Soulful Groove Rock Guitarist

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: Both my new 2024 instrumental album "Fell Into A Groove" and the EP "Melody Crash" with vocals. I love the way the guitars turned out on both albums!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Just finished my new 2024 instrumental album "Fell Into A Groove" and looking for guys to put a band together with, to for a band with something going on!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: both have a place and their ups and downs, so I learned and use both. Analog has cool soul and character for sure!

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: My tracks will breathe life into the song, and be real deal quality that's about substance, not pointless flash, or cheesy imitation style playing.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love writing and playing, I'm all about the art form and playing for the song, following the muse!

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: What if you don't get ideas? and I let them know that i am one of few i know that gets ideas like crazy, and always have! it's the opposite of writers block, if i had the time i could record 3-4 classic albums worth of music every year for a band. Zero filler, just well written songs with cool parts and great solos that are memorable!

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That it's easy! haha

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: If they have a super focused idea of what they want or if they want me to explore a little bit and see if something inspired sparks in a direction they had't thought of. Both are very different approach and good to know what they want.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Listen to their stuff carefully and see if their approach really suites your intended sound, since lots of guys have mad skills with chops but can only get the feel right on a small handful of song styles and approaches!

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: acoustic guitars & upright bass & drums, and horns, since none of those require the electric current that you wouldn't have! haha

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: Grew up in LA and learned a ton from all kinds of people, then spent my 20's in the 90's Seattle scene which was amazing and almost my big break. Since then lots of studio work and looking for a really cool band to be a part of!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I started as a drummer when i was a kid so my guitar playing has a real rhythmic approach and that orchestrate the energy thing that you do with a song on drums, so it's a funky, groovin, dynamic, fun sound that's lively!

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Jerry Cantrell or Dave Grohl, since I was in the group of younger musicians behind the first wave in Seattle during the 90's and had been into them since the late 80's before the first album, and I always wanted my old band The Smoking Section to tour with Alice in Chains and Foo Fighters. We almost made it, but broke up, and it would be cool to show them what I've been up to, as a still serious, West Coast, independent, guitar player & song writer!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't over process when you record, keep the performance sounding natural and focused.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Any form of rock

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Playing with Heart

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Soul, groove, atmosphere, genuine attitude, cool character to the tones and dynamics, I can write real deal big riffs, melodic chord structures with cool vibe, bluesy solos, harmony solos, hard rock solos, grunge, punk, sinister solos and harmony parts, sentimental 70's Zep style solos, late 60's 70's 80's & 90's feel, and tone, that is dead on, correct, top shelf, cool vibe & style!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I love to work and go full workaholic and dive into the songs little world and work like I'm sculpting the parts as they come into focus and I follow the ideas that suite the song! I never try and force or mail in a part, i like stuff to maintain the lively feel!

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Pro Tools, UA plugins, Music Man Axis guitars (one Floyd version with a 3-way switch, and one Super Sport version with the 5-way switch) and I also have a great sounding Strat!

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: Jane's Addiction, Van Halen, Jeff Beck, Zeppelin, Randy Rhoads, Joe Walsh, Bowie, STP, AIC, Chris Cornell, Faith No More, Nile Rodgers, Free, Faces, Stones, Hendrix, RHCP, and so many more!

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: Guitar work where the client needs real deal raw groove rock guitar tracks with well written rhythm guitar work & solos that are for the song! I can cover a ton of styles, but it's the intangible something that I can deliver, to bring the song to life in a cool way! I've been doing that in studios in LA, Seattle, and Northern Cal since I was 20 and I just got better at it as i developed each year, and with new things I learned.