I was born into a family of East Coast Italians in 1972. We moved from New Jersey to Arlington, Texas when I was six years old. I started playing the saxophone in middle school and have been addicted to music ever since. I was a band geek all the way! My high school sweetheart wasn't however, so that kind of elevated me a little. After graduating from high school, I moved to Austin to pursue a career as a slurpee technician at the 7-Eleven on M.L.K. and Guadalupe. In my spare time I attended the University of Texas where I received my Bachelor of Music (saxophone performance,'96) and Master of Music (jazz studies,'03) degrees. Among others, I've performed with the Nova Saxophone Quartet, the Austin Symphony, Austin Lyric Opera, Kenny Rogers, Dick Dale, Olivia Newton John, Julie Budd, the Temptations, Manhattan Transfer, Frank Sinatra Jr., Tommy Tune, the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Asleep at the Wheel, Dale Watson, Donald Sinta, the Tony Campise Big Band, and the Unites States Air Education Training and Command Band (Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio).
I also double on flute and clarinet in community theatre pit orchestras and recording sessions. Currently I'm teaching Applied Saxophone, Applied Clarinet and Music in Contemporary Life at Prairie View A&M University. I also teach Music Theory, Applied Woodwinds, Jazz Band and Mariachi Ensemble at St. Edward's University.
When I'm not playing music I like to bash mimes with Shakes the Clown and Nico, the woodchuck that juggles. I resisted MySpace for as long as I could. Eventually, as my friend Beer witnessed, I was accosted by vicious gnomes and forced at wand-point to build my profile! My musical experiences have been very eclectic. I will continue to post recordings I've done with some of the more unique groups I've played with over the past several years.
