MUSIC PERFORMANCE

Music is one of my favorite things in the world. I have played with a variety of musical artist, ensembles and genres. I started my journey in music with my mother's record collection at home when I was a child. I am so very happy that my beautiful mother allowed me to journey through her collection of jazz, funk, blues, R&B and more during my formative years. I grew up in Fort Lauderdale, FL and would go to the record store, Peach's, in the 1980's weekly for a Famous Amos cookie and a 45 rpm record (single). It later turned into a tape cassette, and eventually CD's in my teenage years. We sang and danced all the time in our household and I thank her for that everyday.  I later found out that 80% of families and cultures outside of America, engage in musicking and dancing if not everyday, frequently. She inculcated within me the love of art(s). 

I eventually ended up attending Dillard High School (1990-1994). Historically, Dillard High School and Dillard School of the Arts (formerly Dillard Performing Arts - DPA) has been famous for a lot of great artist that have matriculated through those hallowed halls. Of the great people that have passed through those doors, Julian Cannonball Adderley (band director) is the most famous, but my story starts decades after the rise and fall of that jazz titan. I started in beginning band with Nathaniel Dunlap Jr. and Leroy James Gibbs III. These men have been, and will continue to be my greatest mentors in life, because they were and still are more interested in developing the student to the highest levels of their human flourishings. I began learning the trumpet, first formal music education, in 9th grade with Mr Leroy J. Gibbs III. I feel in love with band and excelled at that during the last three years of my high school career. 

I graduated from Dillard and attended Florida A&M University, where I was a member of; the trumpet section of the Marching 100 Band, wind ensemble, symphonic band, jazz band (I & II), a founding member of the FAMU brass quintet, trumpet ensemble, and virtuoso band. Being involved in all of these various musical ensemble has helped me be a good overall musician and willing to accept the challenges that being a working musician can present in this day and time. I studied trumpet with Dr Marty Robinson (see Resume-Vita) and would graduate in 2005 with my B.S. in Music Performance. 

I worked as a substitute teacher for a year in Broward County Florida before moving to Illinois, and matriculating at Northern Illinois University (NIU) where I studied jazz education with Ron X. Carter (sax) and performance with Art Davis (trumpet). While attending NIU I co-directed the All-University Jazz Band with the great Willerm Delisfort (piano), a great friend and the awesome father of my god-son, Elias Delisfort. I played in the top band under Carter's direction and performed alongside jazz greats like; Willie Pickens, Jiggs Wigham, Jimmy Heath, John Clayton, Terrel Stafford, Roy Hargrove, Peter Erskine, Clark Terry, Jon Faddis, and many others. These experiences helped open my eyes to the possibilities that exist outside of the walls of school. I also took time out to visit the Chicago jazz scene weekly (The Showcase, The Velvet Lounge, New Apartment Lounge, The Green Mill, Funky Buddha). I was fortunate to play with H2O Soul, a dynamic hip-hop group comprised of live band (improvising) and three lyricist (emcees). I met a beautiful woman Antonia M. Winston, feel in love and we eventually moved to Orlando, FL and got married.

While living in Orlando, FL (Central Florida) I taught at two high schools (Ocoee High School & Timber Creek High School) as a part time music instructor (marching band & jazz band). I was a adjunct professor of music at Valencia College (VC) where I taught Music History (Music Lit, Popular Music History, Music Theory), and the evolution of hip-hop music through Africana studies at the University of Central Florida (UCF). I was also a member a gospel horn section lead by John Lennard (Tuskegee University). I lead a jazz fusion group called The BLUTET from 2009 - 2013 when I relocated to New York City to start my doctoral studies at Teachers College, Columbia University. I had the great opportunity to perform reggae music all over the world with the two time grammy winning artist, Burning Spear aka Winston Rodney from 2010-2013.  

