Creations Artists

Jim Keltner

Jim Keltner is best known for his session work on solo recordings by three of The Beatles, working often with George Harrison, John Lennon (including Lennon solo albums, as well as albums released both by the Plastic Ono Band and Yoko Ono), and Ringo Starr.

He and Starr were the drummers on the Concert for Bangladesh, rock music’s first charity benefit, initiated by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, in August 1971 at Madison Square Garden in New York; he also performed at the Garden in 1972 for John Lennon’s “One To One” benefit for the Willowbrook State School.

Jim Keltner started out in jazz, although his first session was recording “She’s Just My Style” for the pop group Gary Lewis and the Playboys.

In addition to his work with three of the Beatles, Keltner, as a free-lance drummer, has also worked with Roy Orbison, Harry Nilsson, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Joe Cocker, Leonard Cohen, Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Chrissie Hynde, Joe Walsh, Timothy Schmidt, Don Felder, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Brian Wilson, The Ramones, Bill Frisell, Neil Young, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Steve Jones, Crowded House, Fiona Apple, Elvis Costello, The Bee Gees, Jackson Browne, The Manhattan Transfer, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, Los Lobos, Pink Floyd, Warren Zevon, Rufus Wainwright, Tom Petty, Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, Diana Krall, Michael Bluble, John Mayer, Jim Jones among many others.

He is featured on Carly Simon’s 1971 album, Anticipation. In 1973, Keltner was the session drummer on Bob Dylan’s Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, which includes the hit “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”. Keltner says that session “was a monumental session for me because it was such a touching song, it was the first time I actually cried when I was playing”.

In the late 1980s, Keltner toured with Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band. He also played drums on both albums released by the 1980s supergroup, the Traveling Wilburys, playing under the pseudonym Buster Sidebury.

His drumming style typically melds deceptively simple drum patterns and a casual, loose feel with extraordinary precision. Demonstrations of his style and range can be found from “Jealous Guy” on John Lennon’s Imagine, the hit single “Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright, “Josie” on Aja by Steely Dan, “Watching the River Flow” by Bob Dylan and The Thorns’ debut, in which he sensitively accompanies Matthew Sweet, Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins.

In 1987, Keltner, along with guitarist Ry Cooder, and bassist Nick Lowe played on John Hiatt’s Bring the Family. Four years later, the four musicians reunited as the band Little Village, recording an eponymously-named album.
Jim has produced 2 records for Jerry Lee Lewis, Me No Man and Rock’n Roll. His lastest production for Connor Oberst will released in early 2017

Kevan McKenzie

Kevan has recorded with many great artists including;

The Wilkinsons, Dan Hill, Michelle Wright, Marc Jordan, Moe Koffman, David Clayton-Thomas, Sheree Jeacocke, Dal Bello, Rob McConnell, Buffy Saint Marie, Doctor John, Haygood Hardy, Robert Palmer, Minglewood, Spencer Davis, Manteca, Gene Simmons (Kiss), Lori Yates, Pat Labarbera, Ron Hynes, Rik Emmett (Triumph), Hugh March, Stan Meissner, Eugene Amaro, Ron Allen, Frank Mills, Phil Nimmons, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Wayne Rostad, Doug Cammeron, Bill King, Ian Thomas, Joan Kennedy, Tim Thorney, Don Neilson, Joel Feeney, Carol Pope, Lisa Minnelli, Martine St Clair, Jack Lenz, Tommy Hunter, The Rovers, Canada Pops Orchestra, Bob Halligan, Demo Cates, Breit Bros, James Dale, Kim Mitchell, Duane Steele, Paul Gross, Michael Brecker, Holly Cole, Rita MacNeil, Sharon, Lois & Bram, Amy Sky, Bruce Guthrow, Michael O’Martian, Billy Ray Cyrus, Murray McGlaughlan, Paul Gross/David Keely Project, King Brand Valium …….
And many more

Billy Ward

Grammy awarded drummer, music educator, recording engineer and producer. 

Recorded and / or toured with; B. B. King (Grammy award winner!) / Robbie Robertson / Bill Champlin / Carly Simon / Richard Marx/ The Knack / Yoko Ono / Joan Osborne / Bill Evans Supergroup / Jim Beard / Hubert Laws / Joe Sample / Leni Stern / Teri Nunn (Berlin) / Rick Springfield / The Time Jumpers / Chris Whitley / George Russell / Cy Curnin (The Fixx) / Amy Sky / Marc Jordan / King Of Hearts /Ace Frehley (Comet) / Glen Cambell / Art Garfunkel / David Crosby / Jimmy Webb / The Sons of Champlin.                                                                                        Feature Film soundtracks that Billy played drums on and still enjoys hearing (out of more than 50 films) are That Thing You Do!, where Billy taught actor Tom Everett Scott to play the drums and was on the set consultant, Under Siege and Sister Act.

Billy has been engineering in his private studio, DrumPike, since 1990.

Billy has 2 DVD ‘s,  Big Time (Modern Drummers Readers Poll Award winner) and Voices In My Head have won raves from critics while drummers are grateful for his offering of real world skills, that being a professional drummer requires, as well as an exciting new approach to practicing and remaining creative.                                                                                                                                                 Ward has taught drums and music concepts at Universities, Drum Festivals and Camps in USA, Canada, Australia, Nova Scotia, Japan, Holland, Germany and England.  Additionally, thanks to Modern Drummer Magazine, Billy contributed articles almost monthly for several years that revived the still current Concepts format in the magazine originated by Roy Burns.                                                          

“Inside Out – The Mental Aspects of Drumming”, Billy Ward’s book, has further demonstrated his ability to clearly explain the difficult challenges that working musicians face.  An enthusiastic, high-energy clinician, Ward has performed Clinics and Master Classes literally all over the world in Universities, Drum Festivals and Camps. 

