Hot wings & beer. Just the mention of chicken wings evokes great memories of storytelling, laughter, reunions, fun brainstorming sessions and sports games watched. No snack better exemplifies spending time with good friends. My buddy Paul and I meet up for wings three or four times per year, to catch…
I’m often asked by both musicians and non-musicians alike, “what are you listening to these days?” In all honesty, I’m sometimes hesitant to share, because what I enjoy might not be a good entry point for jazz newcomers. Anyways, I’ll go ahead. Because I’m currently on sabbatical, I have more time…
I’m on a teaching sabbatical this semester, from January, 2022 through to May! This page will be an unfolding document on which I list the books, online workshops, instructional videos and podcasts I have waded through during this period. Some will be directly related to my creative research activities, while…
I had the pleasure of playing in Toronto this past weekend, in the band of my old college roommate, Jules Estrin. Jules is a very fine trombonist who just completed a Masters degree in jazz at the University of Toronto. We played at the Home Smith Jazz Bar at the…
This list came out of a prompt from Bret Zvacek in 2016: “Name twelve jazz albums that made a lasting impression on you—no particular order, one per band.” It was not an invitation to identify the “most important” records in jazz history, nor to assemble a pedagogical checklist for students.…