It's my name. I'm just not very creative.

I've busked on the corner of Broadway and 2nd in Chico before. Nothing special, but it was pretty fun.

There's only one aspect of my studies as a musician that has remained constant to date: I never get enough. I remember reading ahead in the books in grade school, attempting to jazz up tunes in middle school, and losing all hope in life when the high school's jazz band was lost my sophomore year. I was beginning to feel as though I'd never take root as a jazz musician.

When a few guys from school let me in on their blues group, though, I started to find hope again. Although we never jammed more than a couple times, the experience led me to begin my pursuit for knowledge about music theory and saxophoneship via the internet. I started to recognize new words I didn't know before--words like "improvising," "chords," and "altissimo." Finally, I felt like I was getting somewhere!

When I moved up to Redding for college, I reacquainted myself with a stranger I once knew as my father. Turns out, as I discovered, he's a phenomenal and reputable blues harmonica player. He brought me to a favorite place of his--Lulu's, a restaurant downtown which held blues jams in the back once per week--where I was able to (attempt to) improvise for the first time. This time, I really felt like I was getting somewhere!

College didn't teach me a whole lot as a musician. I thought the classes I was attending would have been more instruction-oriented than they were, but I was disappointed to discover that there was very little instruction involved whatsoever. Once again, I felt like my growth had been staunched. How can I learn without either the facilities to practice in or teachers to instruct me? However, my ability increased over the course of the year, as friends and family would never hesitate to mention.

Of course, there's nothing like jazz camp to boost my confidence, right? When I submitted my application and audition CD as a beginner, I was sure that they'd bump me up to an intermediate-level musician. After all, about half of those who attended the camp were high schoolers. Little did I know, many of these "high schoolers" were child prodigies capable of playing Bird solos backwards, double-time, and in any key they choose. For a couple hours the second night there, I actually chose to quit playing the saxophone.

Eventually, though, I realized that no matter how much I pleaded, the camp wouldn't give me a refund, so I might as well follow through with it. I finished the camp, gave it my best shot, and left feeling pretty good about myself. Overall, it was the best thing that could have happened to me: it opened my eyes to the truth. And what was that? I've got to work a whole lot harder if I want to get anywhere as a musician.

So... here I am. Do I intend to get anywhere as a musician? I'm not sure. I don't intend to make jazz my profession, but I can never give it up. I still practice four hours a day, sleep to music, listen to it in my car, sing it while I'm doing the dishes. In my head, I have a good idea of the sound and style I want to strive for as a saxophonist. Despite how little help I may get in reaching such a goal, I know that I'll be able to speak my mind someday. Someday, I'll be able to share the music in my head with others. And when that day comes--and only when that day comes--I'll be satisfied with myself.

For technique, I listen to an even combination of both jazz and blues artists: Sonny Rollons, Red Prysock, Benny Golson, King Curtis, Dexter Gordon, and Cannonball among others. Of course, I listen to everyone and everything for ideas.

Tenor setup:
'62 Selmer Mark VI
Berg Larson .110 SMS
Rico Royal 2.5/3 reeds

Alto setup:
Yamaha YAS-23
Vandoren V5 A35 (.081)
Rovner Dark ligature
Vandoren Java 2.5 reeds

Let me know what you like or what I can work on. I'd appreciate the feedback.