• Website: Link

Graham Lear

GRAHAM LEAR has garnered critical acclaim for his drumming worldwide. His roots in R&B, Rock and Jazz were developed and honed through years of performing with musical giants such as Santana and Gino Vannelli, as well as a host of other equally talented musicians. Canadian rock icon Neil Peart has acknowledged Lear as an influence, as has Mark Kelso, former Head of Percussion Studies at Humber College, Toronto. Some highlights of a touring schedule that has taken him to almost every country in the world, Graham performed at the historic original Live Aid Concert (1985), Apple’s US Festival in California (1982), Bill Graham’s International Peace Walk in Moscow (1987) in addition to three appearances at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, London, England. He is the 2010 recipient of the FCLMA Lifetime Achievement Award, and was inducted into the FCLMA Hall of Fame in 2018. Originally from Plymouth, England, Graham began drumming at age eight, auditioning for the Police Boys Concert Band of London, Canada. An early student of Police Band alumnus Don Johnson and Robert Comber, he also cites Canadian jazz great Terry Clarke and Mandela drummer Penti Glan as musical influences. Additional tutoring with Ralph Humphrey, Bernard Purdie, Duduka DaFonseca, and Grove School of Music, culminated in the development of a unique style that is validated by the thousands of views of his drum solos on YouTube. In 1974 Graham moved to Los Angeles with Canadian singer Gino Vannelli during which time the Grammy nominated Powerful People and Storm At Sunup were recorded, produced by A&M records icon Herb Alpert. Significantly, drumming legend Buddy Rich covered two tracks from those sessions, Storm At Sunup and Love Me Now, for his Speak No Evil album. The critically acclaimed Vannelli recording, Gist Of the Gemini followed, recorded by Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick at Air Studios UK. Carlos Santana, hearing Vannelli’s recordings on his European tour bus, tasked manager Bill Graham with finding Lear to audition for his band. The rock impresario personally located Graham in Toronto rehearsing with guitarist Domenic Troiano, and within the month, Lear was performing before a sold out Wembley stadium with Santana. Recordings from the ensuing European tour resulted in the double platinum album Moonflower for the group. 1987 found him with rock group REO Speedwagon for their U.S. and South American tours, and with the Canadian progressive group Saga for their European tours. Relocated to Portland OR in 1990 found Graham reunited with Gino Vannelli for his Yonder Tree CD on the Verve label, acclaimed by Gino as a personal favourite. The jazz project Clovis ensued with saxophonist Tom Bergeron of Western Oregon U. He also worked with Native American Music Award winner Gary Small, and multiple live dates with Joe Cocker percussionist Bobby Torres and saxophonist Patrick Lamb. He also performed with jazz/fusion ensemble Sacbe’ at the Berklee College Latin Cultural Festival Boston. Graham has been featured in two articles for Modern Drummer, Drums and Perc., Drums Etc. and Sticks magazine and performed clinics at Musicians Institute of Los Angeles, Frankfurt, Toronto, St. Louis and Tampa. His personal passion for music has always been R&B and jazz, having performed at the inaugural Niagara on the Lake Jazz Festival in 2014, with three more in recent years. He endorses DW drums, Zildjian cymbals, Headhunters sticks-creations, Remo heads, LP percussion.

GRAHAM LEAR Artists toured /recorded with include Gino Vannelli; Santana, Carlos Santana; REO Speedwagon; Saga; Paul Anka; Tom Grant; Gary Richrath; Sacbe’; Randy Porter; Gary Small; Suzi Stern; Clovis; Bidondo Bros.; Truck; Ian Tyson; George Olliver; Natural Gas; Riverson; Syberia; Paris Black; Johnny Martin; Joey Ortega; Les Percussion Des Montreal. Producers Dave Devore, Keith Olsen, Dave Tyson; David Foster; Henry Mancini; Dennis Lambert; Brian Potter, Steve Sexton, Canadian icon Domenic Troiano. Selected recordings include, Gist of the Gemini; Powerful People; Storm at Sunup; Yonder Tree with GinoVannelli. Moonflower; Inner Secrets; Marathon; Zebop; Shango; Viva with Santana. Silver Dreams Golden Reality; Swing of Delight; Havana Moon; Blues for Salvador with Carlos Santana. Second Decade: REO Speedwagon; Natural Gas: Natural Gas; Instinct: TomGrant; Only The Strong Survive: Gary Richrath; Secret Seduction: Paris Black; Syberia: Syberia; Forest 4 The Trees: Randy Porter; Humanly Possible: Johnny Martin; Clovis: Clovis. Major concerts include the historic first Live Aid; US Festival; Moscow Walk for Peace and Cal Jam 2 ( Santana ). Cincinnati, Washington, Atlanta, Nashville, Naples FL symphony orchestras ( Anka ). Also with Mexican jazz ensemble Sacbe for the Latin Cultural Festival at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Video includes Saturday Night Live; Soul Train; P.B.S. Sound Stage; Kennedy Center Concert of the Americas, Viva Santana (C.B.S. Video); REO Speedwagon ( Vina Del Mar Festival Chile & Live in Hawaii), Paul Anka- Night of a Lifetime P.B.S.and Live at Montreal Jazz Festival ’05 plus multiple YouTube links. The sampling and loop CD, Graham Lear’s Latin Rock Drumscapes featuring Orestes Vilato on perc., released by Northstar prod., garnered a 4.5 (out of five) rating in Electronic Musician. “Head, Hands and Feet” the drum solo from Santana’s Moonflower CD and the track “Where Am I Going?” from Gino Vannelli’s Storm At Sunup CD were transcribed for Modern Drummer issues. Other print articles include two cover features in the German publications Drums and Percussion (Jan/84) and Sticks (April/90). Graham was first interviewed for Modern Drummer magazine in July /82, and in the Feb.99 issue. Graham endorses DW drums, Zildjian cymbals, Headhunters Sticks & Creations, Remo heads, LP percussion and Fatcat snare wire

• Website: Link

Aaron Spink

Born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area.

After studying Jazz Performance for Drums and Percussion at Humber College, Aaron embarked on a performance career that has seen him play with the likes of Steve Gadd, Randy Brecker (The Brecker Brothers), Danilo Perez (Wayne Shorter), Sarah Brightman, Exes For Eyes, Coldjack, Eddie and Quincy Bullen, Nick “Brownman” Ali, Alessia Cohle, Steve Rivers, Urvah Khan, Saidah Baba Talibah (SATE), Björn “Speed” Strid (Soilwork), Lindsay Schoolcraft (Cradle of Filth), Doron Zor, The Vegas North Orchestra, Jane Lu, Dani Strong, Parkside Drive and The Rough Copies as well as countless theatre productions and studio sessions.

In addition to being a performer, Aaron is also a clinician, educator and adjudicator. For the past 9 years Aaron has been the head of the Yamaha Drum Course at the Yamaha Music School in North York, Ontario. This position has been a great opportunity for Aaron to not only share his wealth of knowledge but to exercise his ability to adapt to the drum curriculum put in place by the Yamaha Music Corporation. In recent years, Aaron has seen his position at the school grow from solely teaching private lessons and master classes to becoming a certified National Yamaha Drum Instructor Trainer and Yamaha Drum Exam Adjudicator for all of Canada.

