“As human beings, when we talk to one another we can come together in one community,” said Sunny Jain, leader of Red Baraat. “To me, that’s the most important thing.”

“I would follow Barry [Harris] wherever he went,” Pasquale Grasso says of one of his early mentors. “His concept of music resonated with me, and I loved how he approached it.”

“It’s the friendships, the shared experiences and the rhythms and harmonies that tie us together across cultures,” says Rachel Therrien.

“There’s nothing quite like it,” Springs says of working with an orchestra. “It’s 60 people working in harmony in the moment. Singing with them is kind of empowering but also humbling at the same time.”

“I’m not sure if everybody wants just angry music,” says Tobia Meinhart. “Maybe we need something more hopeful and inspiring instead.”

“I had no idea I was gonna be a musician,” says Ayala. “God put music on my plate.”

To record Dream Manifest (Dom Recs), Croker convened artists from his current and recent past ensembles, plus special guests.

“I eventually want to keep experimenting with being able to add my own granito de arena, my little thing that I can add to it,” says Lucía about her brand of jazz with a Mexican flavor.

“Billy was very friendly to me when I was young. One of my greatest inspirations,” said drummer Bill Goodwin about fellow drummer Billy Higgins.

Harry Schnipper, owner of Blues Alley, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary on July 21.