I was beginning to miss the creative expression of playing music, and began to doodle on my guitar when not working in the office. Eventually I was practicing more seriously for hours at a time, writing incredibly complex solo arrangements. They were brilliant, but then I noticed problems with my wrist. Perhaps what happened to me then is similar to what happens to someone who doesn’t warm up before exercising. I was going too fast for my own good. I had carpel tunnel syndrome, a repetitive motion disease affecting the wrist. Twice I had to completely stop playing for two to three months, and for a year and a half I resisted an operation and fought the disease with occupational therapy. What little bit of playing I could manage, I did without the aid of a pick. I liked the sound and feel of playing with only my thumb. I vowed that if I were going to play at all, I would learn to play melodies with feeling and emotion. But it took years to gain fluidity of technique with the thumb, not to mention the confidence and physical strength to play again. That was to happen later, in Asia.

We moved to my wife’s hometown of Hong Kong in 1992 in order for her to start a new job and be with her family again. It was there that I resumed my professional music career in earnest. I had by this time controlled my carpal tunnel by practicing Tai Chi, adequately warming-up and exercising. I began working solo, and as a sideman in trios and quartets for private parties. I jammed with the marvelous Filipino musicians whenever I could. My classical guitar training then came in very handy as I could earn good money doing that. I also played in a couple Broadway shows (including West Side Story), and did at least one concert with the Hong Kong Philharmonic. I became a bandleader and booking agent again in Hong Kong, playing and providing other entertainment for private clubs, restaurants and corporations. I recorded my first CD, "Everything I Love", and started an annual fortnight of jazz, and weekly jazz every Sunday night which continues to this day at the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong.

We moved to Singapore from Hong Kong in Aug. '94, once again for my wife’s job. I incorporated a small entertainment co. and by April '95, was busy on the local music scene as a performing artist, bandleader, and entertainment organizer. My first steady gig was at the Pan Pacific Hotel with the famous Redd Holt. But by the end of that 3 month engagement (June '95), my wife of 13-14 years had left me, and we were divorced shortly thereafter. This sudden traumatic event triggered a year or so of ‘soul searching’ when I struggled to find myself again. I have always been interested in spiritual matters, self-development, psychology, philosophy, the relation between mind-body, and spirit-physical. But now my interest was re-kindled anew as I read loads of good books on these subjects, trying to find some answers. Eventually I curtailed drinking and smoking, began exercising more, and changed my diet by practicing food combining. I began meditating and re-learning to enjoy time with myself. And, I delved into my own past, my parents, childhood and upbringing, to discover how all that related to my adult problems. It was a time of healing, a re-birth of sorts.


I was very tempted after my separation to return to New York in the fall of 1995, when I secured my current job at Raffles. It was that opportunity to play jazz every night which prompted me to stay on in Singapore. My booking and promoting began taking off again as I was the agent to bring to Singapore the Jean Du Shon trio from New York featuring bassist Victor Gaskin. By the end of 1995 I led a steady trio at Raffles Hotel, and in Nov-Dec '96 I released my 2nd CD called "Sudden Impact". It was produced in Singapore and features 4 of my own original compositions, and 5 latin-jazz tracks.

On Aug. 3 '97, I led a six piece band comprised of one Eurasian, one Filipino, one Malay, one Indian, one Black American, and myself (Greek American), in an outdoor jazz concert in the beautiful Botanic Garden. My 3rd CD, "Live at Raffles", was recorded just days later. Half of that CD is a vocal trio featuring the singing of my bassist Billy Martinez, (alias Frank "Sumatra"), but the other half is the union of my regular jazz group with the all-local percussion group called Tribal Tide (in total 7 pieces: four percussionists, one sax, bass & guitar). This new band format I have named ‘World Beat’. Much of the outdoor concert as well as the live recording mentioned above was video-taped on beta to be included as part of a documentary film release and music video. The music video part has the 7 piece band, ‘World Beat’ playing an original composition of mine called "Samba Sigh". The documentary portion is about my life as an American artist in Asia, describing the positive and negative aspects of being an artist here, why one would choose the profession, the challenge of earning a living from it, the multi-cultural aspects and in general, the state of the art scene in Asia.


The experience of working with so many drummers of such varied ethnic background has inspired me to write music for World Beat, featuring the various percussion instruments and styles of Africa, Cuba, Brazil, India, and Asia, fused with American Jazz. My goal for mid to late '98, is to compose an entire CD (the 4th) of all original music expressing in my own way the varied cultural influences of Asia/Singapore, and the personal spiritual development I have achieved during my 6 years in Asia.


I can honestly say that my most valuable training as a player, (and as a person), was achieved during my last 6 years in Asia. It is where I have worked the most as a performer (learning on the bandstand), where my recording career began, and where I learned the most about myself.

In 2000 I released "Integration", my first cd containing all original material, and in 2001, "Integration II", its partner. These I consider to be the proud culmination and 'integration' of all my musical and personal development after almost 7 years in Singapore and almost 10 years in Asia. The reviews were outstanding. In 2000, I also got married for the second time to the perfect wife, Takako Saito, and had a wonderful celebration (on July 29th, 2000) at the Raffles Bar and Billiard Room where I had been playing for years. Our so called 'spiritual' wedding was performed by her Holiness Amritanandamaya, Holy Mother of Heavenly Bliss, early morning April 4th, 2000, in an Indian temple. After the formal wedding by the Singapore government on Aug. 1st, 2000, we took a wonderful honeymoon in New Caledonia and Australia, scuba diving the Coral Sea and Ribbon Reefs there. It was during this holiday that much of the material for Integration II was composed.

Upon our return to Singapore my 10 piece band headlined for the American Associations' Jazz at Night in the park, and it was a very happy and successful time. One of my more notable 'corporate' achievements was to organize all the entertainment for Peter Knipps World Gourmet Food Summit two years in a row, a very prestigious event.

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