Aaron’s website is www.aaronspink.com

Follow Aaron on Instagram at www.instagram.com/spinko84

Adam Bowman

Canadian drummer / percussionist Adam Bowman has been a mainstay in both the Canadian and international music scene for over a decade. Adam has toured and recorded with such well known and respected artists as Kellylee Evans, Ember Swift, Dawn Langstroth, Joni NehRita, Melissa Ferrrick, Carlos Morgan, Chris Rouse, Eccodek and VINX, to name a few. As a touring artist, Adam has traveled across Canada, The U.S., New Caledonia, The U.K. and Australia. As a session musician, he has played on dozens of recordings. Adam is also an accompanist for Canada’s premier Contemporary Dance organization, “Dancetheatre David Earle”. From Funk to Jazz, Hip Hop to Folk music, Adam’s big beats and deep feel are unmistakeable, and he has become the drummer of choice for songwriters, producers and music directors alike. For more on Adam, please visit: www.adambowman.com

• Tel: 519 577 3865
• Website: Link

Avi Sills

Avi is a dynamic and inspiring drummer/producer. Avi has toured the world as the drummer for numerous artists, and studied at the prestigious Berklee College Of Music.

Credits:
Red Elvises, Bob Dylan, Robert Cray, and Adam Sandler

Film/TV: Six String Samurai, Oprah Winfrey, Melrose Place, Penn & Teller, and many more.

Avi works regularly as a composer and partner in music production house Fuel Music and Sound.

NAKED RHYTHM was born in Los Angeles in 2003 as a collaborative effort between Avi Sills and Alex Spurkel with a vision of breaking down borders and bringing the world together with cross-cultural music and dance. By seamlessly fusing exotic world music and percussion with contemporary electronic dance grooves, Naked Rhythm captivates Western audiences with the universal language of rhythm and sounds of the Middle-East, India, Africa, and South America. The result is an innovative and organic form of World electronica that moves the heart as well as the hips. Their debut album Frequency was released world-wide in July 2006 by Caravan Records, and their tracks have already been featured more than 10 compilations including Tantra Lounge vol 3 & 4 and the upcoming Buddha Bar vol 9. Their captivating live shows featuring numerous world musicians, dancers, and visuals have entertained such stars as Sting, Robert Downey Jr., Diana Ross, and The Black Eyed Peas.

• Website: Link

Adam Nussbaum

Adam Nussbaum is considered one of the finest drummers working today. He’s played with a virtual “Who’s Who” in the jazz world. Longtime associates have included: John Abercrombie, Michael & Randy Brecker, Bob Brookmeyer, Eliane Elias, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, Vic Juris, James Moody, John Scofield, Joe Sample, Ohad Talmor, ‘Toots’ Thielemans, Kenny Wheeler & NHØP, as well as freelancing with prominent artists of every generation, being a major asset no matter where he appears.
 
Adam is digging the Nightmares and the Ninja Tips.

Barry Elmes

Barry Elmes has occupied a position of prominence on the Canadian jazz scene since the 1980s and has become internationally-respected over the years since, not only as one of Canada’s most talented drummers, but for parallel accomplishments as a composer, producer, recording artist, and dedicated educator.  

Butch Norton

BUTCH NORTON:
drummer, percussionist, producer, creator, performer
Butch was raised in the San Francisco Bay area and has been performing drums/percussion/voice for over 52 years. Butch studied with renowned San Francisco symphony percussionist, Anthony Cirone and Joe Sinai. His drumset studies were under the guidance of Jim Spelman, Scott Morris, and Mike Curotto. He started making a living, playing in the nightclubs of northern California, at the age of 17. In 1980 he relocated to Southern California to study with master percussionist John Bergamo at California Institute of the Arts. His focus was World Music and percussion. Butch composed and performed with Lorretta Livingston and Dancers for the “Music Center on Tour” educational outreach program and started a long affiliation with Bella Lewitsky. He is a founding member of the ethnic, eclectic, experimental percussion duo, Damaru Percussion. He appeared in the Mike Kelly/Steve Prina/Anita Pace production of Beat of the Traps which premiered in Vienna, Austria at the very first “Wiener Fest Wochen Art Festival”. Butch has performed with Native American Shaman and other musicians in the annual spring healing ritual on Mount Tamalpais in San Francisco, with Anna Halprin. Butch recorded and toured with Mercury recording artists Lowen & Navarro from 1989 to 1992. In 1993 he met a man called “E” and toured with him in support of his second solo album called “Broken Toy Shop” on Polygram records. In 1995 E and Butch formed the band called eels and were the first band signed to the new Dreamworks record label in 1996. Their first single “Novocaine for the Soul” garnered them several video nominations for “Video of the Year” and won “Best New Artist” at the European Brit music awards in 1997. The eels songs can be heard in movies such as “Shrek”, “Shrek 2”, “Welcome to the Whoop Whoop”, “Road Trip”, “American Beauty”, “Scream 2”, and “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”, to name a few.

In 2002, after five albums with the eels, Butch left to tour and record with fellow Dreamworks artist, Rufus Wainwright in support of his album “Poses”. In 2003 and 2004 he toured with Tracy Chapman in support of her album, “Let It Rain”. Butch has worked with producer T-Bone Burnett on projects including “The Big Lebowski”. He has played on tracks for Michael Penn, Tracy Chapman, Rob Dickinson, The McGarrigle Sisters, Fiona Apple, Peter Bradley Adams, Tracy Bonham, and the renowned poet Rich Ferguson, as well as the soundtracks for “Rated X”, “Get Carter”, Rob Zombie’s “The Devil’s Reject’s”, Al Pacino’s “Two For The Money”, “The Bad News Bears”, “The Dukes of Hazzard”, and Warner Bros. epic movie “300”. Butch released his first solo effort on Chisel Sound Records (an independent DJ label/2006) called “BUTCH BEATS: ORIGINAL DRUM BREAKS VOL. I & II”.

