My first instrument was the bass, although I eventually started playing lots of stringed instruments, including Chapman Stick, cello, mandolin, bouzouki, charango, pi'pa, bandurria, and more, plus what would become my main instrument, guitar.  I'm also a studio rat, and have played on or worked on records with John Popper, Bernie Worrrell, Trey Gunn, Hank Roberts, Sonny Landreth, and others.

I was introduced the the music of the Grateful Dead back in the mid 70s, and something must have clicked, because over the next 20 years or so, I went to well over 200 shows.  I learned a lot about the spirit of improvisation from them, and while my musical horizons would eventually expand to include include jazz, world music, and lots of experimental and avant-garde stuff, it was always improvisation that excited me most about music.  When I heard there was a chance to "Phil" the bass role in Grateful Groove, I jumped at the chance.  I have so many great associations with these songs and grooves, and I'm very happy to be able to interpret them with this wonderful group of people.