JI: How did your previous career in law enforcement inspire and or challenge your desire to develop your vocal skills, creativity and to express yourself through music?

SA: I worked the street as a Police Officer for six and a half years, so you learn quickly how to handle yourself in a myriad of situations and be a team player. It also gave me the foundation of being resilient and self-reliant which are essential for existence in such a profession. I further broadened my foundational experiences by working for the United States Border Patrol as an Agent. The experiences in the Border Patrol exposed me to another whole side of life. The sadness, despair, and struggle of people attempting to gain access to the United States in pursuit of a better way of life. Most of the people are very religious good folks who are willing to risk it all to do so and I do mean “risking it all” including their very lives. Intuitively, I knew and felt though that there was another place I needed to be which prompted me to leave the Border Patrol and Law Enforcement. A year later, I started my own small business in Connecticut which spanned nineteen years.

JI: Tell us about the concept of your new CD release.

SA: “The new third CD, Fate Revealed By Design, is the culmination of being at the right place at the right time with the right people. As we are on our life paths, one step leads to the next as if building a home; one block/brick at a time which creates the foundation. From that foundation, the prospective home can be constructed. The debut CD, Got A Date With Fate was a significant start and step to establish the music foundation to where we are now.

I met Jon Werking (producer, composer, arranger, musical director) in late August 2003. Within six weeks, we had the charts completed. Through Jon, Mark Egan, Danny Gottlieb, Scott Wendholt, Greg Skaff, Jeff Ciampa and Steven Kenyon were enlisted to record the project. My experience together with Scott Wendholt became a long association due to Scott performing on all three compact discs and we perform together regularly. January 2005 brought the concept of performing to the forefront which led me to Robert Felstein (producer, composer, arranger, musical director). We created a larger repertoire to establish the foundation for performing. June 2005, we performed our debut at Danny’s Skylight Cabaret Room with more performances there in 2005. April 2006, we performed our debut at the Iridium. Robert was not available for the next scheduled gig in June 2006 which prompted me to find the next person to continue on the path. When I met Daryl Kojak in May 2006, I knew immediately he was the right person to elevate this musical journey to the next step. Within two weeks of our meeting without having performed together yet, I asked Daryl if he would be interested in making CD number two from inception. I was so sure that our meeting was “fated” and that Daryl was the right person for the next “building phase”. Five months later, Fate Just Won’t Wait, was publicly released at Danny’s Skylight Room on December 30, 2006. In the meantime, we were working on more music and new arrangements as we were recording and performing. That path continued and resulted in the new third CD, Fate Revealed By Design, just released on December 29, 2007 at the Laurie Beechman Theater. In reference to personnel, Cameron Brown I heard at a gig at the Iridium in early 2006. I loved watching and listening to him perform so I approached him about working with us. “Sweet” Sue Terry I heard perform at a gig in November 2006 with Daryl and I loved watching and listening to Sue as well and approached her with the same idea as Cameron. Tony Jefferson was playing at a gig in December 2006 at the Kitano with Cameron Brown and I loved Tony as well and approached him to join us.

JI: Getting sponsored, instructed and helped by the right person can be the very thing that creates the pathway to success. Could you talk about any mentors whom you have had who have made a profound influence on your development and accomplishments?

SA: I studied vocal technique and performing with Richard Lissemore in New York City for four and a half years. It is through that intensive study that created the foundation for what transpired in 2003 with the debut CD and up-to-date/ present. Jerry Scott, a “pillar” of New York City nightlife and music community for many years, has been instrumental in introducing me to such music as “Written On The Wind”, “A Very Precious Love”, and “If You Love Me (Really Love Me). ” Jerry has also been very generous with allowing me and many others to share in the “spotlight” while he performs in various New York City venues. Jerry is also responsible for suggesting Daryl Kojak to me in May 2006 when I was looking for the next person on the musical path. Through that interchange with Jerry, two selections on Fate Revealed are performed with him. Robert Felstein was very helpful during the time we worked together. That interaction allowed me to start creating and honing the medley concept and structure. Certainly, Daryl has been a significant artistic force as we’ve created some beautiful music together as well as the two CD projects. We are exploring the fourth CD project for later this year.