2007 saw Butch join the legendary Grammy winning artist, Lucinda Williams, as her permanent drummer.
2016 has already been very busy for Butch. Lucinda’s new album, THE GHOSTS OF HIGHWAY 20, (butch’s 4th album with Lu) was recorded in seven days. no click, all live tracking and no overdubs. The ensemble was Lucinda, Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz, David Sutton, Val McCallum, and Butch. In addition to this new record Lucinda’s backing band, BUICK 6, (butch norton, david sutton, stuart mathis) has released (on lucinda’s HIGHWAY 20 RECORDS) their own instrumental extravaganza called, PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS, and is on tour backing Lu and opening for her.
Come see Butch play and you’ll get to hear and see all the wonderful tools that Dave and HEADHUNTERS make in action.

Chris Perra

Chris was a late bloomer starting drums at the old age of 14 years…. His older brother used to play them when he was younger,.. back then Chris hated the drums…

But growing up in a small unincorporated community in the Slocan Valley in British Columbia, his family was one of the only ones that had a drumset. Two of his friends had a bass and a guitar, and, they asked him if he wanted to play? He said “Sure, why not”….

Since then he’s played non-stop for the past 27 years.

Part of that journey has taken him to acquire a Diploma in Music Performace from Selkirk College in Nelson B.C. It was there that Chris developed his playing styles.

Influences:
Alex Van Halen, Stewart Copeland, Steve Gadd, Gregg Bissonette, Dean Castronovo, Tommy Adlrige, Dave Weckl, Jack Dejonette, Buddy Rich and Vinnie Colaiuta

Diversity:
Over the years he’s been hired for his ability to play any style with the feel and nuance that they deserve, playing/recording all over Canada and the U.S.

Credit:

Suzie McNeil, Gerome Godboo, Jack Dekeyzer, Morgan Davis, Brane, Bruce Domoney, Endosuasion and Kriya.

Currently Chris teaches at Cosmo Music in Richmond Hill, Ontario, the world’s largest Music Store.

He has a busy recording/live schedule playing venues in the Greater Toronto Area with his band Scully and the CrossboneS.

Chris will be releasing an online drum instruction site in 2012.

• Website: Link

Buff Allen

Buff Allen has had over fifty years of professional playing experience, in jazz, pop, theatre, recording studios, concert tours, television and movies. He is the recipient of a 1989 Juno award for best jazz album category, as well as the 1987 Laureate in the CBC-Alcan competition at the Montreal Jazz Festival, and was a Juno nominee for 2003. He’s had the honour of being able to play with a large number of great musicians, both local and international, including Diana Krall, Michael Buble, Daniel Lanois, Lenny Breau, Ed Bickert, Johnny Hartman, Moe Koffman, Rob McConnell, Sam Noto, Eugene Amaro, Hagood Hardy, Kathryn Moses, Peter Appleyard, Phil Nimmons, Hank Jones, Teddy Wilson, Johnny Guenieri, Red Norvo, Joanne Brackeen, Kenny Wheeler, Bob Murphy, Pat Coleman, Hugh Fraser, and many more

• Website: Link

Bob Ruggiero

Bob has over 30 years of professional experience touring/producing/recording as a drummer/vocalist/musical director and producer.
Credits:
Van Morrison: 2004 to present
Sam Butera: 1995-2004
Keely Smiith: 1995-1996
Beau Brummels 1993-1994
He has played with everyone form Natalie Cole , Tom Jones , Al Hirt, Lee Greenwood, Tony Orlando, Jimmy Smith, Roger Daltry, Dean Martin and the Gold Diggers to George Burns.

Recording Credits
Disney Studios: Half time for the Super Bowl
Sony Records: Sound track and motion pictures
Sam Butera: Wildest Bans: On Fire
Van Morrison: Astral Weeks: Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Keep It Simple
RE-Working the Catelogue
Greg Piccolo: Homage CD
Colin James: Little Big Band
TV & Video
Hollywood Bowl: Astral Weeks Live Van Morrison
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno:  Van Morrison
Regis Philbin Show:  Van Morrison
BBC: Van Morrison
BBC: Marty Allen & Steve Rossi
BBC: Jules Holland Show with Van Morrison

Brian Hudson

In more than a decade of performance and recording experience Brian has performed hundreds of shows before tens of thousands of people and is a first-call professional drummer for both live and studio sessions around the southeast. In addition to being a long time member of Capricorn Recording Artist MEMORY DEAN, Brian has performed in many different musical settings that have covered a wide range of styles including roots rock, pop/rock, country, contemporary Christian, traditional jazz, R&B, smooth jazz, Latin, blues, etc.
Brian attended the University of South Florida in Tampa for two years where he studied jazz performance and drumset and performed in the Symphony Orchestra and several jazz combos. He later transferred and graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. He studied with USF Professor David Hardman and Jason Harnell (Maynard Ferguson) and has had private lessons with Dave Weckl, Dom Famularo, Mark Walker (Oregon/Paquito D’Rivera/ Berklee) and Paul Wertico.

• Website: Link

Brian Barlow

Brian Barlow is one of Canada’s most recorded drummer/percussionists having performed on more than 500 albums over a career spanning almost 50 years.

He has recorded and performed in concert with Diana Krall, Herbie Hancock, Bob Seger, Branford Marsalis, Oscar Peterson, Anne Murray, Tony Bennett, Charlie Watts, Ringo Star, Alanis Morrisette, The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and many other top international artists.

For seventeen years Brian was the percussionist for the internationally renowned jazz ensemble, Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass. While he was a member of that group they were nominated for six Grammy Awards, winning that prestigious award in 1995.

In 1999 Brian was named ‘Percussionist of The Year’ at the National Jazz Awards and received nominations in 2006 as ‘Jazz Drummer of The Year’, and 2007 as ‘Arranger of TheYear’. His theatre performances include the Toronto productions of Rent, Blood Brothers, Crazy For You, The Lion King and Spamalot.

Brian is also active as a producer and composer. Two of his extended choral works, ‘There Was Setting, There Was Dawning’ and ‘Reflections & Improvisations on Mass For 4 Voices’, have been performed extensively in Canada and the US. He has also composed music for dance – ‘Trace’ (2005) and ‘Necessary Velocity’(2007).

Jose Rossy

• Website: Link

Blair Sinta

Blair Sinta has been a professional drummer in Los Angeles for 20 years.
He has recorded/toured with Alanis Morissette, Annie Lennox, Idina Menzel,
Chris Cornell, Stevie Nicks, Glen Ballard, Damien Rice, Dave Stewart,
Melissa Etheridge, Better Than Ezra, Josh Groban, Five For Fighting,
Matisyahu, Anastasia, My Brightest Diamond and many others.
Blair records and teaches from his own home studio in Los Angeles.

