THOUGHTS ABOUT MUSIC

I listen to the tomatoes! My belief is that music is the language of spiritual connection and emotions. It does not care what you look like, your background, your nationality, your gender, or your age. Music is revealing and penetrating. Songs presented justify one's existence, like a picture worth a thousand words. Authentic music is food for the mind, inspiring fresh ideas and feelings. It is one of the ways we evolve.

A PASSION FOR MUSIC TECHNOLOGY

Since the advent of synthesizers and evolution of recording technology I have been forever studying developments in the music industry. I remember driving two hours just to see and try a Moog synthesizer. I would attend Audio Engineering Society meetings routinely to see the newest recording gear, hear lectures from top recording engineers, and have direct conversations with people like George Massenburg, Bob Ludwig, and Bob Clearmountain. I sat through entire mastering sessions in Los Angeles for two of my CDs, one with Bernie Grundman and the other with Doug Sax.

There was much study of room acoustics, calculating room modes, and experimentation with all kinds of recording equipment. I have enjoyed using the best analog gear in various recording studios as a guitarist, as well as owning and using the top gear myself. This has brought me to a creative understanding of how to use microphones, preamplifiers, compressors, A/D converters, and processors to achieve specific sound flavor profiles. I just love being able to record music and make it sound as professional as possible with the best gear and mixing techniques.

PERSONAL

I was raised in rural Western Pennsylvania north of Pittsburgh. Although I always had a fascination with music and wanted to play, my parents would not allow me to own an instrument and take lessons until I was ten years old. My father was not very supportive of my strong musical interests. He was a businessman and vice president of one of Pittsburgh's steel related companies. My mother was a stay at home wife, and my younger sister was not musical.

I was always listening to recordings of rock, pop, jazz, and classical. Once I had my drivers license I would go to live concerts most weeks. At that time the Civic Arena and the Syria Mosque were the big venues where I saw the major rock/pop acts of the day. Jazz venues were in smaller clubs in the city. At one point I had season tickets for the Pittsburgh Symphony.

By my age sixteen I was playing paid gigs for parties and rock clubs. It seemed that I was playing at least one wedding per week for many years. In my early twenties I did some touring with rock/dance bands in the Northeast. It was then that I became very interested in jazz and fusion. I started jamming in jazz clubs. My strongest musical influences came from all forms of jazz, especially fusion, and progressive rock. Favorite guitarists I listened to were: Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino, and George Benson. Favorite bands I listened to were: Weather Report, Return to Forever, Spyro Gyra, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Yellowjackets, Steps Ahead, ELP, Jethro Tull, Dixie Dregs, and Gentle Giant.

In my late twenties I moved to New York City. My day job allowed me to live well and go to the jazz clubs to see all of the great players. NYC small jazz clubs are unique in that one can have conversations with famous players during breaks and after the show. Along with my late night jams I felt steeped in the jazz scene there.

After about seven years I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida. For three years I found a vibrant jazz scene with many players from up North. There were more paying jazz gigs there, and I played in Florida's premier big band, Sy Pryweller's Big Band, for over two years.

My next stop was the San Francisco Bay Area. This is where I live now with my wife and two children. I continue to do a variety of musical projects with occasional live performances.