Headlands Center for the Arts

Artist Statement

I am a professional composer, saxophonist and flutist with a Master’s degree from Penn State University, and post-graduate study in jazz with David Baker at Indiana University. I specializes in researching music traditions from disparate cultures, and reflecting and honoring them in my contemporary instrumental jazz works, which always include improvisation. I am currently composing for my JAZZphoria octet’s second album.

I have served as Composer in Residence at nine art centers around the US, and received grants from Chamber Music America, the San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music, Intermusic SF, the NEA, ASCAP and Meet the Composer.

My compsitions have been performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Kennedy Center in Wash. D.C., and the Grammys in Los Angeles. I have recorded on more than 50 albums, and toured with Melba Liston, Cornell Dupree, The Larry Elgart Band, David Bowie, Chic (“Freak Out”), Sister Sledge (“We Are Family”) and Laura Nyro.

 

While At Headlands

At Headlands, I will compose new material for my JAZZphoria octet’s upcoming all-instrumental second album. I look for a blues, R&B, jazz, reggae or Latin groove which makes me move and increases the eclecticism of our repertoire. New music comes to me when I’m walking or meditating in an inspiring place like the Headlands, or when I’m about to fall asleep.

I begin with a melody or chord structure, then create harmony and contrapuntal passages for the lower horns. For the rhythm section, I both indicate grooves and write specific lines. I then score it for a four-piece horn section of two trumpets/flugelhorns, tenor sax/flute/piccolo, and baritone sax/bass clarinet/flute/piccolo. Our rhythm section iconsists of piano/keyboards, electric/acoustic guitar, electric/acoustic bass and drums/percussion.
The magic of the ensemble’s performances derives from the rhythm section’s interpretation of their contributions to the whole, and the constantly evolving improvised solos, the true essence of jazz.