A short professional bio can be found by clicking here.

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So here’s the place where I’m supposed to have some sort of official looking bio or resumé.  I had something like that posted here for a while, but it never really felt right.  So here’s little old me, typing freely, & hopefully feeling slightly less contrived & impersonal.

I’d describe myself as a ‘chameleon‘ type of player.  Growing up, I enjoyed listening to many different kinds of music & that continues to this day.  My earliest memories involve Simon & Garfunkel, Isaac Hayes, The Fifth Dimension, Burl Ives’ Christmas album, Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke”, and thanks to my babysitter – Ray Charles singing Percy Mayfield’s “Hit The Road Jack”.  Around the time I began drum lessons (age 9), it was The Beatles, The Buddy Rich Big Band, Pink Floyd, The Who, & Led Zeppelin.  In high school it was Rush, Yes, early Pat Metheny Group, Frank Zappa, & Mahler’s 2nd symphony.  In college I really got into jazz.  So it was quite a mixed bag of influences during the formative years.  As a result, I’ve never tried to become a specialist…. say, somebody who only plays jazz & wouldn’t be found in any other musical situation.  There are pros & cons to the chameleon approach, as there are to being a specialist.

Today I’m very happy continuing to follow the chameleon’s path.  I enjoy getting inside the music that I’m hired to perform, & I feel blessed that I’m called to play with a variety of different artists & bands.  I don’t want to dabble in a genre.  I enjoy all of the nuances, the intricacies… the finer points of why & how something feels & sounds a certain way.  A brief example… I remember hanging out with Dave Mattacks one night during a set-break, and Marvin Gaye’s Got To Give It Up came on at the bar.  Dave directed my ears to the cowbell part in that tune, and just how fantastic it is.  (Yeah, I know, “More cowbell” anyone?) I’d heard the tune before, but hadn’t really figured out the cowbell part.  Well, go check it out for yourselves…it’s awesome.  That tune grooves like nobody’s business, & the cowbell part [in conjunction with the drum-set part] is a big reason why.  I’m motivated to dig deeply into the music that moves me, & figure out exactly why it’s so great.  Forever a student, I’m by no means an expert of any particular style, but if I’m hired to play, I’m going to invest everything I have.  I’d like to think that I bring a decent set of ears into whatever musical situation I’m called for. I’m a strong believer in prioritizing the song above all else, which hopefully leads to a selfless, big-picture approach.  I’m also a total goof-ball.

I’m very grateful to have had the good fortune of studying with some of the finest drum-set players & teachers along the way: Fred Buda, Alan Dawson, Bob Gullotti, Ian Froman, and Dave Mattacks.                         

Some recordings… (click on the red album name to be directed to the associated website)

Ted Hu ~ Path To War

Jody Blackwell ~ Come & Gone

Ryan Mara ~ After Hours

Valerie Giglio ~ The Italian Project

Golden Stairs ~ Parting Shot

Ken Clark Organ Trio ~ Eternal Funk  & Mutual Respect

The Soul Band ~ Certified

Delcore Brothers ~ Forthcoming

The Timbre Project ~ Ruining Perfectly Good Songs

Ben Schwendener ~ Witness Of The Sun & Road Trips

John Haydon ~  Phantom Heart,  She’s Gone, & This Time

Zola ~ Here With You

Tim Mann ~ Distant Strangers

Ed Rashed ~ Wrong Side Of The Door

The Ragwagon Band ~ self-titled

Lesley Ann Smith ~ Where Love Is Found

Dr. Mache Seibel ~ Healthrock