I started playing trumpet at the age of 13. I took a beginning band class at Virgil Junior High. Trumpet was not my first choice, I actually wanted to play drums, but I did not have 8 bucks to buy drumsticks. So I picked the trumpet, and have been playing ever since. I have performed throughout California as well as Atlanta, Georgia; Hawaii; and Canada. I have performed with many college groups some include Cal State University Los Angeles, Cal State University Northridge, and Long Beach City College. In 1989 I was assaulted in a nightclub during a gig. That incident almost ended my trumpet-playing career. I stopped playing for a year. I was almost on the verge of quitting. Then in 1990 I heard a recording of Kind Of Blue and it changed my life. Since then I have been working to become a proficient Jazz trumpet player. I began from scratch and started teaching myself how to play again. I was fortunate I had some very encouraging people that I owe so much too. Gary Pratt, and Dr. Gary Thomas Scott. These educators took the time to encourage me and teach about music as well as life. In 1994 I started a Jazz Group with drummer Edward Thomas called Shades Of Grey. That was the first time I fronted a group and it was a very valuable learning experience. I learned a lot from the musicians around me especially pianist Larry Cox and David Najar who played Tenor and Alto sax. David is brilliant sax player in the Long Beach area. I will always be in debt to him.

In 1998 I formed JRQ, we have playing steadily in Southern California for the past 3 years. This past year we recorded our first CD “Front & Center” which will be released in early 2002. Outside of JRQ I perform with Delphi recording Artists “Brown Bag”. I recorded with them on their debut CD that was released earlier this year. You can check it out at CD Now.com.

In addition to playing I do quite a bit of teaching, throughout California as well as the rest of the United States. Presently, I am on staff at Santa Fe Springs High School, Wilson High School (Hacienda Heights, Ca) Nogales High School, as well as being the Assistant Director Of Bands at Ayala High School. I am also involved in teaching two Drum & Bugle Corps. I have been on staff with the Concord Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps program since June of 2000 as a brass instructor for the B Corps. I have also taught for the Yamato Drum & Bugle Corps from Osaka Japan. Last year I became the Brass Caption head for the Casper Troopers Drum& Bugle Corps from Casper Wyoming. My involvement in Drum Corps is due to two people, Brian Peter and John Meehan. Brian has been my Roommate and close friend for the past three years. He has been Involved with the Blue Devils Since 1997. John Meehan is a talented musical arranger from Martinez California. He teaches and writes for the Blue Devils as well as the Casper Troopers, just to name a few groups that he does. In my opinion he is one of the finest educators in the United States. He has given me opportunities to teach that I never thought possible. I have learned more from him in the few years we have known each other than most people learn from someone in a lifetime. You could check him out at www.marching-world.com/jksmusic

I am very lucky that I love what I do. There is not one day that I don’t wake up thankful that I did not have the 8 bucks for the drum sticks!

J