Born: February 11, 1962 Primary Instrument: Sax, tenor
Born in St. Louis, Mo, the third child of a 1st generation Armenian American pianist and her physician husband. Started out on piano under the tutelage of his mother's former teacher for 1 year at age 5. His introduction to jazz was in High School playing clarinet and then Tenor Saxophone in a jazz-improv combo lab led first by bassist Robert Waggoner and then trumpet player Jim Baker. Studied with Paul Demarinis in his last years of high school and remained in contact for on and off lessons throughout college. Pursued science and mathematics, but always had his saxophone close in hand, playing in the stage band, and local jam sessions in Des Moines. While pursuing a doctorate in math at UW--Madison he rehearsed and gigged with a quintet (bassist Randall Pabich, Drummer Geoff Brady, Lydia Van Dreel on French Horn and Russell Thorne on Piano). Also while in Madison, he had the opportunity to attend several jazz improv lab classes with Richard Davis and Joan Wildman. After leaving Wisconsin he went first to Chapel Hill for training in Biostatistics and then left for the DC area where he lives currently with his wife and two children. He likes to frequent the Columbia Station jam session with Peter Edelman, Bill “Magic” Lavender Bey, Web Grant and Butch Warren. Most recently his jazz projects include the formation of a Jazz Improv Workshop at the National Institutes of Health.
Last Updated: June 7, 2012
Primary Instrument:
Sax, tenor
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
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