If you scrolled back far enough on this site you are probably aware that I started this musical journey as a trumpet player. I won’t bore anyone with details (as it is all here to read) but I moved from playing trumpet to bass about 10+ years ago.

I don’t regret the change in instruments. In many ways bass aligns with my personality. I recently purchased a double bass and I couldn’t be happier exploring my new possibilities of expression. In many ways it reminds me of trumpet in that it requires… no… it demands that I practice everyday just to maintain the little bit of facility that I’ve come to enjoy.

All that said, I do have moments when I miss the horn. In all honestly I feel as if I let many of my heroes and mentors down by moving away from it. Legends who have moved on like Lee Morgan, Miles, Woody Shaw and Kenny Dorham. I see pictures of them and wonder if they are disappointed in my departure from the trumpet. I am still in contact of many of my living heroes and teachers – Terence Blanchard, Jeremy Pelt, Jon Crowley and Ingrid Jensen. I wonder if they think I coped out.

I’ll probably never know but I do know that this music – jazz, BAM, whatever you’d like to call it gives me so much joy. That may be one of the longest running constants in my life next to my love for my mother, father and sister.

Music is amazing.

During the pandemic one of my frequent sources for inspiration and comfort has been checking out podcasts. The subject matter of my listening is diverse but hearing the stories of others as they try to navigate this odd season truly make me feel as if I was not alone dealing with fear, sadness, anxiety and life.

Interviews with musicians are especially inspiring. Countless artists have found themselves stuck at home as clubs and venues are closed to public performances. As I write this – things have definitely improved but I know of more than a few tours that are still being cancelled or cut short due to safety concerns. I won’t call any of this a silver lining because it truly is not. We need the healing energy live music provides now more than ever. That said, this time has presented more opportunities to schedule interviews to talk music and life with many of these talented human beings.

I could fill this post with countless links of podcast interviews I’ve enjoyed (if there is interest in that let me know and I’ll post another entry with my favorites) but this one in particular is pure gold. Steve Swallow is pioneer of the bass guitar in jazz/improvised music. In this podcast with pianist Pablo Held (who himself is an amazing musician and his knowledge of guest’s body of work makes conversations much more special), Steve shares his fascinating story as well as many inspiring thoughts on music, practice, his creative process and experiences of jazz legends like Roy Haynes, Thelonious Monk and many others. It runs just over two hours in length and for me – the time flew by quickly. I’ve listened to it in it’s entirety too many times to count. As someone hoping to find a home in improvised music with electric bass it is a must listen.

A few friends have asked how I find the time to practice with a full time job and family. The truth of the matter is it isn’t hard to find the time for something if it’s important to you. In most cases I have found that time isn’t the problem when it comes to practicing, it is usually summoning motivation and energy – especially in 2020.

I get up around 6:30 AM every day (even weekends). Some days I may get up as early as 5:30 if having trouble sleeping but I rarely stay in bed past 7. I remember how hard this was at first. The first few attempts were me moving from the bed to the couch downstairs to continue sleeping! The thing that helped me was starting this habit when daylight savings ended. Rolling clocks back an hour helped make 6:30 AM feel like and hour later to my body and by the time the clocks were scheduled to spring forward, I was deeply accustomed to rising before or with the sun.

The thing I like most about getting up early is I get to carve out time for myself before sharing my energy with the rest of the world. I tried putting in work at the end of the day but I was usually too tired and unable to focus. I also felt as if I was giving my passion left over energy. It was garbage time and that wasn’t acceptable for a goal/passion that was supposed to be very important to me.

I’ve been getting up early since before my first son was born 9 years ago and now it is automatic. It is honestly my favorite part of the day. Another unplanned byproduct of this practice is I am almost always in a better overall mood when I do it. Spending valuable time on myself first makes me much more receptive to giving time to others, whether that is making breakfast for the kids, driving someone to work or sitting in a long system planning meeting.

If you’re looking to add time for practice or study and haven’t seriously tried it, consider waking up a bit earlier in the day. While it may feel like torture the first few weeks, I promise you will get into a rhythm if you stay consistent and remain diligent. The satisfaction of dedicating time to something important to you will reap tremendous benefits towards your goals and ultimately your overall attitude as the day unfolds.

Quick housekeeping note – I know a few people registered to be notified when I add new content. Two weeks ago I posted this but forgot to turn on notifications. If you missed it feel free to check it out and as always thank you for visiting. I do hope everyone is well.

Hoping this message finds everyone doing well and safe. The times now are just as troubling as when I posted my last entry which seems long ago (it was and I apologize for that). In truth, I would have hoped that globally we would find ourselves in a different place by now. The pessimist in me says things are pretty much the same but the voice of my inner optimist is starting to speak up more. With it’s help I am trying to grasp the positive things that flash across the news and use them to soothe my always anxious spirit. Most of the time it works.

One new habit I have started since the pandemic began is listening to more podcasts. There is so much great material available now with musicians sharing their thoughts on the state of the world but also on how they have tried to remain creative, inspired and hopeful. Some of my favorites podcasts have been You’ll Hear It, The Jazz Session with Jason Crane, Pablo Held Investigates, Stir Crazy with Steve Jenkins and the Third Story with Leo Sidran. In many of them I find inspiration as a musician but also as a human being trying to navigate through this hot mess we currently find ourselves in.

I still have days when I noodle or don’t pick up my bass at all but I have been proud of my consistency as of late. I keep a journal and this is the longest that I’ve ever logged my practice time and thoughts. It has been extremely helpful. Sessions has been more focused with no more than two areas of growth focus with the rest of my time spent trying to maintain or improve technique.

I am hoping this entry is the start of a plan to write something at least once a week. Even if it is just a paragraph or two. Perhaps I’ll share some of the inspiration I heard of my favorite podcasts or what I’m working on musically. Regardless, I think coming here and writing will be another form of therapy and I feel like I need all that I can get.

Till the next one – be well and stay safe.

Crazy times we are experiencing right now. This message is to welcome many of you who don’t know much about me beyond our connection via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. I am taking an extended break from it due to the overwhelming amount of (mis)information being shared. Truthfully it isn’t just social media – it’s also 24 hour news stations. Others may find value in it but frankly, it is too much for me. I’ve done short breaks in the past but this one could be permanent.

That being the case, I will be posting and sharing via my site which has been stagnant for far too long. For anyone who is a first time visitor check out the blog entries and you’ll learn more about me than you probably want. 🙂 You can also hit me via the contact page. I welcome any messages you take the time to write.

Stay tuned. Also be blessed, be well, breath and be present!