Da Phatfunk Clique- Funky jazz violin to elevate the mood of your everyday groove!
Interview conducted on Oct. 24, 2020
by Dan Locke
What is your upbringing?,
I was raised in Detroit, the youngest of 5 siblings. There was a bit of musical influence growing up. Not just because it was the Detroit area with all the Motown and everything, but also because I participated in the middle school orchestra, as well as a Jazz band in high school. My dad was a hobbyist blues guitarist, and my cousin was a reasonably active musician on the local club scene. She would interact with jazz luminaries Earl Klugh and George Benson as well as legendary bassist Ralph Armstrong (frank Zappa and Jean Luc Ponty Bands).
You music has a Latin and Caribbean influence. How did you discover music?
I picked up on the Latin and Caribbean vibes over the years through travel and especially jamming with various musicians while I lived in the NYC area. My wife is from the Caribbean and she has shared a lot of that music with me and it blended nicely into my own flavor of funk/jazz.
How did you start to write music?
I think the first song I ever wrote was called “Just To Show I Love Ya” which was like my senior year in high school or shortly thereafter. Around that time I was involved with a couple of band projects and chamber orchestras as well as ensembles, playing around the city. Writing music was a great extension of what I had been learning in school and I wanted to branch out. At that time, most groups wanted to play popular songs from the radio, but I was into writing my own songs. Unfortunately, it was difficult to get gigs unless you played covers or “had some wax out” meaning had some music released commercially.
How did you get your first violin and do you still have it?
My first violin was a school rental. Not long after I graduated from high school they actually ended the music program there and told me I could just hold on to it until further notice. That notice never came and I still have it. The high school is gone now as well.
How different is it to play a electric violin?
No matter how it’s applied, the violin can be quite an unforgiving instrument. I remain on a quest to find my own perfect “tone” when I play. The differences between acoustic playing vs electric seem to be in terms of the way a given instrument responds when played acoustically vs with electric enhancement. I have noticed that sometimes those notes which are closer to the natural harmonic resonance of the instrument (causing the entire thing to vibrate) will be enhanced more than expected when the instrument is played electrically.
What was your first performance at like?
Having grown up playing in orchestras since middle school, I was already accustomed to playing in front of audiences. I guess my first lead performance would have been for the high school Jazz band where I got to improvise for 8 bars over a jazz standard. I know it wasn’t anything major, just did something that stayed within the scale of the song, but it was beginning improvisation nonetheless! After that, I mostly played keyboards in cover bands.
How was it to be a finalist in the 2007 Capital Jazz Challenge?
For me, that was both amazing and a bit overwhelming! The amazing part was being part of a wonderful production with professional sound engineers and stage crew. The overwhelming part was being expected to be certain places to do certain things while being distracted by famous musicians calling me over to take photos and simply chat!
Why BMI?
When I started writing music in the early ’80s, you could only join ASCAP if you had a song released commercially or were signed with a publisher. I was neither of those but I did own copyrights to my music, which was the criteria to join BMI back then.
Why did you decide to become an ER doctor and put your musical talent on the backburner?
I guess my goal to be a doctor was there from around age 12 or 13. I remember I had a wrist fracture (I can still see the xray in my head) and I was unable to perform in a joint concert between the l middle school band and orchestra (effectively a symphony orchestra) which I help organize. In any case, the choice of ER was along the lines of my personality as a jazz musician where you often have to improvise in both realms! Music ended up on the back burner because I had to focus everything pretty much on medicine during my training, and the early years of practicing. If I had it to do over I would have studied more music along side the medicine, even just as a form of relaxation and therapeutic release!
What makes a good songwriter?
Good songwriters have the ability to compose quality, memorable pieces that touch the souls of all who hear them. Guess that’s a goal for most people who do music, no matter their level.
How did you get your band together?
The first album release was a collaboration between myself and bassist Brian Ellis from Brooklyn, NY. We would hold jam sessions and find other like-minded musicians who wanted to work with us. I guess the most stable group at the time was with Janet Rogers, Michael Thomas, Brian Ellis, and myself. That’s who went to the Capital Jazzfest with. After that, I morphed the group into more of a collaboration concept where different people contribute ideas over the internet when career choices had me move away from NYC.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
That would have been the song, “Just to Show I Love Ya” and we did not record it. Might resurrect the idea one day.
