Gear Endorsements: Randall Amplifiers, Sound Tech PA systems, Angelo Guitars (but not anymore), Dean Markley Strings, Clayton guitar picks.
 
Past History: Def Leppard’s first three albums were what made me want to play guitar.  Hearing Metallica’s as a kid was a major influence.  Once I began playing guitar (1986) I got into Iron Maiden, Dio and a bunch of other metal bands.  When I heard Yngwie (a couple of years or so later) I was blown away and that changed everything for me musically.  I played in bands in high school but usually found myself as the only one who wasn’t smoking pot, drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. As I got better at guitar, it became harder to find people locally to play with.  I was always desiring to compose great music but didn’t have the musical skills to do so at the time.  After high school, I went to GIT, but didn’t like it so I cam back home.  I found 2 great teachers in the early and mid 1990s (Jack Wilson and George Bellas)  George and I were getting into Dream Theater at the same time back then. I formed HESS in 1994 with my brother Scott (drummer).  I attended Harper College (where I now teach guitar) in 1994 and met Mike Walsh (Hess guitarist since January 1996). After mike and I graduated from Harper College , I went to Roosevelt University where I received my second music degree, this time in music composition.  HESS released our 1^st cd (Opus 1) on April 20, 2000.  I traveled to Europe in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2003 and composed much of the main ideas for Opus 2 there.
 
Current / Upcoming Projects:  As always, I’m composing new music for the HESS band (Opus 3).  In addition to that I am working on an acoustic CD with Mike Walsh , Mark Çarozza and another really guitarist named Chris Kalkbrenner.  I’m working on a new project with Joey DaMaio (of Manowar).  Mike and I and are working on a series of instructional DVDs.
 
What Will People Find In Hess and Opus 2:  Self expressive dramatic music in the progressive and neo-classical sub genres. 
 
Influences:  My influences now are different from what they used to be years ago.  Right now, I listen to a lot of Sage ( Mike Walsh ’s other band), Gorecki, Chopin, Alice in Chains as well as Dream Theater, Bellas, Symphony X and a bunch of other cool players on guitar9.  I listen to a lot of Romantic era music of the 19^th century (Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, Wagner) and also to Mahler lately.
 
Favourite Albums: My all time favorite recordings are Gorecki Symphony number 3 with Dawn Upshaw – soprano, All of my Chopin recordings of his preludes, the CSO recording of Mahler’s 2^nd symphony.  As for guitar music my favorites right now are: Bellas Venomous Fingers, the first three Yngwie cds, Jason Becker - Perpetual Burn, Dream Theater Metropolis part 2, etc.
 
Aims: To master self expression in the guitar genres - as Chopin did on the piano in the 1830s and 1840s. With every new CD I get closer to that goal, but I still have much work to do.