Taksim is the thing

I grew up off-grid in rural New Mexico, United States in the 1970's in an artistic household and community.  I have become a seasoned musicologist, performer, and band leader in global folk music styles for these past 30 years.  

I was in band and pit orchestra, marching band, jazz band, music theater, and headed up small ensembles all through school.  I started playing for dancers in the Society for Creative Anachronisms, with Sazlar a Middle East ensemble and got HOOKED playing for all night, fire circle haflas by weaving notes with wafting sparks into the crisp high desert air... These ladies took me to my first Mendocino Music and Dance Camp in 1990.  The rest was history.  

I started going to Eastern European Folklife Center Balkan Camp in about 1997 and am a Lifetime Member of EEFC.  It's also great to be in the middle of the circle of folks dancers.  I was really lucky to be on staff at Stockton Folkdance Camp two years with Bruce Sagan.  

Later, I got a Bachelor's Degree in Clarinet performance from University of New Mexico, leading and playing in all sorts of Western Classical ensembles on clarinets, saxophones, recorders and even a stint with  Javanese Gamelan Encantata. I also accompanied and danced in Eva Encinias-Sandovol's Flamenco Dance Program, performing through out the United States and Mexico.  Eva is a powerhouse performer and producer, her vision crystalline and inspiring.  I also steeped myself in movement by being a corps dancer -- Flamenco with Pablo Rodarte's Dance Espana tours, swing dancing at Denver's Mercury Cafe and Turnverein Ballroom for 20 years, and accompanying and dancing at Colorado Friends of Old Time Music and Dance Contra Dance and Boulder International Folk Dance Events.  I studied with Frankie and Norma Miller, among many other great swing dance teachers through Denver's Community Minded Dance programs.  As the great Frankie Manning of the Avalon Ballroom said:

"I don't know, but I've been told:  if you keep dancing -- you never grow old".

I currently study music in Turkey and India with Sedat Gulci, clarinetist, and the Gundecha Brothers at the Dhruphad Institute in Bhopal, India. 

I love accompanying David Taylor Zikr Dance Company classes and productions, including creating the Atash soundtrack with Farabi Ensemble for Persian fusion choreography by Sharhzad Khorsandi.   Persian Contemporary, Taylor's own Modern choreographies, and TWO Gurdjieff's classics on the same program -- far out!  I toured with Zikr as roadie and got to see the incredible stamina and focus of his dance corps company on the road.  Astonishing. 

I've also trained deeply in the Dahn Yoga Brain Management Training in Sedona with Il Chi Lee from South Korea.  I do enjoy leading private yoga sessions with my family.  The practice unkinks my body after long hours practicing or performing (and being in front of the computer!)

I am now known for my world music playing and productions including Tarab Retreat, performing in Denver Center Performing Arts’  Klezmer play by Paula Vogel, Indecent, co-founding the Farabi Iranian Ensemble, and heading up the Eastern European style party band, Klezmerize.   I've played for Circus Luminous in Santa Fe, at Arise Festival for Monkey Chant, and countless Society for Creative Anachronisms all night music jams.   Pete Jacobs and I have had many co-productions over the years including a Yuval Ron Colorado tour, playing Turkish music on NPR in Paonia with Jon Seligman and David Alderdice, playing with Zvek Sufi Ensemble for numerous outreach events over the years with Zuruna to benefit International Rescue Committee and Musical Ambassadors of Peace.   

I am an Athena Project Artist in Residence, and I join Hal Aqua at Dazzle Jazz and the Mizel Museum/Mercury Cafe Denver KlezFests. I love sitting in with Gora Gora Orkestar and Hadgaba Balkan Band! 

Community Outreach includes Denver Sister Cities and Denver Spring Institute events, Musical Ambassadors of Peace Benefit Concerts,  playing for Colorado Senate sessions, Yo Yo Ma’s 2018 Colorado Tour, Roshni Denver and the Boulder Balkan Bash.   

I've met my closest friends and colleagues through playing music for their movement -- through that trans-personal connection.  There is NOTHING else like playing for live movement.   

And here's the thing:  I could never learn choreography well -- as a dancer -- I can only really thrive with improvisation.  I have that same feeling for sharing my music for movement -- keep the conversation between melody and movement alive. 

Join me on this new platform -- online -- until we can be in person!

Dear students, 

I have made the jump to online teaching, as requested by many clients over the last decade, and it's exceeded my expectations!  I am connecting with dear colleagues from all over the globe!  How exciting! For people interested in world music, this is amazing!  I teach you just like I would if I was with you  in person:  I still tailor my teaching to your needs, as I have for decades:

~  My lessons are very personable and planned out.   I move around, approaching the camera for closeups, creative inventive repetitions, and encourage new ways of thinking about iterations.  

~ I have a HD web cam and well-lit home studio -- and little latency, or sound lag, because I am a solo musical source. 

~ Optional written resources are easy to share online: PDFs sheets, syllabus, and written practice to-do list.   

~  You can record your entire Private Lesson, or just the essential technical parts:  if it's Zoom, you get to choose!  

~ I always donate part of my income on a regular basis to Musical Ambassadors of Peace and The Gathering Place, both wonderful non-profits. 

~ And, as always, no one will be turned away for lack of funds if they are a serious practicing student.  Just contact me privately.