ˈɜːli ɑːpɚtˈuːnᵻɾiz æt ðə dˈɛl ɹˈiːoʊ, ɐ lˈoʊkəl bˈɑːɹ, ænd æɾ ᵻvˈɛnts spˈɑːnsɚd baɪ wˈɛmuː, ɐ lˈoʊkəl ˌɛnpˌiːˈɑːɹ dʒˈæz ɹˈeɪdɪˌoʊ stˈeɪʃən, hˈɛlpt stˈɑːɹt hɪz kɚɹˈɪɹ.
Early opportunities at the Del Rio, a local bar, and at events sponsored by WEMU, a local NPR jazz radio station, helped start his career.