Performing
I learned how to play R&B guitar from the late great Chalmers “Spanky” Alford & performing for years in an African American Pentecostal church and Wally’s Jazz Café. These experiences opened the door for me to perform with some of the world’s most well-known artists. I’d love to collaborate with you. Get in touch —
Get to know my playing.
Here are some of my favorite tracks.
Movie Session Work
The Photograph (2010) Issa Rae, LaKeith Stanfield
Madea Goes to Jail (2009) Tyler Perry
The Ugly Truth (2009) Gerard Butler, Katherine Heigl
ATL (2006) TI, Outkast
Couples Retreat (2009). Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau
Albums as a Session Musician
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak - An Evening With Silk Sonic
Jay-Z — Kingdom Come
Erykah Badu & James Poyser — Tempted
Justin Bieber — Flatline
The Roots — Dilla Joints
Eric Benét — Love and Life
Sam Kininger — Anthem
Sy Smith — Conflict
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson — Mochilla Presents Timeless: Suite For Ma Dukes: The Music Of James "Dilla" Yancey
Alan Evans Trio — Merkaba
Chris Crain — Charlie 3:26
Rodnie Bryant — Change of Seasons
Jupiter Rising — The Quiet Hype
Alan Evans — Let it Ride
Jill Scott — The Original Jill Scott (From The Vault Vol. 1)
Sara Azriel — Sara Azriel
Safiq Husayn — The Loop
Eric Robertson — Mister Nice Guy
Justin C. Gilbert — Aligned
Chris Dave And The Drumhedz — Chris Dave And The Drumhedz
Bobby Perry & R.A.I.N — All About You
Corinne Bailey Rae — The Sea
Verve — Remixed⁴
Girlfriends: The Soundtrack
Libretto (feat. Guilty Sampson) — Ride to Dat
Mark De Clive-Lowe (feat. Nia Andrews) — The Why
Mark De Clive-Lowe — Renegades
Sy Smith — Syberselects: A Collection Of Sy Smith Favorites
The Foreign Exchange — +FE Music: The Reworks
Sean Kingston — Sean Kingston
Nat King Cole — ReGenerations
Bianca Ryan — Banca Ryan
Ruslan — Ruslan
Kierra Kiki Sheard — Just Until...
Gummy — 2nd Album: It's Different
Fabiana Palladino — Long Nights Of War EP
Ryan Montbleau Band — Patience on Friday
Kwanza Jones — Naked 2: Universal Fire
Bruno Mars
I played lead guitar on his 2021 release Silk Sonic.
Introduction (2021)
Introduction (2021)
Leave the Door Open (2021)
Love’s Train (2022)
Erykah Badu
I met Erykah while we were on tour together in 2005 as a part of Queen Latifah’s Sugar Water Festival. I had always been a fan of Badu’s music so to finally get the call to join her band was a dream come true. Badu is one of the few artists that gives her band creative freedom.
Full show, Live from VH1 Soul Stage, 2008
This was my first performance with Erykah — they had just gotten off a plane from Nigeria and I hadn’t seen the music. She just hummed a few bars and then we jumped into it on live national TV. That’s showbiz folks..
Performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, 2010
Performing Badu’s “Window Seat”
Vortex Tour, 2008
This was a really fun tour. We went out with The Roots & N.E.R.D. Some of my favorite memories were going record digging with my Brothers ?uestlove & Rashad “Ringo” Smith as well as meeting D’angelo when we performed in Richmond VA. He told me I reminded him of the late great Jef Lee Johnson (I’ll take that compliment lol)
Out My Mind, Just in Time Tour, 2010
This tour was in support of Badu’s New Amerykah Part Two: (Return of the Ankh)
Tempted, 2019
Produced by Shuga Steve Mandel. This is a cover of Squeeze’s Tempted. I remember playing some pretty esoteric instruments like the Marxophone & The Chamberlin Steel Guitar which is a precursor to the Mellotron. I also enjoy adding instruments that you don’t associate with certain types of music.
Common
I met Common through his Producer & Drummer Karriem Riggins. Common’s Like Water For Chocolate was a huge influence on my production so it’s been a real treat to work with him over the years. The last collaboration, I orchestrated his song Black America Again featuring Stevie Wonder. The arrangement was written by my good friend Patrick Warren.
Yahoo Live Sets, 2009
Jay-Z
I’ve had the opportunity to work with Jay-Z on a few occasions. The first being a performance at Radio City Music Hall celebrating the 10 year anniversary of his debut album Reasonable Doubt. I got the call from ?uestlove to play guitar with The Roots while we backed him up behind a massive orchestra. The lead to some “one-off” dates and a memorable performance at Carnegie Hall as well. I even did some additional arranging.
Kingdom Come (2006)
The album features a few songs from the Radio City Music Hall show.
Janet Jackson
In 2008 I pre-recorded all of the guitars for Janet’s “Rock Witchu Tour”.
Rock Witchu Tour (2008)
TV Appearances
Press