Tell me about your single Honestly?
I find that I get inspiration when I’m on a deadline, and the vibe is something close to my heart, musically. This track came about from a posted request by a music supervisor looking for a track for a film/video project. They wanted pop, mellow vibes with a reggaeton feel to it. Seemed right up my alley so I tried some ideas after listening to several examples. Once I liked the music bed, I then reached out to a session singer/lyricist for toplines and to bring the concept to reality.
What is your favorite track on the album?
The album is being released in singles, each with a different vibe and groove. When I do finally put together the entire album as a compilation it will have album versions on the album itself with improvisations and the full groove ideas. Don’t really have a “favorite track” yet because it’s not finished I guess. The album will be called “Da Smoovness” when it’s finally done.
How do you stay healthy while touring?
Haven’t toured since like 2007 when I had the live band and then the key was to eat right and rest appropriately. I guess now we have to socially distance and almost be obsessive-compulsive about masking and handwashing so we don’t infect ourselves and others.
How do musicians go about getting medical insurance?
In the US there is currently a health exchange. It’s probably in most folks’ best interest to find a knowledgeable “Health Realestate Agent” (I recently found out this is a thing). Of course, if the pre-existing illness coverage thing is repealed we’re all pretty much done for. Another cool and not so well known source of health insurance for musicians can be through the local musicians’ union. Worth an inquiry for collective bargaining rates.
How should a musician go about setting up a 401k retirement plan?
As a musician, all your income is basically 1099, which means you’re an independent contractor. This also means pretty much everything is a business expense as long as it is justified. It also means you have higher retirement contribution limits annually. I think upwards of $50K in some instances. Most investment institutions can help you set up 401K and IRA plans for minimal fees and plenty of helpful advice. All in all, it’s definitely worth it. Try Fidelity, Ameritrade, and other such companies to begin your search for who to go with.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Everyone misses the days of selling CDs at shows and you can still do that to a good degree. I view streaming as a great, current opportunity with a big downside that musicians are being undervalued. The opportunity comes in in terms of your individual reach now being global. My only thing is that it would be great if these channels would open up to direct contact so that anyone who would like my or any music could potentially get to hear it, rather than there being this pay for play wall where you have to go through “curators” and “tastemakers” who charge to add you to their lists.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Definitely digital. I grew up on vinyl. Digital is my preference.
What are your feelings about the social uprising going on in the United States?
Here’s the thing, if you’re a person who does what I do and has my background, does it seem reasonable that if pulled over by a police officer you should have concerns in the back of your mind that the encounter could end with you in the hospital or worse? As long as I am home here in my small town, I’m not too worried since most of them kind of know me through the ER. But what about my 15-year-old son? I’ve never even had him walk to the store for me because I’m concerned. Seriously. We bought him a bicycle from the store this past summer and he rode it home himself because it wouldn’t fit in my trunk. I was worried someone would stop him and question him about where he got it because it was new. He’s a good kid, spends his time playing the piano, animating, playing tennis, and going to school. That’s it. Should I have to have this particular concern?
The bottom line is this – there will continue to be unrest as long as the system forces people who look like me to have these concerns, regardless of how successful anyone thinks I am. Notice that all of this came into the forefront of everyone’s mind once we were all stressed out with CoVID19.
What is the mental health situation of the United State? How can the public help the doctors and nurses on the front line?
That’s so varied it’s almost impossible to characterize accurately. From my perspective, the BEST thing each person can do for us and our sanity is to stay safe by looking out for the person next to them. Wear the mask in public. Socially distance from one another. Definitely gotta do this if you’re coughing or sneezing or have any symptoms at all. Really.
Is it time to re-record your first album over again- “Pandemics Love”
A childhood friend texted me the other day that I was perhaps being prophetic with the title. You know, the premise behind that album was to spread a Pandemic of Love, not some Stephen King – type apocalyptic bug! And, yes I have been contemplating re-recording one or more of those tracks because of all of this.
Do you think kids should go back to school?
In a word “no”. Simply because of the nature of being a kid. They touch, they smell, they feel and explore. They also notoriously do not wash their hands, cover sneezes or coughs or avoid touching their own or others’ faces, nose, or mouths. Add to this all of the studies which show that younger carriers of CoVID19 are often asymptomatic so when little Suzy goes to visit Grandma, the hug and kiss they share could be one signifying a permanent “goodbye”.
