Home » Jazz Musicians » chriss massey
chriss massey
Chriss Massey drummer originally from Buffalo,New York, USA
A lyrical stylist in jazz and improvised music who originally studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass with drummer Joe Hunt.
His colorful and creative approach can be heard on recordings with guitarist Bill Frisell, with guitarist/loop pioneer David Torn, multiple collaborations with bassist Steve Swallow and poet Robert Creeley, guitarist Steve Recker, Finnish guitarist Raoul Bjorkenheim, singer/songwriter Jimmy LaFave, guitarist David Grissom, and many years collaboration with blues guitarist Chris Duarte and others.
Influences: Jack DeJohnette, Bob Moses, Jon Christensen, Roy Haynes, Billy Higgins.
Currently teaching jazz studies, workshops and advanced rhythmic at WIAM Institute for Contemporary Music, Switzerland.
Awards
Award for Outstanding Performance by Berklee College of Music. 1977 Big band Festival.
Gear
Paiste Cymbals, Yamaha Oak Custom drums.
Tags
Chriss Massey's: "Forever Sharp & Vivid" is a fantastically interesting album full of genuinely fresh ideas and great musical discoveries. A unique, unusual, yet, very attractive musical entity- Progressor Magazine.
Chriss Massey and David CasT, probe and jab like prize-fighters, bob and weave behind David Torn's multiple layers conjuring up ghosts of early Tony Williams / Bobby Hutcherson experiments or Terje Rypdals "Descendre" era explorations. - Loopers Delight.
Forever, sharp and vivid is very spirited, very intense, and highly recommended
Primary Instrument
Drums
Credentials/Background
Chriss Massey has been teaching at the WIAM Institute for Contemporary Music in Winterthur, Switzerland since 2009.
He is an acedemic of Jazz History and leads workshop ensembles and advanced rhythmic training.
His teaching incorporates jazz, rock and pop styles, technique studies, sight reading, advanced polyrhthmic study and History of Jazz.
Jack DeJohnette
drums
Roy Haynes
drums
Ronald Shannon Jackson
drums
Elvin Jones
drums
