Even though I am proficient in bass, I enjoy playing all kinds of instruments, the more uncommon the better. My recordings on firepups.bandcamp.com contain a wide variety of instrumentation, ranging from bassoon to rainstick. I repair wind and brass instruments for the OBX community, mostly flutes, clarinets, trumpets and saxes, but occasionally a trombone, baritone, oboe or French horn. Understanding the mechanics of an instrument also grants understanding in how it should sound when played. I am not only the pastor of a small Christian fellowship but also the music director. I play hymns on guitar and lead the congregation in song. Another aspect of music theory I can teach his how to quickly and effectively pull chords out of sheet music without written chords, so that a hymn or other vocal arrangement can be played on guitar with minimal effort. Similarly, I understand the basic chords and rhythms of popular music, so if a vocalist wants to learn to strum basic rhythmic chords under his or her voice, I can equip them for that. Finally, I play upright bass for the OBX Jazzmen, sometimes a quintet, sometimes a trio, and we can be found at Nu Vines or Basnight’s on various evenings throughout the year. Sometimes, I am forced to assemble an improvisatory trio for a gig, consisting of electric bass, organ, and drums. That is when the magic of unrehearsed groovy glory can be heard.

Musical background

I have been playing electric bass for over 42 years, starting at age 13, in order to fill a sudden opening in a local band in my hometown of Richmond, VA. I immediately was thrust into learning bass lines by ear from cassette tapes and discovered that I had a knack for it. Even though I can read sheet music, I believe hearing the music, feeling it in your soul, and being able to successfully interpret it through your instrument is the key to being a successful musician. In high school, I switched instruments, from French horn to bass, and won an award for most improved player, because I was successfully taking high school jazz arrangements and embellishing them with parts from the actual recordings, having learned them by ear. I do not have a degree in music, but I have been studying music all my life, taking classes at James Madison University’s renowned music department, and studying complex arrangements with graduates of Boston’s Berklee School of Music.

Music I like

I appreciate all kinds of music, but I definitely have an affinity for jazz, and not just jazz but jazz fused with rock (fusion), jazz fused with classical (third stream), rock fused with jazz (jazzrock), rock fused with classical (symphonic rock) and especially 20th century modern (rock in opposition). When all three genres—jazz, rock, and classical—are fused together, you get something truly breathtaking. You’ll find me listening to Zappa, Henry Cow, Soft Machine, Magma, Univers Zero, and anything else that seems to elevate music beyond its potential. I try to support independent artists on Bandcamp who are making such music. I adore Beethoven and Stravinsky, Miles and Mingus, Opeth and Bowie. One moment I’ll be listening to the Brandenburg Concertos, the next Blind Guardian’s Nightfall in Middle Earth.