news
news 4/28/13
Hard at work lately on a second EP for Jen Dale. Also, Kimberly Nichole and I have written an exciting new song which will be recorded soon.
I'm now exclusively playing Latch Lake slides. They're the best slides I've ever tried, particularly those in the Lucaszite™ material and finish. We also love their mic stands at Bunker Studios.
I've acquired an exceptional 1968 Fender Telecaster that I look forward to using on many recordings, including an extra-special session coming up in May that I'm not yet at liberty to reveal.
Finally, I'm performing a rare solo show, singing and playing, at Sycamore in Brooklyn on May 24. I encourage you to come out-- I believe in the music I'll be playing, and look forwad to sharing it.
news 12/27/12
The past month has been deep in production world with the fabulous Jen Dale, working on her EP. .357 Lover is releasing a full-length on which I played-- test pressings of the LP are back! Kimberly Nichole and I will be doing some work to kick off the new year.
Performance-wise over the next week, catch me with gospel artist Jay White at Rockwood Music Hall, stage 2 on Dec. 28.
I'm still enjoying my K&K Sound Systems Meridian acoustic microphone system--I endorse K&K because I genuinely believe in their products. Also on the gear front, I just acquired a hot early '60s Kay Value Leader 3-pickup model, which is exceptional for slide, and my Les Paul came back from recieving an eye-popping metal flake finish courtesy of Rowyco Kustoms in time to have WCR pickups installed.
news 10/23/12
I'm now a proud endorser of K&K Sound Systems acoustic pickups and microphones. They make an innoative system called the Meridian which will allow me to use my 1944 Gibson SJ in live settings without permanent modification-- an ingenious system whereby a condenser microphone clamps harmlessly to the guitar's upper bout, allowing for positioning near the neck-body joint.
Speaking of said guitar, Charles Perry and I had a private performance for MTV/VH1 this morning. Good things coming from Charles soon!
news 10/19/12
Been busy with many projects-- production projects with Alicia Lemke, Blessing Offor, Jen Dale, and Kimberly Nichole are all in the pipeline. Just finished producing an EP with newcomer Madysin Hatter which is slated for a Halloween release.
Strictly guitar-wise, there's another artist with whom I've been working that I'm very excited about-- Marla Joy. She's been writing some great songs with Syience that are truly a pleasure to play. Stay tuned for the announcement of a special performance on Nov. 8. And of course I'm always excited to be working with Charles Perry, with whom I'll be playing this week for MTV/VH1.
I've also been recording a project of my own with some longtime friends and collaborators: The legendary Cecil Brooks III on drums and Pat Bianchi on Hammond B3 organ. We're not yet finished recording, and the project may contain input from some other special featured guests... that part will remain a secret (for now)!
The past few months have seen new gear, new projects, new collaboators, and new opportunities. Stay tuned for more!
news 6/24/12
Great things going on!
Playing in Philly this weekend with Atlantic Records artist Laura Izibor, and 6/27 for an MTV/Hype Music event with Kimberly Nichole.
July 2 I'm at Rockwood Music Hall with an amazing new artist Alicia Lemke. Her music is incredible! Definitely check this one out-- Alicia's profile is rising fast on the heels of a new single and a recent video that's had almost 2 million YouTube hits.
Mid-July is a small New England tour with Tom Wetmore, who is enjoying some success on the heels of his CMJ Jazz top-10 release The Desired Effect.
August 11 I'm at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC with Blessing Offor. Blessing has recently been signed to Sojourn Records and is working on his debut release, to which I have been contributing guitars.
I've also been recently performing and recording with artists Kimi Lundie, Denitia Odigie, Jay White and Cory Henry, whose new DVD Gotcha Now Doc will be attracting a lot of buzz. There are too many other gigs and projects to list, but these are some highlights!
Tonight I'm at the Bitter End with Nashville-based singer Melany Watson. Melany has recently relocated to NYC, so come out and give her some support!
news 6/8/12
Long time no update-- too busy!
The new Bunker Studio in Williamsburg is open and booked like crazy.
I've been doing lots of gigs with the great Kimberly Nichole, and have some dates coming up with Atlantic Records artist Laura Izibor.
Cory Henry has released a new DVD entitled Gotcha Now Doc featuring the great Nathaniel Townsley III on drums, myself on guitar, a few special guests.
