Why?

Listen, sing, play, dance, love and be happy. Let the music, let art, be a conduit to connection and the beginning of understanding, an understanding of yourself and the world you live in. I can’t express how grateful I am to those who influenced me on this path. My father being the foremost influence in my live was a musician. He played for joy, he played to make money, he played as a discipline in his life, he played to forget and he played to remember. He played to engage people and to make them dance. He loved to make people dance and people loved to dance to his music. He was completely self taught, first on drums at age 5, then on to clarinet and sax, trumpet and finally piano and Hammond B3 organ. He sat at the B3 with a piano lined up to his right so he could play the piano with his right hand while he kicked bass pedals with his left foot (the right one was for dynamics) and chord the B3 with his left hand. After taking a piano chorus he’d pick up his trumpet to solo or play melody. I joined him at age 12 on trumpet. We had a drummer to complete the trio and dad and I would do trumpet duets and sing harmonies. Oh, did I mention he sang? I played every Friday and Saturday night with my dad for years. We played from 9 until 2, last call, “You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here.” Often we played straight through the evening, no breaks. I’d run the the bathroom during songs. Dad never stood up from the bench. He’d play song after song, segueing from song to song, calling tunes to the drummer, who, would become quite irritated at not having a break. It was at that point that I suggested getting a set of drums. I was sure I could learn to play drums and trumpet at the same, which I did at a very rudimentary level. Mostly, I just wanted to sit down! Friggin’ 5 hour gigs!

Why?

Dad gave me a life in music and put music into my life. It taught me discipline at the same time it gave me joy. I’ve always thought, anyone who tries to make a living at their art is either a fool or a genius. Well, of course, it’s both. Artists are all foolish geniuses! Some, more fool, others, more genius. (stop judging me!)

Why?

I’m in the last third of my life (if I’m lucky) and I’ve never been more excited about learning, playing, growing, as a person and a musician. I feel incredibly privileged to be able to do this. I got here through choice and dumb luck. I worked hard. I worked at the pace that suited me. I wanted other things in life too, a relationship, a home, and now I realize, I worked at the level of my ability to absorb and understand. It’s all we can do, yes? And the only person I want/need to be better than is the person I was yesterday.

Why?

So, what can I do to make a difference in this world that really seems to need a difference be made in order to survive? (I’m sorry, what?) I can be me. I can only be me. Music is my offering, I strive to make that offering with sincerity, thoughtfulness, emotion and technique, I want to make you feel and think. I want to bring you joy and sorrow as it’s known in our universal connection, our shared experience. I want to show you who I am, more importantly, I want to know you.

Why?

Everything is vibration. Thoughts, feelings, emotions are all vibration. Music is pure vibration. It fills space. Space is the most rarefied form of creation and manifestation. If we can meet on that field, we can learn to eliminate the separateness that we were taught about each other and ourselves. We can learn that race doesn’t matter. We can learn that we, as individuals, are not inadequate. First we need to learn how to listen. We listen in degrees and our ability to grow reflects in our ability to listen. Whether we’re aware or not, what we hear is effecting us at some level. It’s vibrating within us right now.

Why?

I play music with these thoughts in mind. I want my vibration to be uplifting, and believe me, it’s a constant struggle to overcome the dumbfuckery that we’re constantly exposed to. None the less, I try. I often fail but I will keep trying. I try to only expose myself to, and offer out the music that moves me in some way and as you know, there are many ways to be moved.

Why?

Where to start? Right now, for me, it’s here. Domestically, our greatest issue is racial inequality. Our country, taken through genocide and built on slavery, has come to a precipice, a racial reckoning, that must continue to be our primary focus. It is the root of our divided country politically, financially and reflects in our education system. Our education system is the most accessible way forward. As individuals, it is our actions and deeds that speak the loudest and reflect our truth. As musicians we have a magical portal, if you will, an entryway to connect on a more visceral level. Connection leads to conversation which takes us to understanding, recognition and acceptance. Music, can and should, open hearts. An open heart is the beginning of change.

Listen, sing, play, dance, love and be happy.