In winning the 2008 Origin Records / Gene Harris Jazz Festival Competition, Diverse proved to be a creative and dynamic musical powerhouse. Beating out 10 other very original groups from across the country, the quintet opened for Roy Haynes' "Birds of a Feather" band at the Gene Harris Jazz Festival and were awarded a deal to record this album of original music. Mentored by the great Bobby Watson at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, trumpeter Hermon Mehari, saxophonist William Sanders, pianist John Brewer, bassist Ben Leifer, and drummer Ryan Lee possess a fearless approach to creating and performing and aspire to expand the jazz demographic, garnering increased appreciation from younger audiences for the music.