Artist In Residence - New York, NY

In 2004, I move to Manhattan to pursue some music opportunities. I was hire to teach full time at The Noel Pointer Foundation. I’d teach in the daytime, and play in the streets of New York at night. I hung out at jazz sots like St. Nicks Pub, Smalls, The Village Vanguard, Minton’s Playhouse and Lenox Lounge. I met so many dope ass musicians that year including Olu Dara (Nas’s father ), saxophonist James Carter and Bill Lee Spike Lee’s father). A lot of my teachers from HSA played at these spots and I would go to listen to them. It was easy for me to bounce around these spots because I was living in Harlem at the time. I live in a brownstone right behind St. Nicks Pub, a two minute walk to the venue. Another one of my teachers from HSA lived a couple doors down and hooked me up with that spot when I told him I wanted to move up there. I was really lucky to be protected and loved by so many musicians. They all looked out for me and blessed me with so many opportunities in the city, no catches! But, I worked my ass off so I deserved every bit and they knew it. They all saw me grow up and improve as a musician, so they naturally wanted to encourage me to keep going.