My Music...

I am a swing jazz guitarist and vocalist with over 13 years of musical experience. Entering college, I intended on pursuing a path toward a Music Education degree. While a student, I won a locally sponsored scholarship for vocal performance and excelled in the ear training and theory courses. I eventually changed degree paths to earn an English degree, but I someday hope again to pursue teaching guitar and vocals. I am currently enjoying practicing, playing, and singing swing oriented jazz.

One goal I have as a performer in jazz is to make the music enjoyable to the audience, whomever that may be. Though I rejected vocals initially becoming a jazz musician, I have since put a large emphasis on them again as I feel they are something everyone can relate to, unlike the long winded instrumental solo excursions that tend to define modern jazz. I believe jazz can be fun for all involved. As a jazz vocalist I count Marty Grosz, Fats Waller, Dave Frishberg, Mose Allison, Ella Fitzgerald, Maxine Sullivan, and Sarah Vaughn as a few favorites.

As a guitarist I am dedicated to making the art of pre-war acoustic jazz guitar playing visible again. This rhythmic, chordal style of playing the guitar is all but a lost art, and there are few who have continued to carry the torch. It is truly a shame, because this type of playing is incredibly versatile: it works for solo playing, accompaniment for singing, and in groups! Even if I only reach a handful of people, I have been successful. And I have already been successful; my YouTube videos get more and more views all the time!

Finally, I always keep in mind that as a jazz player, I am here to play the way I play, to feel what I feel, not to replicate the past or mimic the current trends in jazz. I will continue to apply my style of playing to an ever increasing repertoire of everything from jazz standards, dixieland tunes, obscure jazz tunes to bossa novas, classic pop and rock tunes and anything else musical that works well in the style.

Here is my Youtube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNuDr3MgbzjD60nTkocXbpg