Time for a much overdue update.

First order of business. I’m working on a new piece for Jazz Quartet and String Quartet, long form, three or four movements, and it’s slowly killing me in a way that’s weirdly motivating. Hopefully, I’ll finish it by the end of the month and have a recording of at least the first movement by the end of November. Check out a few bars from the first movement.

Movement 1 – Sample

Also,

I played on three tracks of Ryan Amador’s new EP “4S” (check it out here) and it just dropped today. Kyle Crane was on drums, and totally killed it. We tracked at the Beat Cave with Daniel Weidlein producing/engineering.

Ryan Amador – 4S

Also, Bill Frisell. Because why not?

Take it easy.

Had a successful day in the studio yesterday tracking for Axel Mansoor at Kingsize Soundlabs with Josh Mosser engineering. Josh is an awesome dude and his list of credits would make most people feel incredibly inadequate.   

Also, I got to track through a 70s Ampeg V4B into an old Neve 8068. The tone made me weep tears of joy.

Take it easy.

Things are crazy hectic these days. 

I’m working on nine new pieces that will premiere at my Senior Recital on May 15th in Lotte Lehman Concert Hall at UCSB, is that really a premiere though? While I’m very excited about all the music I’m writing, nine pieces is a lot to focus on at once, or at least a lot to focus on with an impending deadline, and I’m looking forward to getting them all finished so I can start work on my Double Quartet, which will be for String Quartet with Fender Rhodes, drums, double bass, and electric guitar. 

The Polaris Quintet is doing well, still gigging about every week, and they will be performing four of the pieces in my recital as an ensemble and will be augmented by other musicians for the remaining pieces. We also intend to record those four pieces soon, so be on the look out for that. 

In the meantime, here’s some Andriessen. 

Take it easy. 

So I finally got a band together and things are going incredibly well. It’s called the Polaris Quintet, and it consists of myself on bass, Jonah Tarashanksy on alto saxophone, Jake Goldman on guitar, Shane Sato on drums, and Robert Johnson on piano and rhodes.

I’m really stoked on it and we’ll have some recordings and videos in the coming weeks.

Check us out on Facebook here.

Take it easy.

with Alpha Funk (VDBPhotos)

Welcome to my new website.

I’ll be posting regular updates (hopefully) with info on my current projects, gig dates, things I think are cool, and in all likelihood some random musings.

Recently I’ve been working with a very talented guitarist/songwriter named Axel Mansoor. So far we have one date scheduled in San Francisco on December 15th and there should be more coming up later in the winter.

I’ve also been working with the guys at Sensory Overload playing on some really interesting and amazingly well produced film and television scores.

Rehearsals for a new group based in Santa Barbara start tonight and I am beyond excited. Every member is incredibly talented and hopefully I’ll get some recordings up so you all can see what I’m flipping out about.

Take it easy.