Hal is a warrior. His focus, courage, and humanity are models for all of us to aspire to. He keeps
reaching, searching, and breaking through barriers and in doing so, gives us a new idea of what is
possible. He has attained that rare level where it is no longer about like or dislike, wrong or right,
chicken or pasta. But rather, merging with the patterns, fabric, and flux of nature. As a player and
guide, Hal shares a fire that ignites us and helps us carry our own light.

—Chris Cheek ‘91

Hal is not only an excellent performer but also an amazing teacher. He's fearless. And when he plays,
he always makes you work on your weakness. He's one of my heroes.
—Lionel Loueke "01

I think it's fair to say that my development as a musician would have been completely different if
Hal Crook hadn’t been part of the equation. The level that he operates at as a musician and as a
professor made me expand my musical confines in ways | didn’t know were possible. | never saw
improvisation the same way after being part of his classes and ensembles. I'm honored to count
myself as one of the lucky ones that got to learn from Hal.

—Antonio Sanchez ‘97

Hal is a living example of the rarest breed of human on the planet these days. He'll play you under
the table (on trombone—can you believe it?) and then tell you exactly where you're weak and/or why
you're stuck in your development as a player. And, he'll tell you straight up so you know exactly what
to go home and work on. In fact, | think I'll finally go start shedding the stuff he told me to work on,
‘cause | have to play this “All Hail the Great Hal Crook” concert.

—Esperanza Spalding ‘05

Hal Crook is God.
—Leo Genovese ‘04

Leo Genovese is Hal Crook.
—God

geno orookish alleo dog.
—cvese