Q: Are you related to Henry Mancini?
A: I don't like to talk about it.
Q: How long have you been playing professionally, and how many of those years have you been a specialist on vibes?
A: I started playing professionally in bands in upstate NY in 1990. I've been a professional, jazz vibraphonist for a quarter of a century now.
Q: Is that a xylophone or a marimba?
A: Neither. It's a banjo.
Q: Is vibraphone your first instrument?
A: No. I began playing drums seriously at the age of 13.
Q: Do you play any other instruments besides the vibes?
A: Yes, I play piano and I still play the drums.
Q: Do you play any other mallet or percussion instruments?
A: Yes, I have experience playing on all mallet instruments and I frequently include marimba in my productions and live sets. I also have been known to smack a conga drum and shake a mean tambourine from time to time.
Q: Do you teach?
A: Absolutely. I believe that education is the gateway to appreciation. I also learn a lot as I teach. Different students require different explanations, so I find that I am often rediscovering fundamental concepts, and viewing them in new and different ways. This keeps me flexible as a musician. In addition, it's important to me to be able to demonstrate what I am teaching, so I need to keep up with my own practice. Please feel free to contact me if you have interest in studying with me. Although I specialize in playing the vibes, the language of jazz is applicable to all instruments.