Sax/Clarinet/Flute & Arranging

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently writing this in the COVID-19 era so I'm currently working on working with YOU! Just before this all happened to our society, I was working on improving my Logic and Ableton skills. I was working on a new album with my fiancée who's a phenomenal singer and songwriter.

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: I recently recorded recorded saxophone, clarinet & flute for Idina Menzel's latest Christmas album. It was one of the most challenging, demanding and gratifying experiences. Everything was top notch: the orchestra, arrangements, production, musicianship, attention to detail - just one of the best moments of my entire career.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Iajhi Hampden is on SoundBetter and he's one of my favorite human beings on the planet. He's a remarkable drummer who was recently featured on John Legend's Christmas album. I highly recommend him for any style.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I think many of us audiophiles would choose analog in a perfect world. Have to choose digital because recording technology is only getting better and more widely accessible by musicians and producers alike.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: I promise to deliver to my clients the highest quality product: musicianship, professionalism, reliability and good faith.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I like the array of hats I get to wear! Maybe on Monday I'm recording a classical clarinet piece and Tuesday I'm playing a jazz gig in town. Maybe Saturday I'm playing Beethoven on flute at a wedding ceremony and Sunday I'm recording a three piece horn section. It's all very interesting!

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: I'm mostly asked if I'm able to play a certain style of music. The answer is almost always YES!

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: My brother is a city planner and his job is 9-5 Monday through Friday. I think his job is really interesting. On the other hand, he thinks my job is a big party full of glamorous moments. Much of the time, what I do is behind the scenes and not nearly as glamorous as one would believe.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: When I get the opportunity to collaborate with clients, I like to ask them if they're interested in hearing something from my perspective. It's always good to have multiple ears on clients' projects, if they need it.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: There are so many great players out there and choosing between us on a platform like this can be overwhelming. I recommend due diligence with who you decide to hire and not just consider someone who is great at what they do but if they seem genuine, professional & reliable. I like to think my friends, colleagues and clients think of me as someone they can rely on and trust.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: I would take my portable midi keyboard, saxophone, computer, microphone and fiancée. She's a great singer, after all!

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: The first work I ever did as a musician was teaching private lessons in high school. I've been a professional gigging musician for over 10 years. My first gig in LA was working as a saxophonist at Disneyland, a job I still work at times. My trajectory evolved into more freelance work like performing at clubs, private events and session work. Six years ago I purchased my first preamp, microphone, and copy of Logic.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Classically and jazz trained on woodwinds, I've gravitated towards an array of styles like funk, rock, pop, jazz/swing/big band, latin, electronic/dance, fusion, orchestral, pretty much any style.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: I have been fortunate enough to work with many incredible artists in Los Angeles. I would LOVE to work with Al Jarreau and Michael Brecker (RIP), Steely Dan, Lizzo, Bruno Mars & Jamie Cullum. I believe these artists have one common element: they all love playing a wide spectrum of music styles and you can hear it in every song.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: If you have the budget for live instruments, pay for it! It will be so worth it in the end. No matter how advanced technology evolves, the human element will never be replaced.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: I've been hired to work on nearly every type of music with various instruments. I usually work on recording saxophone for artists/producers/composers.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Saxophone is my strongest instrument (and skill)

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Since I have perfect pitch, I have the unique ability of knowing exactly where to fit in any musical situation. It helps me find my footing in a recording job and helps the client know they hired someone who will do whatever is necessary to record at the highest possible level.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Before recording anything, I like to ask my clients to give me as much information as possible about their project. Having more information than less helps me to be as efficient as possible because we all know that time is money!

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Besides owning an array of top notch woodwind instruments, I have a newly upgraded MacBook Pro, Apogee preamp, and newly purchased AKG 414 microphone. I have good isolation and lively sounding areas in my home studio to achieve different elements.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: Being a resident of Los Angeles gives me the gift of an incredible and influential community of musicians. Historically, I've been a huge fan of the LA studio sound of artists and producers such as Steely Dan, Al Jarreau, Michael Jackson, and producers and songwriters such as Quincy Jones, David Foster & Maurice White.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: The most common type of work I do for clients is recording woodwinds: saxophones, clarinets & flutes. I record at major studios as well as remotely from home (especially now in the COVID-19 era). My clients have asked me to record anything from a pop saxophone solo on a K-pop song to a dixieland clarinet solo to a latin sounding flute melody.