I recently worked in a music education program that is part of Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) from 2014 - 2018. In this program I have had the great opportunity to work with some really amazing young people from around the greater NYC area. In the past I performed with the Fordham University jazz band and I have had the pleasure of performing with the great hip-hop scholar and artist Toni Blackman. I have joined a hip-hop/jazz group called The Freedom Now Project ".. the place where digital meets analog" and we are working on new original music, and remixing jazz standards with the aid of turntables & beat machines in combination with live instruments. The most recent ensemble that I have joined forces with is Bright Dog Red (Albany, NY), led by the great Dr Joe Pignato of SUNY - Oneonta, NY. We have signed a record deal with RopeADope records, and look forward to releasing our album in 2018. Great things are coming from these experiments in live hip-hop music performance! Stay tuned...  

RECORDING PROJECTS:

(June 2018)

“Means to the Ends” - Bright Dog Red (CD)

(October – November 2012)                                               "Shades of Blue” - The BLU-TET (CD)

(March 2010)                                                                        K.G. Omulo “Ayah Ye! Moving train”

(May – July 2008)                                                                Modern Technique (Press Release)

(2006, 2007)                                                                        Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble (CD)

(February 2006)                                                                   Miami Heat Street Band (Press Release)

(August 2004)                                                                      Walt Disney World Collegiate All-Star Band (CD)

(February 2002)                                                                   Florida A&M University Jazz Band (CD)

(July 2001)                                                                            Tallahassee Boys Choir (CD)

(1999, 2001, 2002)                                                              Florida A&M University Marching “100” Band (CD)

PERFORMING EXPERIENCE

Bright Dog Red

trumpet/turntable 2017 -

The Freedom Now Project                                      

Trumpet/Turntable               2015 –

Fordham University Jazz Band                               

Trumpet                                2015 -

Burning Spear                

Trumpet                               2010 – 2013

BLU-TRIO/ BLU-TET/Bionic Soul                          

Leader                                 2009 – 2013

Modern Technique                                                    

Leader                                 2008 – 2010

Melton Mustafa Big Band                                        

Trumpet                               2007

H2O Soul                                                                  

Horn Section                       2006 – 2008

Northern Illinois University Jazz Band                    

Trumpet/Lead                      2006 – 2008

Miami Heat Street Band

Trumpet                                2005 – 2008

Walt Disney World Collegiate All-Star Band          

Trumpet                               2004

Florida A&M University Wind Ensemble              

Trumpet                2003 – 2004

Florida A&M University Concert Choir (soloist)    

Soloist                                   2003

Tallahassee Boys Choir

Trumpet                                2001 – 2002

Florida A&M University Brass Quintet                    

Trumpet/Lead                      2000 – 2004

Walt Disney World College Music Program          

Trumpet/Lead                      1999 – 2004

Florida A&M University Jazz Band

Trumpet/Lead                      1998 – 2004

Florida A&M University Marching “100” Band

Trumpet/Lead                      1994 – 2001

RECITALS:

“Looking Forward” Doctoral Recital 2015     

A comprehensive collage of jazz standards that demonstrate my mastery of the jazz idiom. This was a exit for my pursuit of the Ed.D. degree at Teachers College, Columbia University

 Bohemia After Dark 2012 – 2013

Live monthly jazz music event hosted at Jazz Tastings in Maitland, FL. featuring original music from the BLUTET and other standard jazz compositions.

Digital Journey 2009 - Present

Monthly live music event in Orlando, FL that features live bands & deejays

 Young Gunnz Jazz Showcase 2009 – Present

Yearly live jazz music event in Orlando, FL that features young jazz artist from the Central Florida area

 M.M. Graduate Recital 2008

Footprints, You Don’t Know What Love Is, The Nearness of You, Sir John, Fungii Mama,

A Walk through the Park, Seven Steps to Heaven

Senior Recital 2005

Pam’s Patience, Grand Russian Fantasia, Scrapple From the Apple, Seven Steps to Heaven

 Jazz Recital 2004

Green Dolphin Street, Bye Bye Blackbird, Moments Notice, Fly Me to the Moon

 Orlando Jazz Orchestra “The Trumpet Greats” March 2011

“Sidewinder”

 Central Florida Jazz Society  (Black History Month Program)

“Harlem Renaissance: A Tribute to Duke Ellington & Count Basie”

February 2012 & 2013