I was trapped in suburbia at a young age and forced to listen to AM radio. Had it not been for my college roommate, Dirk, I would have ended up in a wedding band.

He introduced me to David Sylvian, Eddie Palmieri, XTC and Jobim. Year after year these new rhythms, chords and harmonies seeped into my brain and were eventually released through my songwriting.

After college I started Ritmo Junction: a Latin jazz band that combines Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz harmonies, and pop melodies. It's a perfect mixture of complex foundations and accessible tunes.

I then realized that all of those classic songs that I'd been trying to deny had one important thing in common: good songwriting. I've come full circle now that I write scores for film and television. My music may have a cool rhythm, or new combination of instruments, but it will always have the elements of good songwriting: a satisfying combination of the known and the unknown.

PS: I own all of my masters and copyrights.

Similar Artists

Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman, Danny Elfman, Seal, Steely Dan.

Influences

Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman, Danny Elfman, Seal, XTC, Prince, Elvis Costello, Steely Dan, Chick Corea, Bela Bartok, Aaron Copland, Maceo Parker.

Bio

I was trapped in suburbia at a young age and forced to listen to AM radio. Had it not been for my college roommate, Dirk, I would have ended up in a wedding band.

He introduced me to David Sylvian, Eddie Palmieri, XTC and Jobim. Year after year these new rhythms, chords and harmonies seeped into my brain and were eventually released through my songwriting.

After college I started Ritmo Junction: a Latin jazz band that combines Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz harmonies, and pop melodies. It's a perfect mixture of complex foundations and accessible tunes.

I then realized that all of those classic songs that I'd been trying to deny had one important thing in common: good songwriting. I've come full circle now that I write scores for film and television. My music may have a cool rhythm, or new combination of instruments, but it will always have the elements of good songwriting: a satisfying combination of the known and the unknown.

PS: I own all of my masters and copyrights.