I’m excited to announce two new affiliations:

1) After years of playing my trusty Yamaha 6335 trumpet, I’m now officially a Yamaha artist. I really do feel that they are making some of the finest musical equipment. Coupled with my GR mouthpieces and Hub Van Laar flugelhorn, I feel that my musical arsenal is complete!

2) I’m very excited to be joining the brass team at Purchase College starting in the fall. This school combines a tremendous faculty, close proximity to NYC, and great value to give aspiring musicians everything they will need to be successful. I will also continue on at the Manhattan School of Music and Montclair State University as before. I’ve developed a strong love for teaching over the years, and look forward to working with all of these students from these schools!

I’m very pleased to announce that I’m now endorsing GR Technologies mouthpieces. A few months back, I visited Gary’s shop in Wisconsin. I initially planned to make the appointment to see him on a Friday (since I had a concert on Saturday in Chicago). But when I told him about the concert he said, “no one should be trying out new equipment the day before a gig – come see me on Sunday”. I was thrilled, never thinking anyone would open up their shop on a Sunday for a trumpet geek! So I came up on Sunday morning.

Gary spent over 7 hours straight with me. No food, no break…he was 100% invested in setting me up with the correct mouthpiece. His attention to detail is unlike anything I had ever seen. Through a series of playing tests and much trial and error, he came up with something that felt perfect to play on. GR is a superb craftsman.

In the coming weeks, I look forward to having the entire signature series available through this site.

I honestly feel that having the opportunity to play (and teach) music for a living is a gift! As 2015 comes to a close, I look back on some very fun events that I was fortunate enough to be a part of over the last 12 months:

January:
– recording John Pizzarelli’s “Midnight McCartney”
– the 2015 Jazz Cruise

February:
– concert with Dame Shirley Bassey
– backing up Martin Short on the David Letterman show

March:
– concerts with Barry Manilow, John Pizzarelli, Michael Feinstein, and Linda Eder

April:
– various guest conducting and clinics
– big band concerts at the Berks Jazz Festival, featuring Chuck Loeb, Jeff Lorber, Eric Marienthal, etc…

May:
– backing up Nathan Lane on the David Letterman show
– Gil Evans Project at Jazz Standard

June:
– 2015 Tony Awards
– Tony Bennett/Lady Gaga concerts at Radio City Music Hall
– first live performance of my big band at Subculture in NYC

July:
– Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra at the Blue Note
– John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble at Newport Jazz Festival

August:
– Philadelphia Pops at Saratoga Performing Arts Center
– John Fedchock NY Big Band at the Blue Note

September:
– Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra at Detroit Jazz Festival
– backing up Katy Perry at a Harper’s Bazaar event

October:
– recorded music for “The Wiz” on CBS, and “Royal Pains” on USA

November:
– annual Thanksgiving week at the Jazz Standard with Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra
-recorded new CBS news theme

December:
– conducted NY all-state high school jazz ensemble at the Eastman School of Music
– “ONE” benefit at Carnegie Hall, featuring Bono, Edge, and Miley Cyrus

May the fun continue in 2016!