Piano/Drums/Bass/Etc....

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

A: drums trumpet keyboard computer phone, to call a rescue plane

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

A: I was a trumpeter and went all the way thru Peabody Conservatory on trumpet. My degree was classical trumpet and Music Ed. While I was in Baltimore, I got more into piano, and then started getting jazz gigs as a pianist. So since around 1988 I've been working as a professional jazz pianist. I worked around Baltimore and Washington DC for years, until I moved to NYC in 1995. I did a lot of touring and recording while I was there. I'm living in Portland, Oregon now, but I still am making music as much as possible.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Jazz with a lot of other influences.

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

A: Roy Haynes, because he is one of the great drummers that I never got to play with. I would be down to play with David Sanborn.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Making music is a skill but also an art. Even if you have learned the skills, there is still trial and error, and also learning by doing.

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

A: Mostly jazz, but I'm interested in everything.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I'm most known as a jazz pianist, I've been doing that professionally for 32 years. I really enjoy playing drums. I have done a lot of composing.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I'm flexible. If the client wants more input, I can offer that. If the client is specific, I don't mind that either.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I can work fast, depending on what else is going on. But generally I like to make deadlines and keep them.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a Yamaha Upright which is really high end and records well. I have an upright bass, I have a custom made Portland Drum Company drum kit and maybe 13 snares, lots of cymbals. I usually use 4 mics for recording drums. I use a Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 as an interface and Logic Pro X as my DAW. I have Komplete, Keyscape, Toontrack drums, Trilian, Omnisphere. lots of other sound sources.

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

A: I love Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny- for other gneres, I'm a child of the 80's, so I do enjoy a lot of the 80's stuff. I was a fan of Wu Tang Clan, especially their production.

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

A: I can do tracks on piano, keyboards, organ, bass, trumpet, drums. I do primarily jazz and jazz related genres, but I love many genres and I am open to pop, hip hop, rock, folk, classical, and just about anything. I can read music and also improvise. I can do some light mixing and mastering in Logic. I can do arranging as well.