Born + raised in Washington Heights. 5th generation pure NYC native. Currently in Brooklyn AKA: the Suburbs.
I picked up the guitar when I was 13 or so and Learned from my dad who is an awesome Acoustic Ragtime fingerpicker/ "Doc Watson" ish player and X-faculty of The New School for Social Research's Guitar Study Center.
Began imitating Chuck Berry with whom I'd been obsessed with since kindergarten, my first guitar hero, then Keith Richards. My guitar life became totally redirected when I saw David Lee Roth's Yankee Rose video and thus discovered Steve Vai which put me on to Shred Metal and players like Randy Rhodes, Van Halen and my favorite Yngwie Malmsteen.
In high school I got into the underground shit that was cutting edge at the time. At that time we called it "Hardcore" a term which has since been so twisted and abused that I don't even know what it means anymore, but back I spent a lot of time at places like L'amour's, CBGB's and the Ritz physically expressing anger and listening to my favorite bands notably, Bad Brains, Leeway, Burn, the Cro-Mags, Slayer, Nuclear Assault and Biohazzard.
I later mellowed out some and got into bands like Jane's Addiction, and the Chili Peppers, which then opened me up to the guitar playing of Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix whom I still revere as a god and genius.
I was urged into studying music more seriously by my Mom and encouraged my guitar teacher Roger Greenwald I spent a summer at a place called the "Guitar Summer Workshop" and a 10 week summer program at Berklee School of Music in Boston where I was immersed in a vulgar stew of Glam/Shred Metalheads which put me off of that style for a while. But I was focused enough to be able to absorb a good working knowledge of Jazz theory nonetheless and became familiar with chart reading, orchestration and ensemble playing.
This helped me gain the foundation I needed to be both a band leader and side man which I've done ever since.
I went on to be in numerous bands in the general Hardcore/PostHardcore genres
Seventh Sense: with Davide Gentile (Orange 9mm) and Ray Greene (Breakdown, district 9)
Song Of Seven with Israel Joseph (Bad Brains), Tamara Brown (Tamar Kali)
Samsara: With Ziggy (Local bar legend) Shane Vetter (Echo 33) Mackie Jason (Bad Brains, Cro-Mags)
Monkey Girl/Bam Bam with Sibyl Buck (Supermodel) Roach, and Mackie Jason
UncleFucker. Thrash Bluegrass See: www.myspace.com/unclefucker
As well as countless other 1 offs and side projects.
When my Father moved out to Carlsbad C.A. a few years ago, I found myself with no one to play the Country/Bluegrass/Ragtime that I'd only ever picked with him. This led me to seek out the bustling NYC Country scene that I been unaware of but had been right there under my nose. Within weeks I found myself right in the middle of it where I've remained ever since.
I joined my first Bluegrass band, the Nieces and Nephews whom have since played hundreds of local gigs. Shortly thereafter I began playing Mandolin with Sean Kershaw and the New Jack Ramblers, a local Brooklyn Honk Tonk Band. However when guitarist Jimmy Nations moved to the Bronx and quit the band, I was moved over on to Electric Guitar duties.
Through my immersion in the Country scene I've become exposed to some of the most mind boggling musicians this planet has to offer. Too many to mention but I urge all Guitarists to check out guys like Bryan Sutton who is an untouchable Acoustic Flatpicker. And if you are feeling really brave you can look up a guy who I'm convinced is the most jaw dropping player of any style who has ever touched the instrument...... Scotty Anderson.
Most recently a new style of guitar playing has fell in my lap.
A few months ago I was walking past a local French Restaurant and heard some astounding guitar playing. I popped in and was instantly humbled. I met Stephane Wremble. Right off the boat from France and master bar none of the Gypsy/Swing/Jazz guitar ALA Django Reinhart. Although I'd listened to Django often, and was aware that there were guys in France like Birelli Lagrene and Stochelo Rosenberg, I'd never been face to face with a guy who was that good at it.
He asked me to sit in, and 2 weeks later he fired his second man and asked me to play with him. Considering I'd never played a lick of Gypsy Jazz before, I was particularly honored. But I agreed and have been cramming to learn as much as I can in an effort to not embarrass myself. But I'm thrilled at how learning this bad-ass ballsy, yet highly melodic music is enhancing my playing affecting the way I play even in the Country and Metal styles.
I'm currently available for Guitar Lessons, Gigs, and/or anything else you want to pay me to do ;). I have a large network of players that I work with and can produce a band to in the style of your choice to suit your event.
Although I'm a passionately devout atheist/Militant Agnostic, I happen to a minister in the Universal Life Church and have officiated 6 weddings to date. So if you need one, holler!
Grizzly
