▁Background ▁Gil man ▁began ▁studying ▁piano ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁seven ▁and ▁later ▁earned ▁degrees ▁in ▁piano ▁performance ▁and ▁jazz ▁studies ▁at ▁Indiana ▁University , ▁a ▁master ' s ▁degree ▁in ▁jazz ▁and ▁the ▁contemporary ▁media ▁from ▁the ▁East man ▁School ▁of ▁Music , ▁and ▁a ▁doctor ate ▁in ▁education ▁from ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Sar as ota . ▁He ▁studied ▁with ▁Y uri y ▁O li yn yk , ▁Jerry ▁Mur phy , ▁Frank ▁W ask o , ▁David ▁Baker , ▁James ▁T oc co , ▁Kar en ▁Shaw , ▁Bill ▁D obb ins , ▁and ▁Ray burn ▁Wright . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁he ▁began ▁direct ing ▁the ▁music ▁theory ▁and ▁jazz ▁studies ▁programs ▁at ▁American ▁River ▁College , ▁and ▁released ▁the ▁album ▁Tre asure ▁Ch est , ▁with ▁Joe ▁Hend erson , ▁Jeff ▁" T ain " ▁W att s , ▁and ▁Robert ▁Hur st . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 7 , ▁Gil man ▁founded ▁Capital ▁Jazz ▁Project , ▁a ▁Sac r amento - based ▁non pro fit ▁organization ▁which ▁features ▁them atic ▁jazz ▁present ations . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁Gil man ▁tou red ▁twelve ▁countries ▁on ▁the ▁African ▁continent ▁as ▁a ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Kennedy ▁Center / US IA ▁Jazz ▁Amb assador ▁program . ▁The ▁tour ▁included ▁regular ▁performances ▁with ▁jazz ▁guitar ist ▁Steve ▁H oman ▁to ▁foreign ▁dign itar ies ▁and ▁resident ▁aud ien ces , ▁performing ▁with ▁local ▁mus icians , ▁and