The Work: Music, Arts and Design Publications

I started writing about the arts, about jazz to be precise, in 1985, when I was asked to contribute a monthly column to Wavelength, a New Orleans music magazine. Since that time, I've published articles, both online and in print, on a wide range of topics, including music, sports, politics, business, health care and technology. Through Rocket Words, I produce entertaining, thoroughly researched feature articles on music, arts and design subjects of all kinds.

I've written about music and the arts for publications including the San Francisco Chronicle, DownBeat Magazine and SFWeekly. I've written about science and design for publications including BioMechanics Magazine and auditoria. And I blog from the Monterey Jazz Festival for Jazzwest.com.

The creative process is an infinitely fascinating topic to me. I've done a lot of interviewing over the years, and I'm good at getting artists, designers, architects and engineers to talk about the inspiration and hard work that drives their accomplishments. I also do my homework—efficient and thorough research—and I spend the time it takes to get to the heart of each story.

Whether I'm writing a piece about concert hall design or a profile of a bebop bass player, the bottom line is this: there's a reason they call it a “story.” I find the best way to tell that story—the perspective that gives each feature its human face. And, oh yes—on deadline.