A little bit about me...

I grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, a Washington D.C. suburb. Many people in my family are musically gifted, and both of my parents were my first and strongest influences. Several of my uncles and a few other people from my childhood who were musicians made big impressions on me. I was always encouraged, being shown how to play chords and melodies on the piano and the guitar, learning to read music, and taking some piano lessons. I began studying music more earnestly when I was nine. I learned to play the violin under the guidance of Dr. Joel Berman, a seasoned soloist, concertmaster, conductor, and chamber musician, and with his tutelage I became familiar with much classical violin repertoire. I was particularly drawn to the music of Brahms, Beethoven, and Bach, which became a stepping stone for me to study composition and orchestration. At twelve, as a composer, I placed second in the National PTA Young Artists Competition for a song cycle I wrote for string quartet, and by high school I was competing and performing as a solo violinist, studying for many years with Amy Beth Horman (Kennedy Center Competition winner, etc.) and with Jody Gatwood (renowned performer, educator). Also during this time I played guitar, upright and electric bass, and violin with many musicians in the local indie music scene.

After high school I freelanced as a jazz bassist in the D.C. area for a few years and worked on cars in my free time. I traveled far and often during this time, and I got to see some pretty great places, like Iceland, France, Scotland and Canada. When I was 22 I moved to the Netherlands and stayed for a year and a half to study the Dutch language and make ends meet as a musician. During this time I performed in many cities across Europe and worked in a youth hostel called the Flying Pig for a short time as well. In 2005 I bid Holland farewell and moved to New York. Now in between goofing around with violin and guitar at home, I perform music on the bass and I write and play for my own group, which has a full-length album soon to be released.

I have played alongside, recorded, and/or collaborated with a few people. Among them are Jeremy Pelt, Lenny White, Eric McPherson, Tommy Crane, Myron Walden, Ryan Scott, Pete Rende, Dan Rieser, Frank LoCrasto, Ben van Gelder, Benjamin Herman, Chris Cheek, Joel Frahm, Jochen Rueckert, Jerome Sabbagh, Ari Hoenig, Benny Powell, Joe Ford, Vincent Herring, TK Blue, Stefon Harris, Rick Margitza, Jasper Bloom, David Budway, Donny McCaslin, Jesse Selengut and Noir, Jaleel Shaw, Rick Parker Collective, Terrell Stafford, and Gary Thomas. Some of the places I have performed in are Bowery Ballroom (NYC), the Blue Note (NYC), Jazz Standard (NYC), Jazz Gallery (NYC), Blues Alley (Washington, D.C.), Jazz Bakery (L.A.), Bimhuis (Amsterdam), China Club (Paris), Baku Jazz Festival (Azerbaijan), Amazonas Jazz Festival (Brazil), Italy, Germany and Switzerland, Czech Republic and Austria, Finland, Greece, and extensively throughout the U.S.