Why "From the Lab"?
I've always appreciated the parallels between scientific inquiry and artistic experimentation. Both begin with questions. Both require curiosity, observation, experimentation, and a willingness to discover something unexpected.
That's the spirit behind FROM THE LAB.
I'll use this space to share aspects of the creative process: developing arrangements, experimenting with sounds and technology, rehearsing performance material, and figuring out how to bring the different pieces together. Some of what I share will be polished. Some of it will be works in progress. That's intentional. I want to offer a glimpse into the creative process and not just show the finished product.
How I'm Building Beats.Verses.Brass.
October 2026
What happens when beats, lyrical verses, and different brass instruments come together to tell a story?
That's the question at the heart of The Soul Science of Sound™: Beats.Verses.Brass, a new project I'm developing that just received a Creativity Grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.
For much of my artistic journey, I've explored ways to bring together various dimensions of my musical identity: the brass musician, the emcee, the composer, and the storyteller. I've never been particularly interested in keeping these creative expressions in separate categories. In fact, some of my most rewarding work happens when those boundaries begin to disappear.
Beats.Verses.Brass is an opportunity to bring these elements together in a new way.
From Recordings to Performance
My previous projects, Sojourners and ICONOCLAST, provide much of the foundation for this new work. Both projects reflect my interest in music as a vehicle for storytelling, reflection, and questioning established conventions. But Beats.Verses.Brass isn't simply a live performance of previously recorded material.
I'm developing a seven-part multimedia performance that will combine original compositions, new arrangements of existing music, spoken word and hip-hop lyricism, live brass instrumentation, and visual storytelling. Each segment will contribute to a larger narrative, with musical and visual elements working together to create an experience that extends beyond a conventional concert.
What's Next?
My goal is to bring Beats.Verses.Brass. to the stage in spring 2027. Between now and then, there's a great deal of creative work to do. I'll be arranging music, developing the visual components, refining the performance, and exploring ways to create a compelling experience for audiences.
I'm grateful to the Maryland State Arts Council for supporting this vision and providing an opportunity to move the work forward.
And I'm glad you're here to follow the journey.
Welcome to the lab.
This project is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org).