Life is pretty good right now for Chris Sas.
The musician is back in his hometown of Chilliwack temporarily from L.A., with gigs in Harrison Hot Springs and Vancouver this weekend.
The guitarist, and singer-songwriter has been performing and recording like mad. He's about to get married in L.A., on the heels of his recent graduation from a guitar performance program in Hollywood, California.
"Things are very busy but life is good," he tells The Progress over the phone.
As a kid he was immersed in the world of music.
"I was blessed to grow up around music. My father, Rudy Sas, is a guitar player and singer.
"I witnessed many band rehearsals and dances. Around the age of 14, I started getting interested in playing and he showed me some chords and licks," Sas remembers.
He has solid roots in the 'Wack.
"I grew up in Chilliwack and graduated from Chilliwack Senior Secondary, where I especially enjoyed the guitar class taught by Gary Raddysh," he says.
He's been away from home while studying the past two years in Hollywood at The Musicians Institute of Technology, where he graduated with honours from the guitar performance diploma program.
"I was very blessed to study under some amazing guitar teachers."
While he was there, he also laid down the groove for an L.A.-based R&B band Ashley Nicole and N'tyme.
Jamming with Darryl Jones, bass player for the Rolling Stones and formerly Miles Davis, as well as with Sheldon Reynolds, former guitarist for Earth Wind and Fire, were some of the highlights he experienced at the Musicians' Institute.
He's been recording tracks for a new album with another group he plays with, Shirika Fellowship.
Aside from that he's focused on sharing his original music, playing guitar with his friends, and local musicians Jamie Reid on saxophone and Colin Watchorn on bass.
He describes his style as funk rock, but says he enjoys almost all forms of music.
"Our group also consists of Vancouver musicians Jack Taffaro on keyboards and Adam Parent on drums."
To get his original tunes out there, he's had to "hound" people, he says. He enjoys playing positive, funky music that gets people up and out of their chairs.
"I play a lot of open mic jam nights," Sas says. "People dance and enjoy themselves."
His album, Feels Just Right, was recorded in Chilliwack, before he headed down south to school, and can be sampled on his website at http://chrissas.com/.
"I would love people to come down and check out my music."
Chris Sas and the Sasafras Band are live art Falconetti's East Side Grill on Commercial Drive in Vancouver on April 18 at 8 p.m. and then at the Layback Lounge on Esplanade in HHS on Friday, April 19 at 10 p.m. http://www.facebook.com/LaybackLounge.