God, The Bible, strengthening of mind and body, my family, drumming, helping people, reading,traveling when time permits, smiling as much as possible, laughing out loud when a smile just won't contain what I feel, poker (NOT a good bluffer!)making music with friends, making time for friends, finding out that very few of my long-time friends are on myspace (!)...what does that mean? Hmmmmm. I think it means I'll have to try to bring them here or make a bunch of new ones....perhaps? ///////still under construction///////
After living 8 years in Germany and 6 in Switzerland, I'd like to meet many people whom I consider as my friends again. Hmmm, perhaps I should go on tour more often? Yeah, touring.....(ponder, ponder)...What a concept! I'd also like to meet more people who are interested in leaving this world better than the way they found it, as opposed to them just leaving "better off". Hey, if I can change in my lifetime then for sure it'll be easy for others. For a long time I just didn't give a *$^% as some of my friends well know. Water under the bridge, as they say, we all go through "it" sooner or later.
I've been, and continue to be influenced by Miles Davis, Parliament Funkadelic, Herbie Hancock, The Meters, Bird, Coltrane, Jimi, Lee Morgan, James Brown, Bernard Purdie, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jack DeJohnette,Return to Forever, Mother Night, Vinnie Colaiuta, Mandrill, The Ohio Players, Santana, Led Zeppelin, Elvin Jones, The (Jazz) Crusaders, Tony Williams, Black Oak Arkansas, Billy Cobham, Dennis Chambers, Tony Jardine, Reggie Boyd Jr., Michael Koschorreck, Darnell Summers, John Scofield, Joshua Redmond, Larry Klein, Christoph Stiefel, Jon Otis and this list will expand with time. Aside from the aforementioned, some of whom I've had the pleasure of making music with, I've also played with Billy Preston, Tony Maiden, Buzzy Feiten, Greg Wells, Jay Oliver, Michael Cassidy, Jimmy Haslip, Hellmut Hattler, Walter Trout, DJ Rogers, Sister Rose Stone, Kathleen "Bird" York, Lili Haydn, Al Berry, Michelle White, Max Laesser, Martin Kolbe, Ralph Illenberger, Jennifer Batten, Jon Otis, Peter Kaiser, Bill Summers, The Duty Freaks, Stiletto, The Funk Invaders, Wayne Prue, Afrodisia. I'm in the process of adding stuff to this site and wanted to make as accurate a contribution here as well.
The Usual Suspects, Remember the Titans, The Matrix Part 1, Lord of the Rings, various Jackie Chan, let me think about this one...hmmmm what have I watched on flights recently?.....////under construction///
I like watching sporting events! Basketball, football, track, boxing, MMA, various martial arts and the like. I also like 24, Gray's Anatomy to name a couple. Other than that, I'm usually too busy to sit and watch something for that long a period of time. I can get a lot done instead and usually opt for that. Listening to tunes, tweaking grooves, and so on.
Recently I've read Dan Brown's books. Loved them!! I like thriller type stories. High tech, I Spy types of stories and I'm always open to suggestions. As usual with things that interest you, the more you read, the more you realize that there is to know.
My parents. Still here with us, and the main reason for my return to NYC! They took care of me when I was a child, and now the time has come to pay them back. I'm just grateful for the realization and understanding of the incredible blessing I've been fortunate enough to receive. I became a Big Brother last year and can't begin to express what a joy that is, so I guess all those who like to help the kids find their path, I'd consider heroes. Those who help people in general are my heroes.