Guitarist's Leap: From Penury to Joni Mitchell's Stage

In early 1998, a guitarist newly thirty, found his fortunes shifting after nearly a decade in Chicago. He had joined the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and was playing in innovative bands like Tortoise. Fresh off his first album with Tortoise, he received an offer to join Joni Mitchell's touring band, a decision that prompted him to cancel his own tour.

This choice echoed his earlier commitment to his art. At 22, he left Berklee College of Music just before graduating, aiming to live solely by his guitar playing. He chose Chicago as a more adventurous artistic frontier over potential New York opportunities.

After nearly twenty-five years in Chicago, playing frequently and establishing himself as a unique guitarist, he relocated to California in 2013. Initially intending to leave improvisational music behind, he found himself unintentionally building a new creative music community in Los Angeles through regular performances and collaborations.