I've been in the studio with Bruce Williams doing more work on his organ project, and producing a large-scale project by Sylvester Onyejiaka.
Lots more going on-- too much to list-- but good things are happening.
In August, I begin tracking my own project-- an organ trio recording of some of my favorite music. I'm excited to share details but it's wise for me to keep it close to the vest for now. Stay tuned!
news 12/6/11
Just got back from Zurich, Switzerland with Jen Dale-- great time over there! December is full of dates with great artists.
Coming up on the 13th is a BET event with Charles Perry, Kimberly Nichole, Sasha Allen, and Jaiden. I'm back with Kimberly Nichole on Dec. 17th at Joe's Pub for what promises to be an unforgettable show. I'm doing few dates with Christine Hoberg, including Dec. 22 at Rockwood Music Hall and a possible date at the Highline Ballroom (TBD) and a few others that are still getting the details ironed out. New Year's Eve will be an instrumental vibe with saxophonist Danny Walsh at the Park Lane Hotel.
I've spent virtually all of my daytimes in the summer and fall working on the buildout for the new Bunker Studio in Williamsburg. It's an amazing space that's still moving toward total completion-- however, most of what's left to do is aesthetic in nature. We're a fully functional space, and we've been having sessions in the breathtaking Studio A for about a month. Studio B opens today with its first session! While it's a commercial studio with a few great engineers on staff, I look forward to using the space as a platform to develop and produce projects exclusively with musicians that inspire me.
All for now!
news 11/6/11
Sorry it's been awhile with no updates. I've been too busy playing with Denitia Odigie, Rob Lewis, Christine Hoberg, and many others. Tonight is a great night of music with a live DVD recording of Cory Henry's organ trio feat. the great Nathaniel Townsley, yours truly on guitar, and other special guests. Following that I'm playing some acoustic for Hildegunn Gjedrem's release of her new project Share your Secret. Both events at Rockwood Music Hall starting with Cory at 6:30. Here are some other highlights this month:
Monday 11/7 has me with Chester Gregory at the Triad. Friday 11/11 has me back at Rockwood with Christine Hoberg, and again on the 19th I'll be at Rockwood with Philip Lassiter.
Doing a couple of dates in Zurich, Switzerland with Jen Dale to round out the month. Here's to more frequent updates!
news 12/8/10
In the last few months, I've relocated to Brooklyn, NY. Since then, I've had the opportunity to work with lots of great artists of so many different flavors--a major label country singer, a gospel choir, an arena rock band, many singer-writers, a couple of R&B singers, and jazz groups from organ trios to big bands--and it's only the beginning. These are exciting times. On the more creative tip, I'm beginning production this month for a project with the amazingly wonderful singer/writer Sarah Renfro. Stay tuned! Off to Avatar Studios today for a session with producer Tommy Sims.
news 5/19/10
Been in the studio over the past few months with a couple of different artists. First was Bruce Williams for his organ project featuring Pat Bianchi and Cecil Brooks, III.
Taking up most of early 2010 was preproduction, tracking, and mixing for the upcoming release by .357 Lover, which I produced in addition to playing. It was a pleasure tracking and getting input from John Davis, and mixing with both John and Joel Hamilton.
Upcoming projects include a recording with keyboardist Tom Wetmore, and hopefully beginning work on a new record of original music.
news 11/21/09
Short update-- At Skipper's Plane St. Pub in Newark, NJ this Sunday, November 22, with Radam Schwartz (Hammond B3) and Steve Johns (drums). An early hit-- 4PM to 8PM.
news 9/1/09
Very busy lately! Playing this weekend (Sept. 4) at the Tony Williams Jazz Festival in Philadelphia in an organ quartet with Bruce Williams, Pat Bianchi, and the great Cecil Brooks, III. Now that's a band! In Philly again on Sept. 12 for something totally different--the BURLESk-N-MORE event with .357 Lover. We will also be doing a video shoot down there earlier in the day.
.357 Lover recently recorded a video performance for the FOX television show Fearless Music. Should air nationally in about a month. The band also has a new record coming out called Diorama of the Golden Lion. Wednesday, some members of the band will be doing an in-studio acoustic performance on a satellite radio station to promote the new record.
The summer was busy, with lots of performances with Lonnie Youngblood, Melvin Davis, and other regular projects. Here's hoping for more great things in the fall!