• Website: Link

Chendy Leon

His first percussion lesson at four years old taught from his father in San Antonio,
Cuba confirmed the acumen and love for all things percussion. By the age 18 he began his professional career performing and recording with many famous Cuban artists such as:
Yagrumas Jazz Band,
Melao Son,
Pancho Amat y su Grupo,
Silvio Rodriguez,
Roberto Javier,
Rojitas and the Metropolis (band leader 94-98)
In 1998 Chendy co-wrote the music for a Cuban documentary, Policlinico Infernal, which was nominated for an Oscar.
In 1999 he migrated to Toronto, Canada where he has collaborated and plays with various
artists:
Havana Express,
Nick Ali and Cruzao,
Eliana Cuevas,
Jane Bunnett,
Luis Mario
Ochoa and Cimarron,
Son Ache,
Roberto Occhipinti,
Ricky Franco & P-Crew Orchestra,
Alexis Baro,
Amanda Martinez,
Cane Fire,
Sultans of String,
Sophie Milman,
Hilario Duran Big Band and Trio,
Alex Cuba,
Parachute Club,
Jesse Cook,
Dominic Mancuso Group,
Rebecca Bennendyk,
Emilie-Claire Barlow,
Oscar D’León,
Paquito D’Rivera
Angelique Kidjo
Experienced in all styles of Cuban music he is one of the most “in demand” percussionist/drummer in Toronto.
Since 2006 he has been teaching world percussion and drums at Humber College, Lakeshore Campus.
Endorsements include
Moperc for percussion instruments.
PRK for Flamenco Cajon
C&C Custom Drums
Headhunters Sticks and Creations

Christo Pellani

Christo is recognized internationally as an accomplished Master drummer/ percussionist, recording artist, producer, event coordinator, and rhythm awareness / drum circle facilitator with extensive performance experience. Christo was featured as one of ten “Unsung Drumming Heroes of Los Angeles” as chosen by BAM magazine. He is also an educator, sound healer, and a certified REMO Health Rhythms drum circle facilitator.

He has been a regularly featured performer at a variety of cultural music festivals, including the World Festival of Sacred Music, Bhakti Fest, Lightening in a Bottle, UDAYA Live and Esalen Yoga Festival. He specializes in using specialized acoustic instruments for healing, as well as tuned gongs and singing bowls which he acquired while performing in China, Bali, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Japan, and Europe.

Christo also has extensive film, TV and international concert and Musical Theater performance credentials with a variety of World, Rock, R&B, and Devotional Singing music artists including Air Supply, Mary Wells, The Shirelles, Fabien Maman, Wade Preston, Leo Nocentelli, Nina Hagen, Breath of Life Tribe, Phoenix Rising Band, Red Musette Ensemble, Stevin McNamara, The BEATLES Yoga, and many others. He played the very first rock concert in Hanoi Vietnam with Air Supply.

Christo has worked with various dance troupes including the esteemed Chicago based LUNA NEGRA Ballet Theater. Christo was co founder and the Music Director for SACRED DANCE LIVE, a world music collective interactive community dance theatre in Santa Monica, and a regular world music performer at DISNEYLAND, and with UDAYA  productions on line Yoga Series Liquid Asana Live, and many others. He also performs regularly at various Sacred Music venues and Temples internationally.

Christo is currently the Creative Director for the POSSIBLE DREAM PLAYERS, a musical theatre troupe of adults with developmental disabilities. He is also a veteran teaching artist for several school districts in the greater LA area with the ROCK THE CLASSROOM, HEARTS GIVING HOPE,  and US DREAM ACADEMY music / literacy after school programs. His unique interactive drumming/percussion curriculum “RHYTHMAGIC” tm, utilizes instructional exercises and games promoting creative expression through rhythm awareness.

• Website: Link

Ernie Porthouse

Ernest Porthouse A 35 year veteran with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Mr Porthouse continues to play with the HPO as well as major orchestras, opera, theatre, jazz and latin groups across Southern Ontario. One of the few musicians who is well respected and comfortable in all genres of music. He is the co-founder of The Canadian Percussion Ensemble, an educational outreach presentation that has played over 550 shows in schools across the GTA/GHA/Niagara/Brant, to more than 100,000 students. Ernest is Professor of percussion studies at Redeemer University in Ancaster Ontario.

Chris Houle

Drummer Chris Houle comes from a long line of musical talents. Exposed to music at a very young age as a McCann Family offspring, it was only natural when Chris started playing drums at the age of 9. He joined the stage/big band in his first year of high school and has never looked back. Chris has performed with many local bands over the years, including Ragged Faith, The Burn, Bad Influence, Blues Chronicle, Private Stock, Blue Groove, and Cougar Chick Tribute Band. Currently Chris performs with the Leslie Rohonczy Band, Jenn Morin Band, Disco Inferno, 8 Track, and Comfortably Numb – Canada’s Pink Floyd Show.

During this time, Chris has also had the opportunity to play on numerous demo and original studio tracks, and his work on drums and percussion has been captured on several sessions with Jenn Morin, Leslie Rohonczy, Ragged Faith, and other artists at SoundCreation Studios in Ottawa. Chris also occasionally sits in on drums and lends vocals with local favorites Chris McCann and Straight Goods, Staggering Punters, and Next in Line, enjoying the opportunity to play many diverse styles of music. Among his musical influences, Chris counts multiple decades of talent, ranging from the 1940’s swing and big band sounds, to today’s power pop and modern rock, blues, classic rock, pop, and yes, even disco! Chris’s exceptional meter and hunger for all things new and challenging keeps his bands sounding fresh, and brings energy to live performances.

Daniel Barnes

Daniel backs a top echelon of jazz artists in Canada including Holy Cole, Molly Johnson,
Micah Barnes, Heather Bambrick, Adi Braun, Colin Hunter, Jane Bunnett, Richard Underhill
and 25 years with (Order of Canada recipient) Joe Sealy. He’s backed visiting Americans
Geoff Keezer, Rick Margitza, Russ Nolan, Dizzy Reese, Don Braden and Ron Westray.
Daniel has earned distinction in World Music circles as well having toured Internationally
for a decade and recorded with Ethiopia’s “Aretha Franklin”, Ms Aster Aweke as well as a
father of Ethiopian Pop Mr. Mohamed Ahmed. His work with The Flying Bulgar Klezmer
Band was nominated for a JUNO Award in 2003 (as was his 2007 CD with Richard
Underhill) and his work with Joe Sealy won “Best Contemporary Jazz CD” in 1996.
Daniel has recorded and/or performed with Maryem Hassan, Theresa Tova and Eliana
Cuevas.
Daniel is a Jazz Recording Artist in his own right. His two CD’s 2003’s “Culmination” and
2007’s “Classic Beauties” are still in regular rotation across the country on The CBC and at
JazzFm. His live band has played The Montreal and Toronto International Jazz Festivals
plus many local festivals and club dates. They have been broadcast in performance from
TVO.
He studied privately with renown drum instructor Jim Blackley and bandleader Claude Ranger.

