I first found a love for music when I attended San Rafael High School, under the direction of Mark Peabody. While at San Rafael, I took private sax lessons from Bay Area Musician, Marcia Miget. Marcia was, and continues to be now, a huge inspiration in my musical life. Marcia, as well as Mark, introduced me to music and passed on much of their knowledge to me. I fed off of their passion for music, and fell in love with the art form. I consider them both mentors, friends and excellent ambassadors for all musicians.
After graduating San Rafael High School in 2001, I accepted a music scholarship to attend Sonoma State University, under the direction of the late Mel Graves. Mel was head of the Jazz program, and ended up becoming another inspirational mentor for me throughout my musical journey. While at Sonoma State, I was privileged to learn under many excellent performers and educators such as: Mel Graves, Randy Vincent, George Marsh, Harvey Wainapel, Jeff Pittson, Charlie McCarthy, Kendrick Freeman, and Pete Estabrook, to name a few. During my junior year, I decided to add a Music Education degree to my current load of Jazz Studies. For the next few years, I worked hard toward degrees in both Jazz Studies and Music Education as well as a Single Subject Teaching Credential. That same year I met my future wife Christine, who just so happened to be a musician studying to become a teacher as well. I graduated (and got married) in 2006 from Sonoma State University as a Distinguished Jazz Musician Graduate, and owe all of my current success to Marcia, Mark and Mel. They have been my guides on this journey that I continue to travel today.
After graduating from Sonoma State University in 2006, I accepted a teaching position at Hall Middle School in Larkspur, CA and have been teaching their ever since. In 2008, my wife gave birth to our beautiful daughter Gianna, who has musical blood flowing all over. I really enjoy the challenge of instilling my passion for music to my students, similar to how Marcia, Mark and Mel instilled it in me. In 2006, I also began performing music professionally, and have been playing Jazz throughout the Bay Area ever since. Performing is my number one passion and I love to share my music with everyone.
Instrument Setup:
Alto: 1968 Selmer Mark VI Saxophone and Jody Jazz 8 star hard rubber mouthpiece
Tenor: 1968 Selmer Mark VI Saxophone and Jody Jazz 8 star hard rubber mouthpiece
Soprano: 1922 Conn Curved Soprano
Tenor: Guardala Earth Tone Series
Keyboard: Roland RD-170
Musicians I’ve performed with:
Marcia Miget, Mel Graves, Harold Jones and the Bossmen (Noel Jewkes, Jim Rothermel), Max Perkoff, Jaimeo Brown, Charlie McCarthy, Carl Lockett, Billy Johnson, Sly Randolph, John Santos, Starduster Orchestra (Joe Cohen, Doug Morton), Dartanyan Brown, Mark Peabody, Garrett Michaelsen, Ian Dickenson, Piro Patton, Casey Cameron, Niels Myrner, Blake Richardson, Pete Estabrook, Noam Lemish, Justin Hellman, Ken Lenga, Ken Husbands, Matt Rothstein, Kellen Harrison, Daniel Fusco, Mike Bello, Ben Zeff, Giovanni Benedetti, Miles Wick, Todd Grady, Robby Marshall, Omar Aran, Tyler Blanton, Alex Aspinall, Shawkie Roth, James Henry, Greg Schlaepfer, Jason Carr, Trent Boeschen and many others.
Venues I’ve played:
San Francisco: Yoshis (bar lounge), Enrico’s, California College of the Arts, Rose Pistola, Cafe Claude, Marines Memorial Theatre, SF Brewing Company, Elbo Room, Mojito’s, Golden Gate Club, The Box Factory, Bubble Lounge and Madrone.
Oakland: Sequoyah Country Club.
Berkeley: La Pena Cultural Center (headlined by Calvin Keys).
Sausalito: Sausalito Art Festival, Cafe DiVino, A Taste of Rome (formerly Cafe Trieste).
Tiburon: Servino Ristorante and Downtown Tiburon Outdoor Music Series.
Mill Valley: Balboa Cafe, Creekside Friday’s, Mill Valley Rec Center (Strawberry Festival), Mill Valley Community Center.
Corte Madera: Benissimo’s, The Village at Corte Madera and Corte Madera Community Center.
Larkspur: The Tavern at Lark Creek Inn, Larkspur Landing Music Series and Larkspur Cafe Theater.
San Rafael: Embassy Suites, Broken Drum, Rafter’s, Sabor of Spain, McInnis Golf Course, A Taste of Rome (formerly Cafe Trieste), First Presbyterian Church, Seafood Peddler, 4th St. Tavern, Flatiron, Jewish Community Center, Border’s, Pete’s 881 Club, Yet Wah, Homeshow Jazz Festival, Northgate Mall, Rafael Racquet Club, Marin Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium (Civic Center) and Italian Street Painting Festival.
San Anselmo: Ted’s.
Fairfax: Cafe Amsterdam (now the Sleeping Lady) and Meadow Club Golf Course.
San Geronimo: Two Bird Cafe and San Geronimo Golf Course.
Novato: Wildfox Restaurant, Blues by the Lake (Stafford Lake), Finnegan’s and Portelli’s.
Petaluma: Zebulon’s and Petaluma Country Club.
Rohnert Park: Sonoma State University (Warren Auditorium), Sweet Lou’s, Tradewinds and Northlight Books.
Santa Rosa: Equus and Stark’s Steakhouse.
American Canyon: Gaia Hotel and Spa.
Napa: Vintner’s Golf Course: Lakeside Grill and Jessup Cellars.
Geyserville: DeLorimier Winery.
Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz Jazz Festival.
Hayward: The Bistro.
Monterey: Cibo’s.
Hawaii: Hyatt Regency (Kauai), Hanalei Bay Resort (Kauai) and Honolulu Music Festival (Oahu).
Musical Influences:
Kenny Garrett, Cannonball Adderley, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Maceo Parker, Michael Brecker, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Brad Mehldau, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Bill Withers and James Brown, and many others.
Influential Composers:
Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Cedar Walton, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Cannonball Adderley, Bobby Timmons, Freddie Hubbard, Wes Montgomery, Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau, Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Kenny Garrett, Ray Charles and Clifford Brown, and many others.
Musicians I’ve seen live:
Kenny Garrett, Michael Brecker, Roy Hargrove, Charlie Haden, Cedar Walton, Joshua Redman, Oscar Peterson, Joe Lovano, McCoy Tyner, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Brian Blade, Hermeto Pascoal, John Pattitucci, Joey Calderazzo, Wayne Shorter, Branford Marsalis, Christian McBride, Eric Revis, Joey DeFrancesco, Ahmad Jamal, Pharaoh Sanders, Ornette Coleman, Lewis Nash, Danilo Perez, Pete Escovedo, Mel Martin, Marcia Miget, Etta James, Vincent Herring, Carla Bley, Billy Drummond, Steve Swallow, Andy Sheppard, Mimi Fox, Bill Watrous, Kenny Werner, Hernan Riley, Bobby Shew, Carl Allen, Mose Allison, Mel Graves, George Marsh, Randy Vincent, and Ulf Wakenius, to name just a few.