My time in Chicago
Since 2004 I have been hustling to make a name for myself as a performer, teacher, director, and arranger; I have worked closely, appeared on stage, or shared a bill with the likes of Kurt Elling, Shemekia Copeland, Jessie Mueller, Handsome Family, Renee Fleming, Joan Jett, The Guess Who, Charlie Hunter, Jon Prine, Michelle Williams, Lupe Fiasco, and many more. The projects listed below are just a few of the more important processes that helped me find my way to being a versatile artist.
Chicago Voices Gala
In February of 2017 Renee Fleming, the Creative Consultant to the Lyric Opera of Chicago organized a concert that brought together the most impressive vocalists who hailed from Chicago. I worked as the right hand man for Doug Peck, the Music Director; I was the concert librarian and wrote additional arrangements for The Handsome Family, Shemekia Copeland, and did transcription work for Kurt Elling, Renee Fleming, Jessie Mueller, John Prine, and Michelle Williams. The concert also featured performances and/or appearances from Rev. Jessie Jackson, Matthew Polenzani, Terrence Howard, Kate Flannery, Lupe Fiasco, and Jussie Smollett.
The Inconvenience
The Inconvenience is a multi-disciplinary arts organization that has been my home for composition, direction, and performance since it's birth in 2009; as a member of the Artistic Council I have been involved in countless productions in a variety of roles. The company has successfully produced over 30 original events, in 20 different spaces, with 500+ of Chicago's top artists, and created an incredible network of over 20,000 people.
Fly Honey Show
Since its' very first year in 2010 at the Inconvenience performance space, I have been the music director for Chicago's hottest show in town: the Fly Honey Show. As the director, arranger, composer, and guitarist for the nine piece band that provides the soundtrack for the show, I have had the chance to work with Chicago's most exciting art makers.
The Cooke Book: The Music of Sam Cooke
As the Music Director and guitarist in Darrian Fords' "The Cooke Book: The Music of Sam Cooke", I have had the chance to dive into the classic soul and mo-town hits from Chicago's very own genius Sam Cooke. The show has traveled nationally to dozens of theaters across the country and features the vocals of Darrian Ford, the Chicago based and critically acclaimed actor, dancer, and singer.
Grand Opening of Chicago's 606 Public Recreation Trail
In June of 2015 I joined Erin Kilmurray to help organize a procession of dancers with a seven piece brass band that marched down the newly opened 606 Trail, as a celebration of its first day open to the public.
Daphne Willis
As a member of Daphne Willis' band from 2007-2011 I played guitar and keyboards on two records produced and released by Vanguard Records' and also worked with grammy award winning engineer Gary Pacsoza.