• Website: Link

Corey MacDonald

Born in Miramichi, New Brunswick, Corey started playing drums at the age of 13 and was influenced by many different styles of music & drummers. After high school he went on to Stoney Creek, Ontario and obtained a diploma in recording engineering at the Recording Arts Program of Canada. following his passion for music this led him to Brandon, Manitoba where he formed a band called SAUNTRY with Nazeem Lakay ex-basses from the Canadian blues rock band Wild T & the Spirit and a few close friends. SAUNTRY lead to a studio project called Beast of Love that gained some airplay on the East Coast as well as Western Canada. He was then asked to join popular Atlantic Canadian band JAKEBREAK which brought him back home and allowed him to perform 9 years with not only great musical talent but a band known for their amazing Audio / Lighting production. During this time JAKEBREAK released a single- On the rebound- which stayed in the east coast countdown charts for months as well ended up on a compilation CD in the USA. Looking to do something different he then formed a Celtic rock band called THE DURTY NELLYS. The Nelly’s had a great following of fans which allowed them to put out a CD entitled Black & Tans which then lead Corey into recording projects with other artist around that same time. Today you will find him playing drums in another Atlantic Canadian Celtic rock band RAGLAN ROAD who is well known for their high energy live shows! They just released a self-debut CD entitled Raglan Road. Corey has been fortunate to share the stage opening for acts such as Matt Minglewood, Matt Anderson, The Trews, The Sheepdogs, The Mahones

Gary Craig

Gary’s list of recording and performance credits include Bruce Cockburn, Anne Murray, Jann Arden, Tom Cochrane, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, Colin Linden, John McDermott, Kathleen Edwards, Gregory Hoskins and Maple Blues Award winner Suzie Vinnick. Independent recording credits include Jimmy Rankin, Jenn Grant, Jadea Kelly, Scarlett Jane, Ariana Gillis, Dala, Justin Rutledge and Paul Reddick to name a few. He is also actively working as a part of the Toronto blues scene w Godboogie featuring Memphis Blues Awards winning harmonica player Jerome Godboo, Eric Schenkman from the Spin Doctors and Shawn Kellerman from the Lucky Peterson Band. In other blues news Gary has been recording recently in Nashville with Juno award winning producer Steve Dawson for many artists including the recently honoured Big Dave McLean as well having played on the 2016 Juno Award winning Harrison Kennedy recording. Earlier this year Gary, along with John Dymond and Colin Linden was awarded the Record and Producers of the Year Award at the 2016 Maple Blues Awards for Colin Linden’s “Rich in Love”. Touring credits over the last year include Blackie & the Rodeo Kings and the stars of the ABC network television series Nashville. Gary is featured on Bruce Cockburn’s new album Bone on Bone and is currently touring Canada and the US with Bruce Cockburn in support of his new record. Endorsements: Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Headhunters Sticks and Creations.

Lynn Coulter

Lynn “Skins” Coulter (drums/vocals), was born in New Orleans, LA, and came to California by way of Jackson, MS, and Memphis, TN.
He has recorded or toured with:
Leon Russell
Paul Butterfield
Dan Peek of ‘America’
Carole King
Helen Reddy
Johnny Rivers
and currently Rita Coolidge.

He has also performed with Mary Wells, the Drifters, the Coasters, Bo Diddley, Little Anthony, the Shirelles, and the Marvellettes.

The energy he brings is an essential component of any concert.

Ilios Steryannis

Ilios Steryannis is a drummer, composer and educator in Toronto, ON.  He leads his own jazz quartet and works extensively as a sideman with a wide array of musicians.  He recently released his debut full length album “Bethany Project”.  It has received rave reviews and extensive airplay world wide.  For more information, please check out www.iliosjazz.ca.  

• Website: Link

Glen ‘Archie’ Gamble

Glen ‘Archie’ Gamble resides in London Ont. Canada. Having played drums for many years made the transition to a professional musician transparent. 20 years as a pro has fined tuned Archie sensibilities and creative approach behind the kit. Archie feels very fortunate to use his love of drums and music to earn his living honing these skills. He has had the privilege of playing with some classic bands, both as a side-man and in opening acts; his heroes like KISS, Alice Cooper, Vince Neil, Paul Rodgers, Robert Plant etc. As well as some cool younger bands; Sum 41, KAOS, The Trews, Finger 11 and many more.
As a member of Helix (1996-2004)

• Website: Link

Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts has not only been a drummer and percussionist for over 26 years, continually striving to improve his own abilities as a musician but helps those desiring to become musicians by encouraging them, teaching on a private level, and performing with the same enthusiasm and excitement he had the first time he picked up his sticks. Dave’s magical moment struck when he was a child watching the award-winning drumline of the high school he would later attend. But as often happens, he was steered towards other instruments in school. He joined the jazz and marching bands on trombone, but drums remained in his heart. A year later, he was a part of that magical drumline that had enthralled his imagination since youth.

Dave’s early education came from some of the best instructors available to him, as he absorbed all he could from Tom Shriver, Paul Moore and Scott Lanham. Not to be tied to one genre, Dave began performing in jazz, blues, and rock groups. To improve his composition abilities, Dave took up piano and began writing. Today he composes for his band TriElement, who has opened for The Aristocrats, Sean O’Bryan Smith, Neil Zaza, Soften the Glare and Saul Zonana as well as contributes to his other project, Pale Nova. Momentum (now disbanded), performed the entire Miles Davis, Bitches Brew album twice after spending 4+months preparing with a 9-piece group in early 2015. Dave’s influences range from free-form jazz and fusion, funk, blues, progressive-rock, ambient and classical, giving him the confidence to push himself outside his comfort zone while writing and playing.

