Chris Worden

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Joey van Leeuwen: Stray

by Acacia Grace
October 30, 2026

Brooklyn-based drummer, composer, and global percussionist Joey van Leeuwen is a compelling voice in contemporary jazz, recognized for bridging American jazz with deep world rhythm traditions. A versatile multi-instrumentalist, he commands a unique rhythmic toolkit that includes the drums, ghatam (clay pot), and mridangam, alongside mastery of konakkol (Carnatic vocal percussion). By blending West African polyrhythms and South Indian classical frameworks into modern, improvisational jazz, van Leeuwen operates as a true cultural cartographer, a quality that defines the vivid sonic landscapes ...