I grew up in New York City where I encountered music from all over the world on a daily basis. In addition, my mother had eclectic taste and introduced me to a broad spectrum of music, from the simple joys of folk music from Greece and Jamaica to the power of Beethoven and a daily diet of classical repertoire.
As a teenager, I became obsessed with reggae, hip hop and dance music, which led to a decade-long career as a nightclub DJ. Wanting to create my own music, but lacking any vocabulary or experience on an instrument, I took up the electric bass in my late twenties. Learning the basslines to many of the songs that were sampled in late 80’s and early 90’s hip hop introduced me to the great bassists of the classic soul and r&b genres like James Jamerson, Verdine White, Chuck Rainey and others. In 2011, I joined afro-funk outfit Gentleman Brawlers for a yearlong stint. Then in 2012 I joined Empire Beats with whom I spent six years playing residencies at Parkside Lounge, Hill Country BBQ, and The Way Station in Brooklyn, in addition to many weddings and corporate events. In 2019, I joined Backyard Soul which is a Motown-inspired outfit. In addition to gigs around NYC, we have continued to record during the pandemic and have upcoming gigs scheduled for summer and fall of 2022.
In 2012, I took up the double bass and dived into the worlds of jazz and orchestral repertoire. In 2017, I began working with local jazz musicians through the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and the New York Jazz Workshop. As a double bassist, I have performed gigs at Tomi Jazz, Bluebird, the Church of Heavenly Rest with the Canterbury Choral Society, and the Berne Jazz Festival (2021).
In 2023 I completed my Bachelor of Fine Arts Jazz/Contemporary Music with honors from The New School.
I live in Brooklyn with my wife and son. I’m so grateful to be able to live, perform, study, and teach in New York City, which continues to be a thriving place for imaginative and ambitious musicians and creative people of unlimited variety.