Firefly is an album by American flautist Jeremy Steig recorded in 1977 and released on the CTI label. The Allmusic review stated "Jeremy Steig's jazz-funk throwdown, Firefly, is one of the great forgotten masterpieces of the genre… Firefly was designed for the purpose of being a hit in the dance clubs, and it should have been, because it kicks ass on that level as well as on the jazz-funk beam… This is burning".

David Matthews is a keyboardist, pianist, and arranger. Matthews has composed television soundtracks as well as albums with the Manhattan Jazz Orchestra. In 1970, he began working as both an arranger and bandleader for James Brown. Matthews has worked with many musicians, including Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Rich, Idris Muhammad, and the Starland Vocal Band. He was staff arranger for Creed Taylor's CTI Records label in the mid-1970s, working on albums for artists such as George Benson, Esther Phillips, Grover Washington Jr., Hank Crawford, and Idris Muhammad. "Dune" is based on the Hugo award-winning novel, Dune, by Frank Herbert. Matthews has already had plenty of CTI arranging experience by the time of this set – but he really moves into some unusual space with the record – open, evocative tunes that really live up to their inspiration, but also have some of Dave's funky touches too. Matthews gets help from an all-star lineup of CTI players – including Grover Washington on reeds and Eric Gale on guitar.

Following the success of Word of Mouth Revisited, the critically acclaimed and award winning 2003 release on Heads Up International, the Jaco Pastorius Big Band has crafted a second chapter in their ongoing tribute to the brilliant legacy of the bassist/composer/arranger from whom they've taken their name. The Word Is Out!, an album that features an array of guest artists-not only on bass, but on a variety of other instruments.

Though he passed from cancer in 2008 at the young age of 52, jazz and rock guitarist Hiram Bullock lives on in the music he left behind. A music lover from the start, he played saxophone and bass guitar before claiming his place as a guitarist at the age of 16. He went on to appear on several albums with saxophonist David Sanborn, as well as other artists' session for record producer Phil Ramone. Mr. Bullock later started the 24th Street Band and the group made three albums. The 24th Street Band made several appearances on "Late Night With David Letterman" whenever Letterman's keyboardist Paul Shaffer needed a band. Shaffer dubbed them The World's Most Dangerous Band while Mr. Bullock, himself, earned the nickname "The Barefoot Guitarist". Those joining Mr. Bullock for the Late Night Talk album include organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, Joe Locke on electric and acoustic vibs, acoustic bassist Ed Howard and Idris Muhammad on drums.