Dave has taken every opportunity to experience and promote all types of music in many capacities. He accepted opportunities to tech for international drummers, Marco Minnemann, Todd Sucherman, and Gregg Bendian among others. He lent his talents recording drum tracks for the Charleston, WV version of the Evil Dead Musical. He has forged a friendship with booking agent Julie Cord of Blue Mouth Promotions, LLC, and has become a part of BMP’s fledgling house-concert network that brings world class musicians into a personal setting. Past concerts have included Neil Zaza and Sean O’ Bryan Smith. This series features the likes of Andy Timmons, Mike Keneally and many others. Along with musician, composer and educator Chuck Biel, Dave founded Charleston Ambient Music and Musicians, a networking platform for ambient style musicians and a platform to promote live ambient music in Charleston, WV. Dave, Chuck and fellow artist John Marshall performed the inaugural show for the CBAMMS series on January 25, 2014, at West Virigina State University’s EDC (Digiso) (http://www.digiso.org/category/wvsu-economic-development-center/). Dave had the opportunity to perform in the experimental band “Grounded” with friend Andre’ Cholmondeley, guitar tech for Greg Lake, Eddie Jobson, Adrian Belew Trio, and leader of Project/Object and the Wham Bamm Bowie Band. A clip of the performance can be found at https://soundcloud.com/grounded-1/mutterings-of-a-madman-improv. Dave has backed Nashville bassist, Sean O’Bryan Smith (Neil Zaza, Randy Brecker, Chuck Loeb, Esperanza Spalding, Gerald Albright, Victor Wooten), and sessions when called upon. (http://www.seanobryansmith.com/). Dave most recently worked as the fill-in drummer for Creek Don’t Rise. Dave worked as a guest-host for the Mike Keneally Band (with Doug Lunn and Gregg Bendian).

TriElement (2007-present)
Pale Nova (January 2016-present)
Neostra Music (Ambient Music Sound Creations)
Previous groups:
Momentum (formerly 4tet)

Tape Age (April 2015-October 2016)
The Nanker Phelge (2009-2014)

Endorsing:
Amedia Cymbals
Headhunters Sticks and Creations

Gregory Harrison

Greg Harrison (M.Mus, B.Mus) hails from Fredericton, N.B. and now resides in
Toronto. As a freelance percussionist he regularly performs with his groups:
Falcon Punch, Taktus duo, and bEQUALSd. Specializing in classical
percussion and electronic music, Greg has performed with a wide range of
musicians and ensembles including Cirque du Soleil, R. Murray Schaffer, Beverley Johnston, Symphony
Nova Scotia, Motion Ensemble, and The Rose Orchestra to name a few. Greg currently
accompanies contemporary dance at In Studio (National Ballet of Canada), Metro Movement, GMD, CCDT, and Ballet Jorgen. In addition, Greg performs regularly with his childhood idol Fred Penner.
For more info and happenings please visit: www.gregpercussion.com

Glenn Milchem

Glenn Milchem is a Toronto based musician who has been playing drums for 39 years and has been playing professionally for 29 years. During that time he has performed and recorded with countless artists in a variety of genres, appearing on dozens of records, film soundtracks and television commercials and playing on stages all over North America, Europe and Australia. Some of the artists he’s worked with include Vital Sines, Whitenoise, The Garbagemen, Groovy Religion, Plasterscene Replicas, Change of Heart, Andrew Cash, Andy Curran & Soho 69, Jane Siberry, Hayden, Starvin Hungry, Luke Doucet, Holy Fuck, The Beauties, and Andy Maize, among others. For the past 21 years he has been the drummer for enduring Canadian Music Hall of Famers Blue Rodeo. He is endorsed by Yamaha, Paiste, Evans and Headhunters. In addition to his drumming career, Glenn led his own band The Swallows for more than a decade as lead singer, guitarist and composer. The Swallows released four albums and Glenn’s song “Turning Blue” appeared on the soundtrack to the Sony Pictures film “Catch and Release”. 

Ian McKay

Born and raised in London, Ontario, Ian MacKay became interested in drumming at a very young age. His father, Sandy MacKay, is an award winning professional drummer from London, ON.

Studies:
In 2009, Ian received a BA in Popular Music Studies from Western University in London, ON. During his time at Western, Ian studied classical percussion with Dr. Jill Ball, performing in the percussion ensemble, wind ensemble and jazz band, as well as freelancing around London.

Credits:

Theatre: Drums and percussion in various musical theatre shows
“A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline ”
“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”

Touring:
Ian has toured across Canada, the United States, Europe and Scandinavia, Mexico and South Korea.
Performance:
Juno nominated artist Basia Bulat
The Bettys
Irene Torres and the Sugar Devils
Mike Evin
Shad
Roy Leblanc
the Marrieds
The Most Loyal
Chris Staig and the Marquee Players, and more!

Ian keeps a busy schedule performing, teaching and recording as a session musician.

Don McDougall

Don McDougall, a graduate of the Humber College Music Program.
He is leader, producer and drummer/percussonist for fusion jazz band Top Pocket.
Don has also been performing and recording with the Gary Cain Band for the last seven years and is on their debut CD “Twangadelic Bluesophunk” which was released mid 2017 and is earning world wide rave reviews. 

Jayson Brinkworth

 Prairies in Regina, Saskatchewan. He has enjoyed many exciting moments in his 23 year career of playing, writing, teaching and recording music.

From countless live gigs and recordings, to educating through private lessons at Music In The House which he is co-owner, his interactive percussion program in the Regina Public School Board, as well as several clinics and workshops throughout Western Canada. His influences are as diverse as the music he performs and range from Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd, Bernard Purdie, Billy Ward, Rick Marotta, to Buddy Rich, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones to Eddie Bayers, Billy Thomas and Buddy Harman. His playing philosophy is the same as his philosophy of life “Be respectful of the music and people, always give 110%, make the music feel good and have fun”.

His resume of artists he has played live and recorded with is quite impressive and looks like a who’s who of the Canadian music scene. Some of these artists include Gil Grand, Thomas Wade, Steve Fox, Jamie Warren, Aaron Lines, Brad Johner, Patricia Conroy, Shaun Verrault (Wide Mouth Mason) Bet.e, Deborah Cox, JD Fortune, One More Girl, Rick Tippie, Jake Mathews, Diane Chase, Beverly Mahood, Jack Semple, The Poverty Plainsmen, Tracey James, Stephanie Thomson, Melanie Laine, Marny Duncan-Cary, Tera Lee, Duane Steel, Donny Parenteau, Shane Yellowbird, Lisa Brokop, Crystal Shawanda and most recently Aaron Pritchett. His musical approach to the drumset and percussion in general has led to him being very busy as he brings a valuable combination of groove and creativity to every gig, no matter what style of music he is playing. Also in 2007, he joined the e-magazine “The Black Page” as a staff writer where he writes monthly articles on drumming concepts, techniques and industry related topics.

