Blues is the foundation of the house.  That's the bedrock.  But there are many rooms in the house: Memphis soul, reggae, rock and roll.  Those closest to my heart and soul (Wilson Pickett, Albert King, Son House, Lowell George, Hendrix) have all been influential and  impeccable guides along my musical path.  When all is said and done, though, it's just me: a composite of my loves and influences.  I hope you enjoy the music.  

When my Montpelier, VT band, The Heckhounds, dissolved in 2015 and I moved to Massachusetts, I was band-less and left to my own devices for the time being.  I came across old recordings, online and elsewhere, of chain gangs singing, field hollers, preachers preaching and congregations moaning and wailing.  They fascinated me.  I began to layer instrumental tracks around these "found vocals" and created a set of hybrid songs, mixing old and new.  Except for some loops, I played all the instruments.  Eventually, I recorded three albums in what I refer to as my "Ghost" series: Voices of Ghosts (2014), Ghost Dance (2016), and Ghost Notes (2017).

After a few years of playing around others' voices, I wanted to get back to my own voice and songs, and I began working on the songs that would eventually become Trouble in Tubertown (2018).  I followed that, a year later, with  Hitchhiking on the Wrong Side of the Road (2019).  On both albums, I use drum loops but play all other instruments, even learning harmonica for the last album.  And while these albums differ from each other, both return me to my love of songwriting and of crafting and arranging my own songs.

classical bones, progressive blood, and the spirit of jazz...
soundscapes. thought journeys.
music for listeners: environments and conversations


Experimental music to inspire and challenge tha mind!

Over the years Pepperbox Studio has become a place beloved by musicians for its relaxed atmosphere, supportive creative spirit and high sonic standards.  Braving an often dusty, muddy or snow-covered backroad that rises for miles to a remote hilltop, those who finally come through the door gather here to create music guided by friendship, inclusivity & kindness. For music is nothing without the sharing of stories, time on and time off, walks under the stars, good food & good fellowship. And it’s our good fortune to live in a place where such simple joys are still possible. We invite you to listen to our home-grown recordings. And if you have something in your heart to share, please do not hesitate to join us!

Pennyhead: digital audio recording; mixing; premastering; session playing; digital distribution, and project production services.

A Vermont based septext churning out funk soul r&b gypsy jazz latin rock music.

I'll still occasionally be using the moniker "askew" but I've decided it's time to move forward.  I'm just going to use my own name for now.

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