My experiences at the Univ. of Miami Jazz Department opens up so many doors for me to play with some of the best musicians and bands in the industry. Some include Maynard Ferguson, Frank Sinatra, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole, Jaco Pastorius, The O'Jays, The Temptations and so many more. This project took 13 years to complete due to the challenge of raising my family, being a band director in South Florida, and pursuing a music career. It's also challenging to categorize the music that comes from your heart, having been influenced by Mozart to Motown and everyone in between. Coming from SoFlo, I obviously have a strong jazz and Latin jazz influence, but you'll hear that mixed with a lot of other influences from the the other musicians (and students!) I've met and played with. "In the Company of Brothers" is the fruit of that endeavor. I hope you enjoy it!

By Dee Dee McNeil, https://musicmemoirs.wordpress.com: "Ed Maina is a master of several horns. I'm prone to the alto and tenor saxophones, but Maina makes me enjoy the beauty of each horn he played, coloring the music like a fine portrait painter. His opening track draws me in like quicksand. His composition, "You're Still Here with Me" is delicate and emotional with Maina's clarinet flying like a bird across the lush orchestration. Vivas' bass is solid, walking creatively acting as the basement of the band's structure. Maina adds Alto Flute as a lovely appendage to the sensitive face of this production. When I listen to this waltz, I am enchanted by the melody, and Gasior on piano exhibits expert chops and fattens the sound. Here is Smooth Jazz at it's best, and all the players bring such excellence to this project!"

By Philippe Thirionet, Belgian Jazz: "This disk by Ed Maina is meant to offer a careful and technical work that travels through styles from Jazz to Latino Jazz, smooth Jazz and Funk. Ed Maina juggles with melodic finesse on every one of his instruments. The atmosphere of the small US clubs is here rendered with great fidelity, thanks to the musicians that bring this project to its zenith! Ed Maina's music goes from soft flowing like velvet, note after note and he then carries you towards the skies.

Whether it's for Jazz, Funk, Latino Jazz or Smooth Jazz, Ed Maina and his team of pros give a great music lesson here. In the Jazzy genre, it is unquestionably a must! A discovery even for those that do not know, In the Company of Brothers is the dreamed opportunity!"