FREELANCE WOODWIND MUSICIAN

Saxophone Family / Flute / Clarinet

Big Band leader

I am currently the executive director of The Silver Starlite Orchestra. I am also a freelance woodwind player specializing in jazz, rock and R&B. My primary instrument is the saxophone family. My secondary instruments include flute, clarinet and drums. Piano and guitar count as hobbies. I live and work in New Jersey within the greater NYC metropolitan area.

I have over 20 years of performance experience, including extensive playing for clubs, weddings and festivals. Two of my most notable performances: playing bari sax with the house big band at the world famous Cotton Club in Harlem; and with The Fabulous Johnson Brothers, we attained a Top 20 rank in 19 Entertainment's syndicated FOX television show, "The Next Great American Band." In addition, I play in pit orchestras, including being hired by The Ohio State University for their production of The Rocky Horror Show. I have performed with Foley (bass player for Miles Davis & the drummer for George Clinton), as well as I have played in the bands of Ed Palermo and the late Frank Grasso. I also spent a year as director of the jazz big band, The Swing Machine.

In addition to woodwind performance, I have taught private and classroom instruction, and I even dabble in graphic arts design. My life’s great artistic vision includes melding advanced improvisational techniques with technology, and I am currently looking to collaborate with like-minded, jazz-influenced electronic musicians.

My teaching experience spans all skill levels, from preschoolers (MusicTogether™ certified) to retired adults. I specialize in helping students speak the musical language with a vibrant, authentic sound. In this website I explore a uniquely modern yet organic pedagogical approach to teaching musical fluency and laying the groundwork for a future musical language.

I am particularly interested in the skill of perfect (absolute) pitch—both for myself and teaching it to others. I developed and taught a unique curriculum that combines absolute pitch, French language and musical fluency in early childhood education classes. For more information on the education company I established, click here.

I moved to New Jersey from Columbus, OH and have completed my coursework for the Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts master of jazz performance program. My teachers have included Ralph Bowen, Robert "Tigger" Benford, Stanley Cowell, Conrad Herwig, Joe Magnarelli, Richard E. Miller, Lewis Porter, David Riekenberg, Tim Ries and Charles Tolliver. My primary teachers in Columbus included Kris Keith, Bryan Olsheski and Vaughn Weister. I also studied jazz at DePauw University (Greencastle, IN) under Jim Connerley and Randy Salman. 

I am an energetic and compassionate musician and teacher, and I very much look forward to collaborating or working with you to manifest a NEW musical imagination!

For a copy of my complete curriculum vitae, please contact me.