Sonic Discovery Blog

Performing at the Titanic world premiere party in Los Angeles Another Gig, Or So It Seemed For the Titanic Movie World Premiere Party, our band was the musical entertainment. At the time, it felt like just another movie wrap party on Whilshire Blvd, the kind of event where you showed up, played your sets, say hello, and then head home afterward.

The Diplomats European Tour This story is about an opportunity I got to be a part of as a graduating high school senior. Being selected as a member of The United States Collegiate Wind Bands. This opportunity which opened my eyes to the world and changed my life forever, was made possible by a lot of people including my high school band director

There are certain days in a musician’s life that stay with you forever. Not just because they were exciting, but because they mean something more. They stand apart from the rehearsals, travel, soundchecks, late nights, and long drives. They carry a different kind of weight. Gratitude, and recognition from the very place you called home. One of

It was June 1995. I was living in Ventura California and playing in a few bands. My day job was working as a grocery clerk at Von’s Grocery Store in Westlake. One of the cool things about working there was meeting all the famous actors and musicians who actually shopped for groceries. I was always amazed when I saw famous actors like Sean Connery

Performing in the Super Bowl half time show was one of those career moments that still feels unreal. In the 1990's I was playing with an awesome swing band called "Big Bad Voodoo Daddy," and at that time we still were an up-and-coming band. We were set to perform along side the one and only Stevie Wonder and Gloria Estefan. Behind the scenes, it

Where do I start? In the 1990's, airports were a little quieter, a little more relaxed. I was traveling through Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport, walking between terminals. That’s when I noticed someone familiar walking toward me, Chuck Norris. Yes, that Chuck Norris, the martial artist, action star, and cultural icon. As he approached, I

This experience was very cool, with a lot of memories on several levels. First, Ill Repute is a great punk band, and the band members are genuine. Their love for music is what drives them, and playing a show with them was very inspiring, aka awesome. A little background on Ill Repute in case you weren’t alive in the '90s or weren’t into the punk

Some albums are great music. Others are pivotal in our own personal history. For me, J.J. Johnson’s 1993 release Let’s Hang Out was one of those albums. I did not know it then, but that record would connect me to those world class musicians in ways I never could have imagined. The Albums That Started It All J.J. Johnson was one of the best jazz