Three years ago I wrote down the goal of either starting or finding a regularly performing big band that would play my music. I’m so pleased to be given this opportunity with the Hartford Jazz Orchestra. And succeeding the great Don Trenner is an honor I don’t take lightly. We…
Do politics belong in sermons? Politics affect people, and as believers who have been commissioned to love our neighbors, I actually think we should not be afraid of talking about policies that affect others. I don’t agree with this Pastor’s stance here. The loving thing to do is to…
I’m often asked by both musicians and non-musicians alike, “what are you listening to these days?” In all honesty, I’m sometimes hesitant to share, because what I enjoy might not be a good entry point for jazz newcomers. Anyways, I’ll go ahead. Because I’m currently on sabbatical, I have more time…
I’m on a teaching sabbatical this semester, from January, 2022 through to May! This page will be an unfolding document on which I list the books, online workshops, instructional videos and podcasts I have waded through during this period. Some will be directly related to my creative research activities, while…
The following video shows how to learn and plug-in a jazz lick that outlines V7 resolving to I. With no trumpet lessons taking place due to the coronavirus outbreak, my son and I have been doing these kinds of jazz exercises during our daily practice time together. Here’s the lick,…