I've been playing drumset and percussion since I was about 8 years old. Music has provided me with a much-needed creative outlet, especially during my last few years in engineering programs. It has also helped to create many lasting friendships. I had a great time in concert band and jazz band in high school, led by Chuck Wiese, and I continued on in college by playing in concert band, steel drum ensemble, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Jazz Band (directed by John Harbaugh) while taking classes from Scott Deal. I also sat in on several orchestral pieces at UAF. During my sophomore year, I attended Oregon State University, where I played 2nd snare in the OSU Marching Band led by the late George Tuthill- our highlight performance was a half-time show we did at a 49ers/Saints game in San Francisco, CA. These days, I mainly enjoy playing rock, fusion, and jazz on drumset.

Some pics of me at an August 2007 practice:

I sat in on drumset for a few local bands, and played in the pit for two plays back in Fairbanks before leaving for grad school in IL. After that, my drumset sat at my parents' house in Fairbanks from 1999 until they moved to Chicago in January 2007, when they shipped it to me (thanks, Dad!) Around June, 2007, I joined a band here in LA with Dheepa on vocals, Vikas on guitar, and Peter on keyboard (we're still looking for a bass player) we play mostly ballads and jazz standards, but the gang seems to be open to other possibilities. We are tenatively called "Studio B", named after a rehearsal studio we've used. Some pictures of the band follow:

Our first "gig" at Karma Coffe House in West Hollywood, CA on 8/22/07

Dheepa has an amazing voice

Vikas the rockstar

 - Equipment
      - '94 Yamaha Power V Special Drumset (Black) - inexpensive but decent set with surprisingly solid hardware
      - Gretsch Catalina Birch Snare Drum - awesome sound for jazz/fusion/rock
      - Early 70's-era 14" Avedis Zildjian Hi-Hats - I'd been trying to find this sound for years
      - '94 Avedis Zildjian 17" Paper Thin Crash - effortless crash
      - Sabian AAX 20" Metal Ride - great definition and good for a multi-use ride

Drummers stick together, and I consider myself lucky not only to have played with these people, but to call them my friends:

      - Mark Arnett (HS)
      - Tyson Rinio (HS/UAF)
      - Geoff Welch (HS/UAF)
      - Cayenna Ponchione (HS/UAF)
      - Alex White (UAF)
      - Shawn Tuthill (OSU)

Instructors:

- Scott Deal, D.M. (UAF)

- Gordon Rencher (Fairbanks Summer Fine Arts Camp)

   
This is me sitting in on drumset for a band at the state fair circa 1994. Also pictured are two fellow drummers and good friends of mine on different instruments: Cayenna Ponchione on bass, and Mark Arnett on keyboard. Both Cayenna and Mark have chosen music as their careers.

This is the West Valley High School Jazz Band circa 1991. You can see me on drumset in the back, and Anil on sax on the left in front. A friend of ours and a great bassist, Colleen Fox, can be seen on bass.

 

Some of my favorite drummers are:

John Guerin

     This legendary studio drummer has played in just about every genre of music, having worked with Frank Sinatra, Thelonious Monk, Frank Zappa, Madonna, Elvis Presley, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Barbara Streisand, Art Garfunkel, Seals and Crofts, The Byrds, Bonnie Raitt, Patti LaBelle, Quincy Jones, Patrick Williams-- and that just scratches the surface of his vast and diverse discography. Starting out as a bebop jazz drummer in the 60's, Guerin became one of the pioneer drummers of the jazz-rock (later known as fusion) genre in the 70's. He helped define the early fusion drum sound by seamlessly integrating elements of jazz in a rock context with his single-headed concert toms, tasty fills, displaced accents, frequent playing of 3/4 over 4/4 time, and an uncanny sense of groove and feel. It is Guerin's sound that inspired me to start drumming. Guerin co-founded "The LA Express", a popular fusion group of the 70's with saxophonist Tom Scott, bassist Max Bennett, Larry Carlton on guitar, and Joe Sample on piano. You've probably heard his drumming on old TV show themes such as the 70's "Bob Newhart Show", "Hawaii 5-0", and "Laverne & Shirley", in addition to literally hundreds of uncredited TV and movie gigs. A truly down-to-earth guy, after I sucessfully persuaded "Modern Drummer" magazine to do an article on him (which they published in January, 1999) I sent him an email, and received a friendly response with an offer to meet up for a drum lesson if I was ever in the area! Guerin was active on the West-Coast jazz scene, playing with the trios of Roger Kellaway and Mike Melvoin, until his sudden passing in January of 2004, when the world lost one of its most talented musicians. (John's Official Website and AMG AllMusic Guide Discography)

- Buddy Rich - jazz legend

- Walter Orange - of the Commodores

- Jonathan Moffett - played with the Jacksons, Madonna, Elton John, and Diana Ross, among others

- Bernard Purdie - the king of funk- most famous for his drum break on Aretha Franklin's "Rock Steady"

- Gary Chester - major 60-70's studio man and author of the great "New Breed" books

- Tony Thompson - Chic and Diana Ross's drummer

- Johnny Jackson - drummer for the Jackson 5

- Ed Greene - Barry White's drummer during his "Love Unlimited Orchestra" years, along with man studio credits

- Paul Humphrey- played with Quincy Jones in the 70s and Wes Montgomery

- Grady Tate - another prolific session drummer who played with countless musicians, including Quincy Jones, Stan Getz, and