My friend jazz improvisor Marlena Boedigheimer asked me if I had any music for saxophone, and I pulled out piece I'd written depicting a character from one of my all-time favorite book series, Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy. The character, Billy-Ray Sanguine, is a hilarious villain from Texas who burrows magically through the ground to attack his victims. I provided Marlena with the piece and she arranged it for her trio and performed it at the 2025 University of Michigan SMTD Queer Concert, adding improvised solo sections in the classic jazz style.

Recording credit: Pink Marlena Trio: Marlena Boedigheimer, tenor saxophone; Brynn Hilliker, double bass; Max Welterlen, drums; recording by Nelson Walker