Shadows on the Ice was written while I was studying with the great jazz saxophonist and pedagogue Dave Liebman. Although there is no improvisation in the score, improvisation is at the heart of this piece. For example, the piano introduction was originally improvised and later transcribed. During the middle section, the piano and double bass provide a bed while the other instruments play on top, reacting to one another in a way that is meant to sound spontaneous. The form of the piece reflects the standard jazz format of « head, solos, head », in which there is a written melody with improvised solos in the middle.