About

It was the energy of Mr. Valdes’ music that drew me to Banff in 1994. There I was fortunate to meet Valdes and his band, along with dancers and other musicians from Cuba. In 2013, while studying at Banff Centre, Vijay Iyer, the director of the Jazz Workshop, had commented during Piano Master Classes on the careful choice of notes in my phrases. Though like many artists, my foundation was still evolving, and I came to study with Dr. Barry Harris, world-famous pianist, composer and educator. At my first clinic, while a student at McGill University in Montreal, Dr, Harris was taken with a classmate’s ability in the left-hand. It was then I learned about the beauty of the lower octaves of the piano.

In 2012, I had the pleasure of recording with Juno-winner, bassist, Brandi Disterheft and drummer, Leroy Williams.  Together we would go on to form the group, The Jazz Descendants. Leroy has toured and recorded with Dr. Barry Harris for decades. Our group’s album, RED, features original compositions of all the musicians and is dedicated to Dr. Harris, who continues to generously invest his life and talent to “inspiring jazz descendants everywhere.” The album was produced by award-winning sound mixer, Daniel Pellerin. In the summer of 2014, the album made the Top 10 of many radio stations in Canada. Many other life experiences have influenced my music as well. From working with people who have disabilities, to teaching English in Taiwan and Europe, to dish washing at Banff, to studies in California, to writing music for film and theater in Toronto.

My amazingly supportive family and friends have helped my music come to fruition. Now teaching in New York, I have recently composed two works for symphony orchestra, worked with Common Ground (a band drawing from music of various genres), and continue to compose and work perform with The Jazz Descendants.