For the 2.4 million veterans who’ve served in Iraq and Afghanistan, the experience of war isn’t necessarily ended by coming home. Memories --particularly traumatic ones -- stay with them for life, often manifesting themselves in dreams. The retelling of those dreams is at the heart of Holding It Down: The Veterans’ Dreams Project, the latest collaboration between pianist and composer Vijay Iyer and poet Mike Ladd. The two, along with poet and Iraq War veteran Maurice Decaul, dropped by the studio for a discussion about the impact of modern-day warfare on the psyche and the decision to focus on veterans of color for this project.

Plus, Ladd, Iyer and his band preview selections from the work before its world premiere at Harlem Stage. 

Set List: 

• "Derelict Poetry," by Maurice Decaul and Vijay Iyer
• "My Fire" by Mike Ladd and Vijay Iyer
• "Shush" by Maurice Decaul and Vijay Iyer

"Holding It Down: The Veterans' Dreams Project" will premiere at Harlem Stage this Wednesday, Sept. 19 and run until Saturday, Sept. 22.