I was born on July 25, 1970 in the city of New Haven, Connecticut. In the
fourth grade, enamored by the sound of the saxophone I decided to pick this
as my choice for band classes. The band director persuaded my parents to
start me on the clarinet. From the age of nine to twelve I was a clarinet
player and participated in many honor bands and received numerous
achievement awards and certificates. My parents gave me an alto saxophone
at the age of twelve and I fell in love with the look and sound of the
instrument. In high school I participated in all the musical ensembles
including concert/marching band, jazz/rock ensemble, saxophone quartet, pit
orchestra and by my senior year I was working steadily in a popular local
wedding band. My musical achievements at this time included a Louis
Armstrong Jazz Award, a seat in the first ever Connecticut All-State jazz
band, and in my senior year a talent scholarship to the Hartt School of
Music at the University of Hartford.
In the fall of 1988 I entered the Hartt School of Music. Here I was able to
study with alto saxophonist and jazz legend Jackie McLean and also with
classical saxophonist Kenneth Radnofsky on a weekly basis and my life-long
pursuance of the mastery of my instrument began. As a member of the
African-American Music department I studied not only the origins of music
but also the origins of man and the contributions of Africans to
civilization as we know it as well as jazz history, harmony,
European-classical music history, piano, ear training, arranging and
ensemble playing.
From 1991 to 1998 I was a faculty member at Thompson Music in West
Hartford, CT. I taught weekly saxophone and clarinet lessons to beginners
as well as advanced students specializing in music theory and jazz
improvisation. I gave lessons at the Artist's Collective in Hartford, CT.,
which is an inner city music and arts school founded by Jackie and Dollie
McLean. In the spring of 1994 I participated in the Jazz in the Classroom
series, which brought jazz education and music appreciation to inner city
schools where music instruction is not readily available, in Binghamton,
New York. In the spring of 1997 I was an artist-in-residence and guest
soloist at the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory in Berea, Ohio. I have also
been a guest instructor for Jackie McLean's saxophone class at the Hartt
School as well as a faculty member of the Litchfield Jazz Festival Summer
Music Camp.
Although I enjoy the benefits and rewards that come with teaching, my true
love is performing. In Hartford I became interested in playing Latin music
and was a member of a few different bands including Orchesta Pueblo, Ray
Gonzales's Orchestra and Ciencia Latina, which played frequently all over
Connecticut and Massachusetts. At Hartt, I met trombonist Steve Davis and
he has been a close friend and musical comrade since. In 1992 I was a
member of Steve's Explorers Orchestra and later in 1994 the Explorers
Quintet which played steadily in and around Connecticut and New York. I
have also been on three of Steve Davis' recordings for Criss Cross Records;
The Jaunt, Crossfire, and the latest release, not yet available.
I have been leading my own groups since my days at the University of
Hartford. As well as playing countless private parties and "cocktail sips",
I have been featured regularly at the 880 Club and Main & Hopewell both in
Connecticut. I have also led groups at the Bop Stop in Cleveland, Ohio and
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at The Balcony, James Street Cafe and the Andy
Warhol Museum. Since moving to New York I regularly lead groups in New York
at Augie's Jazz, the Savoy Lounge and Kavehaz. I have also played at the
Savoy Lounge as a member of trumpeter Jim Rotondi's Quartet and at Smalls
jazz club as a member of both Jim Rotondi's Quartet and pianist Michael
Weiss' sextet. Throughout my short career I have had the opportunity to
perform with some veteran jazz musicians including Cecil Payne, Eddie
Henderson and Harold Maybern; and also some well-established younger
musicians including Eric Alexander, Michael Weiss, Duane Byrno, Mike
Ladone, David Hazeltine, Randy Johnston, Joe Magnerelli, Jim Rotondi, Nat
Reeves and Joe Farnsworth.
My recording career, as a leader, began this year with the release of my
first CD, From the Inside Out, on Sharp Nine Records in February
1999.