JI: It is said that most people who reach the highest rungs in their business, career, personal, and creative lives can attribute that to following conscientiously and continuously a plan for self-development and growth. If you’ve engaged in any kind of goal setting or planning that has helped you reach where you are and is guiding you forward could you share some of that with us?

SA: I talk in the performances about the four life factors that we all share in our lives that allow us to find and maintain our life assignments. Those four components are: faith, love, trust, and an open heart. They have been the anchor/stability of which I have found my way through life. The critical factor has been faith. It is not a place of self-involvement but one of knowing and feeling where that life energy is guiding you. Along our paths, it is the mutual exchange of our gifts that stimulates and elevates that life energy to a better environment for all.

JI: What recording or recordings initially sparked your interest in jazz, and inspired your desire to perform?

SA: I have followed and supported the careers of many artists and musicians. There are those that are spectacular and radiate their artistic, spiritual and emotional energy in a pure form. An accurate depiction is that they always have this smile on their face and a joyful energy shining from within and through their instrument. Some of these artists: Lee Ritenour, David Sanborn, Steve Morse and Rod Morgenstein of the Dixie Dregs, Tom Scott, Mark Egan, Lyle Mays, Pat Metheny, Danny Gottlieb, Jeff Lorber, Al Jarreau, Cameron Brown, “Sweet” Sue Terry, Scott Wendholt, Daryl Kojak, Tony Jefferson, and Jerry Scott. There are so many. These are just a few artists I have watched over the years and a few I have had the bliss to share a stage and make music. One specific story: there was a band from upper NY State called Cabo Frio. I was a BIG fan and saw them perform many times. In the late 1980’s, they were doing a gig at IMAC in Huntington, Long Island. Towards the end of the set, the sax player, Terry Bruce I believe his name is, is blowing a mean sax solo. The music was soaring and Terry got so “charged”, while playing, he walked into the audience and started a “conga” line with audience members and circled numerous times the outer aisles of the theater with audience members in tow. Meanwhile, the band is still crankin’ AND the bassist, George Sessum, and the drummer, Curtis Kendrick, switch instruments without missing a beat!! It was wild and electric!! The audience absolutely loved it. The whole presentation is the music and the collective energy and how it/they blend and create artistically. As far as specific recordings, some favorites: Tom Scott’s “Tom Cat”, Dixie Dregs albums, Pat Metheny’s “Pat Metheny Group” and “America Garage”, Steely Dan “Aja”, Tony Williams “Lifetime-The Collection”, Brian Bromberg “Magic Rain”, Mark Egan “Freedom Town”, Frank Sinatra recordings, Tony Bennett recordings, Nat King Cole, David Sanborn “As We Speak”, Lee Ritenour “Captain Fingers”, and Jean-Luc Ponty “A Taste For Passion”. There are so many.

JI: What are some of the challenges you face and expect to face as an independent artist, and how do you or might you make them work for you?

SA: Challenges are few due to no expectations of this path of music. The “key” to our performing is to continually explore and open-up to more music and to “push the envelope”. The point of performing is to be there for your audience, make the experience fun, musically interesting, use the gifts we’ve been given and put “it” out there.

JI: In addition to your involvement in music, what other activities help provide balance in your life?

SA: The balance is maintained by all what I’ve learned along the path, especially owning my own business for nineteen years. You focus on the small details, keeping your customers/ audience happy and involved, do the best you can at any give time, and maintain your integrity and respect for all involved. Outside interests: running/jogging since May 1977, scuba diver, underwater photographer, and I come across injured animals of all kinds frequently so I’ve discovered “avenues” to access help for them and met wonderful people along the way, some now dear friends.

JI: If there is one for you, what is the connection between music and spirituality?

SA: “It” is all of life that is connected spiritually, emotionally, and physically. “It” all binds us together and feeds off our interchange and becomes stronger when accessed positively; just like music.

Interview on page 50 of February 2008 Jazz Improv® NY, to download issue click here (16MB download)