About Us Nick was born in 1982 in a hard working Italian neighborhood in San Pedro, California and is the youngest of four really good looking siblings. In 1989, fueled by a teacher strike, his parents moved him and his family to Rancho Palos Verdes in lieu of a better education. The sixth grade came about and Nick had to choose between the choir and band. Unsure of what to do, his older sister, Elena (who was about to enter high school and join marching band), showed him what a clarinet looked like in an encyclopedia. Nick said why not he was 11. Each one of Nicks siblings play at least one instrument: Elena is a brilliant percussionist, pianist and writer; Randy is a gifted reader of piano music and still has an upright of his own; and Michael, now a professional modern dancer, was playing very difficult Chopin pieces on piano within three months of beginning lessons a talented bunch.Nicks mother would blast Barbara Streisand and sing along to the music while at home. Nick always chuckled to himself when catching her in the act, but he insists that she always would hit every note, perfectly on pitch. His father started out as an amazing artist in the medium of pottery, and would play guitar and piano for the kids throughout their childhood. He inspired each one of them to trust the art inside and still does to this day. Nicks parents love music and it shows in their vast vinyl record collection. As Nick would say, its totally bitchin stuff! Every time the family gets together they break out the vinyl, hang out and listen. By the 8th grade, Nick insisted on a bass clarinet for Christmas. His father, looking out for his son's future social life, bought him an alto sax instead. Shocked but by no means disappointed, Nick was thrilled beyond a child's wildest dreams. Opening that case and looking at that brilliant gold shine, unknowingly was a life-changing event. Needless to say, Nick fell in love with the sax and hasnt put it down since. As Nick grew into the instrument and music, he went on to take every music class that was available to him at his high school. He did everything from first chair clarinet in the orchestra, to first alto sax in the jazz band, to drum major of the marching band. Once again during Christmas (this time as a high school sophomore) there was another turning point. Nicks aunt bought him Grover Washington Jrs Live At The Bijou CD. Nick describes this record as a "gateway drug to funk". The Headhunters, Tower of Power, Maceo Parker, Bill Withers and any recording with Grover Washington Jr. that he could get his hands on ended up on a cassette on loop in his car. Later that year (circa 1998), Nick attended a weeklong performance workshop in LA put on by the Berklee College of Music. This was huge. This confirmed that a career in music was what he wanted. This is where he met some of his greatest music friends and colleagues that he still connects with and plays music with to this day. After that summer Nick went into his junior year in high school and started bands, joined bands if it was music, he was doing it. He began to win awards at nearly every jazz band competition in the area and also began gigging and recording with a SKA band on Drive-Thru Records called "Cousin Oliver". It was his first taste of performing in real-world scenarios. The band had fans and played different types of venues across Southern California. Nick was hooked. After working tirelessly, Nick was awarded a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Reality had set in and despite the reluctance of his private instructor; he attended Berklee School of Music and flourished. Nick had the opportunity to study with some amazing saxophone teachers in college including Fred Lipsius (Blood, Sweat and Tears) and Walter Beasley (smooth jazz chart topper, duh). Walter was instrumental in guiding Nick to craft the sound he has today. Walter was able to show Nick a new approach to playing live with the way one thinks, doesn't think, and simply how to control the audience with a single note. After college Nick did what most artists do - fall in love with a dancer and move to New York City. In a 6-story walk-up building in Brooklyn, he began work on his first solo project. A record named "Red Vinyl". Much to his neighbor's demise, Nick was able to record the album right out of his own apartment. A year later, beaten and heartbroken, Nick returned to his native hometown in Los Angeles and began to explore single life as an artist in his mid twentys. He took to writing again and wanted to record a new album. This time he wanted to include some of his old college buddies on the project. Two of his dorm buddies from freshman year play on Nick's Record "The Third Date" - Josh Zeigler on drums and Pancho Burgos on piano and keyboards. The themes were dating, love, heartbreak, sex, gambling and passion for life's troubled and sometimes unclear path. The single from that record, "Happy Hour" went wild on the radio worldwide, earning him a spot on a Smooth Jazz Top 50 chart. For one of those weeks Nick was a slot ahead of his longtime hero, Herbie Hancock. In 2011, Nick released a Christmas single, a cover of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" which garnered radio airplay throughout the United States and on Internet Radio worldwide. Nick now resides in Santa Monica, CA and is currently working on his third album. There's no title yet, but when there is, expect some fireworks!
Biography
