In the late 1970s, he attended the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford in Connecticut, studying with saxophonist Jackie McLean.

He played frequently in the Hartford and Amherst, Massachusetts areas until moving in 1980 to Brooklyn, New York with fellow musicians Dave Phillips and George Kormendi.

He studied at Rutgers University with saxophonist Paul Jeffrey, pianist Kenny Barron, and guitarist Ted Dunbar.

In the late 1980s, he formed quartets, quintets, and a band and album devoted to Brazilian music, Spirits Rebellious (Alacra).

He founded Machine Gun with guitarist Robert Musso and a trio with bassist Mario Pavone and drummers Steve Johns and later Michael Sarin.