More than any other piece in this collection, "Troubled Times" was originally conceived as a standard cyclical ii-V progression. It became a favorite of Mark’s longtime partner, bassist Eddie Gomez, who included it in nearly every live set from 2000 onward. Composed in commemoration of the September 11th tragedy, the tune was described by Gomez, a resident near the Twin Towers, as "Baroque-oriented jazz." As with many of Mark’s compositions, it does not dwell in tragedy but rather is a somber reflection that foretells a coming celebration of hope. The piece was first recorded by the Gomez and Kramer duo around 2002 at a medium brisk tempo, ¾ of which can be heard on https://mark-kramer.com. For Samuel this tune offered an emotional journey into his brand of 3rd-stream jazz orchestration.The strings provide the haunting emotional quality of the 9/11 tragedy, the jazz passages offer glimpses of hope, and the double-time, counterpoint-heavy Baroque sections satisfyingly tie all elements together. The interest of this track lies not in individual climactic solos, but in the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. It is a story - a tableau in which self-indulgence has little place.