CURRENT MISSION

Many things, mostly related to music, since I'm a musician.

ABOUT ME

I would say that I'm a pretty nice guy, fairly serious about my work and life but also very good at savoring the pleasures of this world (food, wine, ice cream, beauty of all sorts - especially architecture and natural landscapes, etc.). I like reading novels, the New Yorker; I'm good at relating to people of different backgrounds and ages. Originally from a suburb of Chicago, then lived in the greatest city on Earth, New York (!!), and now in Paris.

PHILOSOPHY

I believe in rigorous, scientific thinking and experimenting when trying to find out the truth of something (generally impossible to do); and the opposite: intuitive, feeling-based living and music-making. I also believe that most problems between people could be avoided or solved if people really tried to listen and understand the other, which I think I'm good at doing.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Overnight stays in Swansea, Wales, Kayenta, Arizona, Hannover, Germany, Santa Barbara, California, and I think that’s it. And I've hosted several people.

Interests

Music (jazz and classical mostly, but I love some others things that I don't know well), architecture, food,

• arts
• architecture
• beauty
• education
• dining
• wine
• reading
• music
• jazz
• teaching
• last minute travel

Music, Movies, and Books

Chopin, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Puccini, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Joni Mitchell, Saul Bellow, Tolstoy, Jonathan Safran Foer, Santiago Calatrava, Spike Lee, etc. etc........

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A rainbow-clear-cloudy-sunset sky - all at the same time - in Aspen, Colorado.

Teach, Learn, Share

I've had the privilege of meeting quite a wide variety of people, especially in France where I now live. And I know quite well two cultures - French and American. I think that I can disabuse people of stereotypes, and also perhaps try to open people's viewpoints on certain things, change certain assumptions......

Also, I'm a professional musician and can talk for a long time (...) about music, art, interpretation, musical philosophy and education.....

What I Can Share with Hosts

Enthusiasm for seeing new places and meeting people!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, United States