Tuning in to Temple. Chris’ family relocated to the Poconos for his high school years, where he excelled musically. He was attracted to Temple because of its location in a nearby East Coast jazz hot spot and the stellar reputations of faculty such as Boyer Director of Jazz Studies and Laura H. Carnell Professor Terell Stafford and assistant professor and saxophonist Tim Warfield Jr., who both have extensive experience as professional jazz players.
Chris loved his time on North Broad, crediting Boyer faculty for fostering a creative and supportive culture at the school, where students left their egos at the door and established lasting friendships. Professors also regularly stayed long after hours to talk jazz, brought in world-renowned musicians to perform and run workshops, and gave students 24-hour access to Boyer facilities to hone their craft whenever it worked for their schedule.
The big break. After graduation, Chris enrolled in professional education programs at the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles and then The Juilliard School in New York City. While playing a gig at the Chelsea Factory in Manhattan, Chris’ sax performance caught the attention of Marsalis, director of the Juilliard jazz program and world-renowned trumpeter. “Who are you?” Chris recalls Marsalis asking him before inviting him to sub with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Photography by Ryan S. Brandenberg
