What do you do to maintain a healthy lifestyle? For my mind, I practice Transcendental Meditation, my force field protection from the stresses of everyday life. For the body, I try to walk every day and eat right thanks to my beautiful wife Cris who feeds us vegetables each night for dinner. For my soul, there’s this music. Yes I do enjoy all good music like rock, soul and classics, but it’s jazz that is endlessly inspiring.
Where are your favorite places for jazz and why? Have to start with Con Alma who present the music at their two locations and use many of my photos for promotion. The best listening room is Alphabet City at The City of Asylum, an intimate setting that I’m sure the players appreciate. Kingfly Distillery is very similar with attentive audiences. Kente Arts Alliance present great shows with national artists, typically at New Hazlett Theater that are must see performances. Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild joined with Point Park University over the last two summers to present the music in their black box at their Playhouse. Trust Arts in summer at The Backyard is always fun. And we can’t leave out the August Wilson Center where we’ve had very memorable performances both in their theater as well as their jazz festival that now takes place at Highmark Stadium. What music are you listening to? I try to stay current by following the scene on social media. Recent #PghJazz releases from Deanna Witkowski (piano), Tony Campbell (sax), and George Heid III (drums). National stars with a #PghJazz connection and/or frequent visits like Benny Benack III, Sean Jones, Richie Goods and others are all friends made through my photography.
C U LT U R E / M U S I C
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