sharrock, Yamashita Yosuke, Liu Sola, Andrew Hill, Mike Nock, James Newton, Anthony Braxton, Tom Pierson, and many others.