Playing solo piano at Portland International Airport is pure joy.
Having logged over 700 performances and entertained well over a million people, the experiences, hearts touched, and people connected with is priceless. It’s my mission. Fill the world with happiness. Drop pebbles in the pond, let the ripples do what they may. Give a smile, get a smile. It’s a night of 1,000 smiles. You never know what challenges travelers are personally going through; music may just soothe their soul. You also never know what incredible musician or singer may be passing through who joins in. So much fun!
Doing duets with Gary Lomprey. One of the most awesome guitar players alive, a storied musical career, master of any style, the ultimate musical wingman, and a BFF.
The Man with the Golden Flute. Michael G Williams, flautist and sax player extraordinaire. My kindred spirit and brother. Oh my can we put on an incredible show together. Just wish he didn’t live on the east coast. Stay tuned for some amazing collaborative recording work.
Hall of Fame Hammond B3 player Louis Pain. King of the groove. King Louie himself. One of the world’s absolute best. His mentoring has made a huge impact on me as a musician. Thanks Louis.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer Ariemis Pyle of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Hung out with me for nearly two hours while on tour. I was envious of him playing big arenas, he was envious of me playing PDX seeing how it impacted people… a wonderful lesson in perspective. And Artemis is one of the few people on the planet that can say “Play Freebird” and get away with it.
Music is a powerful force. I start every performance with a prayer asking the greater power for my music to touch those in need. No matter what happens, if I can help a hurting heart, then mission accomplished. Everything else is gravy. One evening, a young lady about my daughter’s age sat on the floor facing me while I was playing. She seemed quite forlorn. After about 45 minutes, she got up, came over, dropped this folded up little note in my tip jar, said thank you and walked off. When I got home and read it, I dropped to my knees in tears. Humbled. Honored. Blessed. Sums up the “why” of what I do at PDX.