“Eutow” by Autechre

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Born to musically inclined parents and extended family, I started guitar under the tutelage of my father before taking up saxophone in 6th grade. My first influences on the instrument were Kenny G, Najee, Gerald Albright, and most importantly — my band teacher Mr. Leon Harvey. A precocious child, I studied saxophone privately with Mr. Harvey, going on to audition and perform with various  regional/statewide concert bands. It was around the start of my middle school years that I heard my first recordings of the late Charlie Parker; he would become my single greatest Jazz influence. Taking a keen interest in other woodwind instruments, I taught myself the oboe and clarinet in high school, performing with SC All-State Concert Band on oboe (teaching myself flute later in life). It was in summer band camp theory class that I learned of my perfect pitch. In college, I studied music composition, writing an original piece for string quintet.

After deciding to put music at the forefront of mlife, I left college and pursued a degree in a somewhat distant field from music — chemistr. I did so while I figured out exactly what I wanted to do musically. I have graduated and currently work as chemist at Thermo Fisher Scientific.

I have performed with Ben E. King, Gene Chandler, Lloyd Price, Jerry Butler, and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. Being mentored by the late Skipp Pearson and living legend Houston Person has given me connections to land gigs with Mark Rapp at ColaJazz — paving the way to play in bands with Shannon Pinckney, Edwin “Ed” Hamilton, Nick Vlandis. Ed Fuqua, and Amos Hoffman. Through ColaJazz, my favorite group, The Rod Brown Combo, has performedr at the 2021 SC Jazz Festival I have had the privilege of leading jazz combos with awesome players like Jonathan Lovett, Brett Belanger, Robert Saunders, and Danny Boozer. I have also enjoyed playing with the Charleston-based big bandleader Joe Clark.

i have been with The Rod Brown Combo for 6 years.