Results for "Drums"

GayeLynn McKinney

GayeLynn McKinney's drumming style is electric; transitioning from jazz to latin to rock to funk, she is a woman with many facets. Her signature style of drumming can be seen through her uncanny improvisation, power, speed and an always-present deliberate control. McKinney is a founding member of the Detroit based, Grammy nominated all female jazz group STRAIGHT AHEAD. McKinney is also a talented saxophonist and singer and a member of a musical dynasty, which helps to explain her powerhouse style!

GayeLynn was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, her father, the legendary Harold McKinney, was a formidable jazz pianist and composer; her mother Gwendolyn McKinney a renowned singer and vocal instructor. She began playing the drums at the age of two and has had ample exposure to the creative music scene since birth.

Aaron Siegel Ensemble

The group’s debut album, Every Morning, A History (Peacock Recordings), features Siegel’s exploration of transition-less composition. “From a compositional standpoint, transitions pose a troubling dilemma,” explains Siegel. “They can be anticipated and are also radically sudden. I wanted to see how eliminating transitional material would affect the listening experience." Siegel runs “the out-musical gamut, comfortable in contemporary freeish jazz or the most abstract experimental music around,” (CityPaper). His most recent recording Memorize the Sky (2007), documents a collaboration with Zach Wallace and Matt Bauder

Bill Higgins Jr.

Bill Higgins is one of the most sought after drummers, instructors, and clinicians in the Detroit area. He has performed all over the United States, as well as international engagements.

After attending Wayne State University's Music School, Higgins quickly became a first call drummer for Detroit's jazz elite, performing with such luminaries as Marcus Belgrave, Harold McKinney, Rodney Whitaker, Gary Schunk, and Detroit blues legend Johnny Bassett. He is a mainstay on the jazz club and festival circuit. Performances at the Detroit International Jazz Festival, Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival, Michigan Taste Fest, and the Michigan Jazz Festival have firmly established him in the Midwest music scene.

Jay Rosen

Born: November 20, 1961

Jay Rosen was born in 1961 in Philadelphia. His family moved to Long Island, N.Y. in 1964. Jay's musical interest took shape from recorded music that was played around the house as well as two aunts and a brother that were all musicians. Musical vibrations affected Jay in deep, profound ways. Jay began music lessons at age eight on guitar and then piano. However, after seeing (and hearing) Tony Williams (with Sonny Rollins) at Carnegie Hall in 1971, Jay switched to the drums exclusively. Upon hearing Charlie Parker and John Coltrane at the age of 13, Jay decided to pursue jazz as a serious course of study

Mark Ferber

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mark Ferber began his musical studies on the piano at the age of five. He was later introduced to drumming and percussion. Mark studied classical percussion with Mitchell Peters and drums with Billy Higgins and and Joe Labarbera. He has maintained a very busy playing schedule in Europe and on both the west and east coast. A partial list of his playing credits include Lee Konitz, David Liebman, Don Byron, Norah Jones, Kenny Werner, Steve Swallow, Fred Hersch, Billy Childs, Bud Shank, Anthony Wilson and Larry Goldings. Mark can be heard on recent recordings with various artists on Soul Note, Fresh Sound/New Talent, Sunnyside, Omnitone and Steeplechase Records

Francisco Mela

Francisco Mela is a favorite amongst jazz's elite instrumentalists, among them, Joe Lovano, John Scofield, JoAnne Brackeen, Kenny Barron, Gary Bartz, Bobby Watson and McCoy Tyner, all of whom cite his charisma, sophistication, and life-affirming spirit as an extension of his incredible talents as a composer and drummer. Francisco Mela was born in 1968 in Bayamo, Cuba. He moved to Boston in 2000 to pursue a degree at the acclaimed Berklee College of Music and, quickly thereafter, the faculty recognized that Mela had much to offer students and promptly hired him to teach at the school. Mela rapidly made a name for himself on the Boston scene, becoming the house drummer at the legendary Wally’s Café Jazz Club

Pete Siers

Pete Siers was born in Saginaw, Michigan, in 1961.He began studying piano at age 6.After hearing the Army Big Band at an early age, Pete moved his focus from piano to drums and percussion.

Pete earned a degree in Music Education from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he studied under the direction of Dr. Bruce Early and Rupert Kettle. As a member of the Aquinas College Jazz Ensemble, Pete was honored with several awards for outstanding soloist and outstanding rhythm section player.

In 1984, Siers joined the John Shea Trio; a piano trio with a legacy of steady work and great players. In 1988, Pete moved to Ann Arbor to work with acclaimed pianist Eddie Russ. Pete's affiliation with Russ paved the way to performances and recordings with many of the great Detroit area jazz musicians. During this period, Pete developed his style by studying privately with Adam Nussbaum, Jeff Hamilton, Tom Rainey and Kenny Werner.

Daniel Freedman

 The musical vision of drummer, percussionist and composer Daniel Freedman extends well beyond the reach of his drum kit. A master rhythmic catalyst, he brings a boundless imagination to his gift for sonic alchemy, conjuring sparks from unexpected combinations of collaborators, influences and cultures. 

Freedman’s innate ability to discover the pulse-pounding groove at the heart of any musical situation has informed his eclectic fascinations, which range from swinging jazz to deep-rooted blues, along with wide-ranging traditions from Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and beyond. 

Sean Dobbins

Sean Dobbins got his start as a sought-after Detroit area jazz sideman at a young age, when he would regularly play with Blue Note artist Louis Smith.

Though still young by jazz standards, Dobbins has amassed an impressive list of playing companions. He has performed/toured/recorded with Johnny Basset, Benny Golson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Frank Morgan, Joey DeFrancesco, George Cables, James "Blood" Ulmer, Paul Finkbeiner, Larry Willis, Rodney Whitaker, Johnny O'Neal, Paul Keller, Tad Weed, Kurt Krahnke, Kelly Broadway, David "Fathead" Newman, Donald Walden, Ramona Collins, Michael Gabriel, and Firefly Jazz Club owner Susan Chastain.

Nate Smith

Born: December 14, 1974

For nearly two decades, Nate Smith has been a key piece in reinvigorating the international music scene with his visceral, instinctive, and deep-rooted style of drumming. He holds a diverse and ample résumé — which includes work with esteemed jazz leading lights such as Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Chris Potter, José James, John Patitucci, Ravi Coltrane, and Somi among many others. His 2x GRAMMY-nominated debut album, KINFOLK: Postcards from Everywhere, sees Smith fusing his original modern jazz compositions with R&B, pop, and hip-hop. He’s also ventured into the pop/rock world with recent collaborations with Vulfpeck spinoff band The Fearless Flyers, Brittany Howard (of Alabama Shakes) and performances with songwriters Emily King and Van Hunt. In recent years, through a series of viral videos, he has emerged as one of the most influential and popular drummers of his generation. His videos have been viewed millions of times and have inspired countless musicians and fans. In September of 2018, he released his first ever solo drumset album Pocket Change.