In Canada, they just released a new Covid-19 vaccine school children which get rid of the invasive nasal swab and instead ask kids to gargle and spit. Now this is for children only. Should, this also be given to adults?
I’m not aware of an approved CoVID19 vaccine that’s also proven effective. In terms of the gargle and spit, I’m of the opinion that everyone (adults and children) should brush their teeth with Listerine and toothpaste twice per day and gargle with it probably 2 or 3 times additionally with it as well. I know that’s a lot but it does kill germs and could help us all beat the CoVID19 scourge.
Studies are showing that because of COVID-19 many students who were ready for college have decide to hold off because many school are doing virtual school and changing the same amount for school as they would for on campus classes. Do you think the colleges should give some type of discount to these students?
If the virtual learning thing doesn’t work for them, I get postponing but that’s dangerous career-wise. Waiting leads to more waiting all too often. Still, each person has to decide for themselves. As far as costs, probably not do a discount so much as to facilitate learning. I think the pandemic has created a new paradigm wherein we realize that we can operate remotely more often than we had in the past for more things. College (and other) education is one of the things amenable to this change. Is it cheaper to do this? It depends – no heating buildings but you have to beef up the infrastructure for remote learning.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Well, you mentioned the title track from my first CD release, “Pandemic Love”. I guess when you think about it, the title “Pandemic Love” could have multiple meanings! Again, the idea behind it when it penned it 20+ years ago was to have Love spread around the globe virally. Wouldn’t that be cool?
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
There will most likely be a fair number of changes in the way live venues operate. Most will operate at lower capacities and leverage the power of live streaming to fill the void of the missing patrons. Of course that doesn’t help with alcohol sales.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I’ve been writing new music. I’ve also been studying medical concepts as well as music theory. I’m trying to woodshed and improve on my skills while this is going on. I still have to work but much less because I coincidentally started semi-retirement from ER medicine when all of this hit in February.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Nope, just doing music!
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
My favorite streaming channels are: Crunchyroll (anime), Dust (Sci-Fi shorts)
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will include [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
Where one door closes, another or several others open. Whichever platform is ultimately able to facilitate the needs of musicians to stream their performances and monetize them successfully will win the race. Facebook will likely become the venue to point people to the live streams, rather than being the go-to platform for that. My guess is YouTube will be it, having the most robust network already in place.
How can bands keep their fans if they can not play live in front of the fans and sell merch to them at the show?
For now, the key will be to keep in touch with newsletters, podcasts as well as to find and put into place streaming systems and online merch sales pathways that are easy for the consumers to use. Collaborating online with systems like JamKazam and other sites will allow bands to continue content creation so they can put out new material regularly.
Is pay to play still a thing?
Unfortunately pay to play is still a real thing. Paying to submit to an “opportunity”, paying into a “network” of stations, or to be added to a playlist is all pay to play. Maybe these don’t meet the strict legal definition of payola but they actually are. Payola is “pay to play”, period. Music should be judged on its’ own merits, not restricted by how much money can be made off of it or how much was thrown into it so more people get to hear it. Especially when the returns for independent musicians are not making it worth the outlay to the radio. Still, there’s the argument that people would need to be compensated to listen to so many songs to decide which ones to playlist.
Are you going to vote by mail or in person? Did you know that Live Nation Activates Concert Venues as Polling Places and Promotes Voting Engagement among Fans and Employees.
I didn’t know about Live Nation. My plan is to vote in person. Where I live it shouldn’t be an issue.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
That would be cool. I have a 360-degree camera so I’m thinking of doing a show to release to the oculus platform or something like that. Just to be unique, probably not for like a bunch of money or anything since this would be so niche.
If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
Wow, that would be seriously depressing! I guess if I couldn’t play anymore I’d have to just do the medicine thing (which isn’t like it used to be 20 years ago – used to be more of an art. Now it’s a corporatized construct). Maybe I could just go fishing with my brother all the time instead.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Hey, this has been more than I have spoken about myself in like ever so I just hope something I’ve said has been useful, entertaining or of value for your readership! Everyone can add us on Pandora, as well as follow/add us on spotify:
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