It’s my drumming portfolio which I’ll be constantly adding stuff to.  I think it’s also turning into a sort of farm league for the vecctones material.

http://drumnjo.com is the front pg but http://blog.drumnjo.com is where all the goodies are/will be.

When I arrived at UMASS as a Sophomore, all the older, more experienced Graduate Jazz Students took me under their wing.  I wasn’t that great of a player though.  I was humbled and honored to be jamming and gigging with all of them.  Mark Saltman and Will Knowles are doing well with their project in DC.  Herman Hampton went on to be a Professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston MA.  He was also in Piazza’s group back in the day.  Mark Weissman and I were good friends and used to jam together all the time… “Mark is currently a member of the prestigious United States Air Force Band of Liberty where he tours and performs throughout New England. In addition, Mark is a highly respected freelance musician who also performs frequently around Worcester and Boston.”  Steve Page was my roomate, we were good friends and used to jam/gig all the time.  Chuck Langford, also a good friend, gave me plenty of opportunites to play.  George Langford (no relation to Chuck) and I also used to jam all the time.

Within the Amherst – North Hampton area I was getting all the freelance work because I knew how to lay back and swing and make the other players look and sound good.  The reason they took to me was because I just wanted to make the band sound good, I wasn’t trying to showboat or be a rock-star.  I just wanted to learn and play to the best of my ability.  In fact I think I was somewhat timid yet comfortable with it all.  Most of all my earlier years was playing with some of the best players my age and I always found myself collaborating with the more experienced older players.  I always want to maintain the attitude of being a student of the music, it keeps my mind open and helps facilitate further development.