Accountability in Jazz and Life

Accountability has become the word of the season for me. In jazz, it shows up everywhere—on the bandstand, in rehearsal, and in the practice room. Every note, every entrance, every rhythm creates a reaction. When my time slips or I miss a cue, it affects the whole group. I can either blame the chart, the tempo, or someone else, or I can take responsibility. True growth only happens when I choose the latter.

Improvisation makes accountability impossible to avoid. In real time, there’s no hiding—every idea I play is a decision. Sometimes those choices don’t work, but accountability means owning them, reflecting, and using them as fuel to get better. Mistakes, when faced honestly, become lessons. They don’t define me; they refine me.

Accountability is also contagious. When one musician shows up prepared, admits mistakes, and chooses growth, it raises the standard for the entire ensemble. That’s the kind of energy I want to bring: one of honesty, courage, and responsibility—both in music and in life.

For me, accountability is not about perfection. It’s about choosing growth over excuses, courage over defensiveness, and love of the music over fear of failure. It’s a daily decision—one rehearsal at a time, one solo at a time, one step at a time.

This is something we can all do. By owning our part, we not only enrich our own journey but also strengthen the communities, the bands, and the relationships we care about most.