Hey Ya'll,  Jody here to tell you a bit about myself

In the nutshell, I'm a creative do'er...approaching everything I do with a passion-driven artful curiosity. I find myself continually engaged in making whatever it is I'm doing better... more functional...more authentic...more dynamic. Music has provided me with a perfect medium to do this. It allows me to do exactly what I am suppose to do  without the limitations we contend with for what's possible in the creative process. Drop me in on a musical idiom and I'm like a kid in a candy store looking for the sweet spot...

I apply my musical interests to a variety of musical styles and to several instruments. Vocals included. Woodwinds, in general, are my primary instrument set...

For the most part, I'm self-taught on all instruments. This process, at least for me,  opens up possibilities for what the character of an instrument can do rather than being taught it's limitations...  I do however always remain open to the true teachers who somehow always show up in my life. I remain open to learning when they do...

Married to my better half for 30 plus years. Together we have an amazing daughter...

Overall my musical roots are in Soul, Funk, and R&B however ... depending on the song and the instrument I'm playing at the time, staying stylistically diverse and authentically true becomes my biggest asset...

I grew up in a culturally diverse neighborhood in NW Miami Fla.  Dad was a professional Ballroom Dancer Performer/Teacher...these 2 points combined exposed me to a lot of cultural music diversity.... might explain why I'm so musically twisted (in a good way...)

To date, I have been blessed with over 4 decades of playing music professionally. This has included a brief period in the USAF Band touring the US and Abroad entertaining Dignitaries, Presidents, and high ranking officials, opening or sharing the stage with some of my music heroes, Band leading, Booking/Musician Advocating, Contracting, Side manning, recording, writing, and digging on a variety of music styles...ie; Soul, Funk, R&B, Latin Jazz, Celtic styles, Rock and Roll, Horn sections a plenty..., World Music styles, Contemporary and Standard Jazz...Acoustic Folk Styles, Classical Chamber flute work, Big band...Dixieland ...fusions of all sorts ...Oh Yeah...all kinds of cool stuff!!!

In addition to having a career as a performing artist,  I have also had the amazing opportunity to serve as a Fireman/Paramedic/EMS Captain for 3 decades of service with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue...Let me just say that to be apart of the Fire Rescue brotherhood, has been an amazing honor...and most certainly not an occupation without being affected by my own personal awareness of PTSD... for years I have been putting out fires by day and burning up the music scene by night...  What few people know is that Music has always been an amazing therapeutic activity for me, one that brings me to my knees in gratitude for all that it has led me to and from...

***as a side note***

If you have any interest in my work with the non-profit  organization  "One Brother/One Sister" please let me know. I'd love to fill you in on the great work we are doing with assisting 1st responders...your support is greatly needed...

and as a final point... can I get an Amen...???

I have this belief that if we are fortunate enough to discover what makes us unique in what we have received as gifts and talent(s, it becomes our inherent responsibility to develop those areas of our lives to their highest potential in whatever time we have in this world to do so...This is what I do in all areas of my life...I embrace my difference (Not my Indifference).

 Somewhere along the line I  have realized that amongst all of the great types of music makers in our world, there is absolutely nobody better at being me and expressing music in the way that it hits me than I...the trick comes in the discovery of who I am as an artist...being willing and able to humble myself to the tasks and self awareness necessary to keep getting better, to trust the music that plays through me...to let it flow and connect with others in whatever way it that it does, and just simply be the player that only I am meant to be...~~~>>>

It all starts with the question of how can I apply my time in this world, equipped with whatever unique gifts I have been given in a way that becomes a blessing to others...

SO what's next??? Only God knows...I hope it's great and just what this world needs to make it a cooler more harmonious place...

My highest hope for you is that you find something that makes you uniquely different ... That you realize you have something significant to offer this world and that when you find it,  you have the courage and drive to make this world a better place because of what you were able to do in your time !!!~ j