Started playing in 69, but quit. Started to pick it up again in 88/89, quit again, it's hard work practicing for 2-3 hours a day, scales, chords, changes. Met quite a few local musicians in Sacto, CA jazz scene, Steve Homan, Henry Robinette, Jessica Williams? One of my buddies study at Berkley in MA, his roomate was Mike Stern. He introduced me to Steve Homan, this guy is phenomal. He has perfect pitch, he can play anything back right after hearing it. He can listen to an song and play the notes and changes, regardless of voicings. He can also write them down on paper while listening. Phenomal. He's also very humble has turned down offer's. He is on a Dianna Krall album though. He can also play using his thumb like a pluckturm, just like Wes Montgomery. He has scribed note for note every song Wes has ever done. It was so great knowing this guy and watching him play nights on "Jazz on Broadway" in Sacto. The few months I hung around with him was great. Something he was always noted for was his timing, he always had a foot tapping, just like a metronome. I remember when Kenny Burrell came to Sacto, him an Steve jammed in Kenny's hotel room for hours, Kenny wanted to buy his amp, but Steve said no way. He also jammed with Joe Pass in San Fransico. I learned alot of stuff from Steve in the short time I knew him. He gave me the changes to "Estate" a song that I liked alot and one time asked me to come up on stage and play in with the band, I said no way, lol A very nice guy. If you are ever in the Sacto, CA area checkout the Jazz/Fusion scence and see if he's around. If he still lives there, I sure he'll be playing somewhere. He also does alot of solo stuff which is very intimate, he would tell me.