"[2] The title track of The Turning Gate won the group a Chamber Music Association grant.
[2][3] After meeting some of the musicians in 1996—pianist Xavier Davis, bassist Dwayne Burno, and drummer Nasheet Waits—David Weiss, who was working on arrangements for Freddie Hubbard, decided to form a self-determining cooperative ensemble, eventually deciding on an octet, leading to a search for wind players.
The first musicians added to the group were Gregory Tardy, Myron Walden, and James Farnsworth.
Farnsworth died after the release of their first recording, and the chair of baritone saxophone has been revolving — three others have filled the position since.
Jimmy Greene who was a guest artist on the first album was a full member by the second, as were Steve Davis and Chris Karlic.