About

Growing up in NJ, 16 miles from NYC, National TV was local.The Space Race was just getting off. British invaded as Vietnam escalated. Political and Civil Rights were more than just Black and White. Analog recordings on Mono albums were played over AM, Moving into Hi-Fi Stereo over underground FM. There was a definitive cornucopia vibe created as musicians, recording, mixing and media were all listening, hearing, delivering . 


The ears were, and are my best sense; hearing in the womb, listening as a child, commanding them as an adult musician. All of this came together in my head and ears as my acoustic path progressed, too. I’ve always enjoyed my sound on the saxophone, not out of ego. I was to become the sound. Listening for 18 years, studying and playing my sax for 8, University was where I began learning what I had been listening to for all those years. Grasping why things were done. How it all affects the music like playing a venue.


           If it doesn’t sound good, do something different… if it does, keep doing that.
           Mr. Vas, Music Director

Many ask, “What’s your favorite music?” The type I’m playing at that moment. As learning how to speak by imitating pitch and rhythm, styles of music are like learning a type of speech. And I had a Tower-of-Babylon full of music from The Tonite Show Orchestra to the the Village Jazz clubs. Lincoln Center to Broadway. Plus all the Ethnic/Cultural flavors you can imbibe.


Two studio recordings before I left Jersey showed my sax sound so clearly. A live analog sound of the reed against the mouthpiece. Then there was this performance hall with 4 tiers of balconies. Notes would drift to the back ever so beautifully. And how about getting 1000 musicians to all play together outside. Each situation opens up the possibilities to get the gruuve by playing the “room”. 

After a short hiatus from playing music to care for my parents, Noel asked me to collaborate on his music. That’s when I stepped into mixing on The Consoles. It’s like learning my sax all over again. Practicing new techniques. Refining the ones I have. Expanding my vocabulary.

So here I am, continuing to build my acoustic analog audio chops. Looking for different situations, generating other perspectives. Finding other musicians to work with, brainstorm, and realize The Creative. Each mix session is like a rehearsal to a final performance. The cuts might not always be what you wanted for the recordings, but I know I can still find the gruuve.
 
(fermata)