YAF is a Renaissance Man. Born and raised in Oakland, CA, he fuses jazz, R&B, and funk. He started playing upright bass at 12 and quickly began studying with music icons such as Bennie Maupin, Ndugu Chancler, and Patrice Rushen. At 17, he was accepted into USC for Jazz Studies and began a whole new chapter, studying with greats like Darek Oles, Alphonso Johnson, Vincent Mendoza, Frank Tichelli, and Jae Deal. While in L.A., he garnered his bachelor’s and master’s and is now working on a doctorate. Having played with incredible musicians including Jeff Lorber, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, John Legend, Metro Boomin, and Brian Hargrove, he is currently writing and producing a new album and constantly creating content for his social media platforms.