I am a jazz improvisational flutist, & member of the Local 47 Professional Musicians Union.

My band, P.U.S.H., a funky mix of congos, drums, bass, rhythm guitar and lead flute, has been heard in recently-closed-but-once-hip Mardi Gras Restaurant in Burbank, California. What a high playing for screaming people. That's where I was called "phenomenal". "Thank you." :)

My flute mentor is acclaimed jazz/classical flutist, Holly Hofmann, who's helped me to open up in improvisation and encouraged me to get out of my head.

I can hardly remember my life prior to taking up the flute. My dad inundated us kids (my younger brother and I) with private concerts (nothing like a captive audience in diapers).... with his spanish guitar, accordion, organ, piano, acoustic guitar. My dad would challenge us to clean a room before he finished playing a particular spanish flamenco style song, the name of which escapes me, but which was invigorating and motivating. I remember it always made me giggle to hear it.

Something about the flute. It's always served as a great meditation resource for me, even while I play it. I played the piano when I was four, and flutes are much easier to transport. Many have told me I've put them to sleep. The first time I heard that, I hadn't realized. "That's a complement." (lol) "Oh. Thank you." (lol)

I have several different styles of flute, most people don't realize but there are different sizes.

I've a Monnig Bass Flute, beautiful, deep rich tones. I like to play along with the Lord Of The Rings CD w/ this one. I describe it as looking like a big 'paper clip', with its curved mouthpiece, it's quite an amazing piece of art in itself.

Then there's the Jupiter Alto Flute, a little higher in tone, this is a great combination of bass-type deep tones, but it allows me to go into higher ranges like w/ the regular C flute, hence 'alto', for the 'middle ranges'.

Next is my Emerson C Flute, this is the one most people usually recognize as being 'a flute', it's built in the key of C, and on this I can play from low C to high B-flat.

Last, but certainly not the least shrill, is my Gemeindhardt Piccolo. It's the teenie one, yep. Shrill. That about covers it. You were cool in junior high if you had a piccolo. Now it's cool if you actually play it. (lol) I've never globbed onto fun piccolo music. When I do I'll share about that.

I also play the Recorder on occasion. It's the one Sting uses in "In The Fields Of Cotton..." My mood usually determines which instrument I pick up on any given day. I have to be in a mood to practice.

Following are some samplings of recordings I've done. Not all are recent, but they're kinda fun... Hope you enjoy.

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