Q. What inspired you to first pick up the piano and what were your first attempts at playing these instruments?

A. I was in the 4th grade and It was February (also known as Black History Month). We were celebrating Scott Joplin that week and he is known as the King of Ragtime Music. I was not really interested in music until this point. A friend of mine asked if he could play the piano for the class and apparently he learned Scott Joplin's entertainer and Maple Leaf Rag in his private lessons, so he played. At that moment I fell in love with the piano and I asked him to get me the music and a recording of it. I listened to it over and over again. My first attempts were very amazing as I was able to play any melody that I heard with ease. My parents picked up on it it and bought me a keyboard and that was the beginning of the long journey that I'm on.

Q. Did you take lessons or are you self-taught?

A. I was technically self taught until I got into high school. My Father showed me the notes and how to play chords. He was a professional trumpet player for the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corp military band, so he had basic knowledge of the piano. He knew the notes and he knew how to play and read chords. So I took the basic knowledge plus the raw gift and would practice eight hours a day all by myself.

Q. Who inspired you to learn the piano?

A. Jonathan Leckner and Scott Joplin

Q. What is your practice regimen like?

A. For many Years I would practice eight hours a day, however I don't have eight free hours to practice every day anymore. Practicing jazz and Classical or even Gospel requires a total different approach to practicing. For me, physical practicing is just as important as listening to the music and both go hand in hand at least when it comes to playing Jazz.

A. I always begin with scales and finger exercises that I had to develop on my own or got from a book. Depending on the mood, I may do Hanon or play Bach inventions, Bud Powell or Art Tatum transcriptions or even Ragtime pieces just to get my dexterity together. I will then do Chordal exercises and patterns. I have developed some useful chordal patterns from the great Jazz pianist and educator Barry Harris. Now that time is crucial, I sometimes just get strait to the point. If I have to learn someone's music I listen to the music over and over to get it in my spirit then I begin to physically play it. As a pianist there are so many roles, whether it be an accompanist, soloist or both at the same time. In jazz, there are so many sub genres and styles that a pianist has to learn and each sub genre requires a specific way of practicing. I would say it depends on the focus. For Church music I learn everything by ear so I practice differently for this environment. When working on Latin music, I am doing more listening to get the feel right. Practicing is a touchy subject and I could talk for days about this.

Q. How would you define your style of playing?

A. I sound like Joel Holmes. Spiritual, grounded, powerful yet sensitive. Traditional yet on the edge of something new. I hope one can hear my influences. I am a mut of the Great piano lineage that I am so blessed to live in.

Q. What can we expect from your debut CD release, "African Skies"?

A. I hope to reach as many people as possible. I believe African Skies is a strong project and so I believe it will do well.

Q. Tell us about the musicians that appear on your African Skies CD?

A. There are a lot of musicians on this CD and all of them are great at their crafts. World renowned Saxaphonist and Flutist Gary Thomas. Young lion who recieved 2nd place in the thelonious Monk Alto Sax competition, Tim Green. My wife Chia Yin Ma Holmes and the Emerald East Quartet. , Jeff Reed and Eric Wheeler on bass. Eric Kennedy on Drums. Melena on Latin percussion and Themba on African Percussion.

Q. Lets talk about your creative process. How do you approach writing an original song?

A. I have different approaches to writing. Generally I just hear the song and I write it out. It's that simple unless I have been commisioned to write for a specific project. I am more melody driven I would say. Some times I write a song based on a motif, but it all starts in my head. The inspiration can come from just about anything inspiring from nature, religion, the unknown, family, etc. etc.

Q. What challenges do you face when switching from different styles of music?

A. I would say the biggest challenge is making sure that each style of music that I am playing is as authentic as possible. I don't want to play a buttered up version of a song. If i want to play Latin montunos, I want it to sound Cuban. If I am playing gospel, I want it to be the real thing (the real substitutions and passing chords). If I'm playing classical music, I dont want to swing my eighths. So the challenge is in my brain (It's mental). I have to think and hear first before playing.

Q. What other types of music or artists do you derive inspiration from?

A. Jazz; the list is too long. To name a few pianists: Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell,Albert Dailey, McCoy Tyner, Keith Jarret.

A. Saxaphones: Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Mark Gross, Tim Green, Gary Thomas.

A. Drummers: Roy Haynes, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Brian Blade, Jeff Tain Watts.

A. Bassists: Paul Chambers, Jimmy Garrison, Ron Carter. The list goes on and on.

A. I like classical music and my three favorite classical Pianists are Horowitz, Glenn Gould and Leon Fleisher.

A. I love old school R&B, Motown, Earth Wind and Fire, I love Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson.

Q. What's the most important bit of advice you were given by another musician?

A. Mark Gross told me this in High School: "Take advantage of the time that you have. Once you get older you will not have it anymore. Your responsibilities increase tremendously and you just find that you dont have as much time in the day as you use to."

Q. What's been your proudest playing moment?

A. I don't have one, I'm just honored to be on stage evertime I play.

Q. What's the biggest disaster you've ever had on stage, and how did you cope with it?

A. Once I remember playing outside for a festival with a singer and my music flew away with the wind in the middle of the song. I had no choice but to make it work. Ouch!

Q. Do you warm up before a concert and if so how?

A. In most cases I warm up my brain. Listening to the most killing records before a show, or total silence and becoming one with myself. I get to touch the piano at a sound check, so thats good. Other than that, It's mental. I also don't bash the piano when my fingers are cold and I have not warmed up.

Q. What's the most important bit of advice you could give to new piano players?

A. Target your focus, target your practing. Always listen to the greats. Who are the greats? Look at the list of pianist I named above (that is just a few). Unless you are a solo Pianist, your role is to be an Accompanist first. Stay on top of your reading and learn as many styles and songs as possible in all 12 keys and play with as many people as you can.

Q. Thanks for your time and consideration for this article and interview. Any last thoughts for our readers?

A. Thank you all for reading and God Bless. please be sure to check out African Skies.