On the other side of his music career, he is co-owner of Regina’s hippest music school Music In The House which was founded in 2002 by himself and Ray Bell. Music In The House employs 17 teachers and offers lessons in drumset and percussion as well as guitar, bass, violin, piano, vocals and step dancing. Student enrollment is at 350+ per week in which Jayson teaches 55 of his own private students as well as overseeing lessons for 22 other students. The primary focus of the lessons is on drumset but students learn hand drumming basics from Africa and Cuba as well as other percussion and history of the drum. Jayson is in the process of working on a drum book/method which will be titled “Thinking Outside The Books”, it is a take on thinking outside the box and is geared at tapping into the creative mind of all students at all levels of playing.

Jayson has also been involved in a program called Learning Through The Arts for the past 6 years where he teaches his percussion program called FLIP ( Fun Learning Interactive Percussion). Learning Through The Arts is a national program that is administered through the Royal Conservatory of Music and is used to reinforce curricular needs in the classroom through an art form. The program is in place in all 47 public schools in Regina, the largest site in the world, and Jayson works with approximately 600 grade 2 and 3 students every year. As well, Jayson has become heavily involved with the Saskatchewan Arts Board and a program called Arts Smarts. In the spring of 2007 he worked with 700 kids in 2 communities in a program called “Rhythms Of The World”. For more information on these programs, feel free to contact Jayson personally.

He is currently working on another program involving team building through percussion in which he will be focusing on workshops with sports teams and corporations to promote a positive team atmosphere in a big game or when making important company business decisions. The goal is to show how the natural act of drumming can be relaxing and healing and teach us to trust our own intuition in times of stress and pressure.

A FEW CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Awards:

2001 Drum Workshops – Prairie Music Awards – Edmonton Alberta

2003 Drum Workshops – Western Canadian Music Awards – Regina Saskatchewan

2004 Drum Workshops – Western Canadian Music Awards – Calgary Alberta

2003 – 2005 – numerous clinics for EPEK Percussion

2006 Organizer/Clinician – Drummin’ Sunday Part 1 (Drum Festival)

2007 Drum Workshops – Western Canadian Music Awards – Moose Jaw, SK

2007 Clinics on his own and with Chris Sutherland, organizing Drummin’ Sunday Part 2 with Billy Ward

2007 Joined “The Black Page” e-magazine as a staff writer

Nominations:

2003 – Musician of the Year – Western Canadian Music Awards

2004 – 2011 – Top 10 nominee for Canadian Country Music Drummer of the Year

2006 April Issue – Modern Drummer “On the Move”

2007 Canadian Military tour to Chania, Greece to entertain the Canadian Navy with and all-star band of Canadian musicians

2007 Canada AM performance with Donny Parenteau ( Juno, Canadian Country Music Awards nominee, Canadian Aborginal Awards winner)

2008 Drums Etc cover story – May/June Issue

Studies:

Drum lessons with Peter Erskine, John Blackwell, Tom Brechtlein, and most recently Rick Gratton, Mark Kelso and Vito Rezza.

2003 Gala performance for Prince Edward at Regina’s Globe Theatre for Regina’s centennial celebration in which he was the only member of the musical cast from Western Canada. The production was “Govenor of the Dew” by Floyd Favel, music composed and directed by Anthony Rosankovich – Cirque du Soliel.

2005 – 2011 Performance on the Canadian Country Music Awards (Televisioned Internationally)

• Website: Link

John Collin

John Collin is an accomplished professional drummer specializing in the jazz and swing genres. He attended the Jazz Program at Humber College and received training with notable great Roger Flock. Hailing from Toronto, John has over twenty years of drumming experience and has played with most of Toronto’s prominent Big Bands.

John currently leads his own jazz ensemble and plays various venues in and around Toronto.

• Website: Link

Jesse Stewart

Jesse Stewart is a Juno award-winning drummer and percussionist. He has performed and/or recorded with musical luminaries including George Lewis, Pauline Oliveros, Roswell Rudd, Evan Parker, Bill Dixon, William Parker, Joe Mcphee, David Mott, Malcolm Goldstein, Jandek, and many others. He is currently a member of the David Mott Quintet and Stretch Orchestra (with virtuoso musicians Kevin Breit and Matt Brubeck) in addition to leading his own group, the Jesse Stewart Ensemble, and performing regularly as a soloist. He received the 2012 “Instrumental Album of the Year” Juno award for his work with Stretch Orchestra. His music has been featured at festivals throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe and is documented on over 20 recordings. He has a remarkable ability to coax sounds out of virtually any resonating object or material: he has built instruments out of such unconventional materials as stone, ice, and cardboard. His playing has been described as “truly exciting” (Musicworks 76), “exceptional” (Cadence Oct. 2002), “phenomenal” (Cadence Nov. 1999), and “ingenious” (Exclaim! June 2006). In a 2002 review, Texas-based music critic Frank Rubolino described him as “…one of the finest young drummers and percussionists on the scene today” (One Final Note Summer/Fall 2002). art

Jim Gelcer

Brimming with musical influences as diverse as the exotic places he’s called home, Jim Gelcer hit the North American scene at age eighteen and has not looked back. He was seduced by the township energies of his father’s South African home, drawn by his mother’s Middle Eastern mysticism and came to that table with more than a dollop of his own brand of jazz, funk and soul. The result is a heady amalgam of old world devotion and new age syncopation, music for the 21st century.

Gelcer is a multi-instrumentalist and singer, an in-demand collaborator who’s performed and recorded with other artists at the top of their game, people like Paul Hoffert, John Switzer and Richard Underhill, to name a few. Gelcer rocks on piano, guitar, harmonium and vocals but his musical through line has always been percussion. And as a timekeeper, Gelcer is second to none on djembe, cajon, dumbek or a standard drum kit.

Gelcer patented his unique sound and sensibility early on. As a child, he used any kitchen utensil he could get his hands on to drum the beats he couldn’t get out of his head and onto a surface fast enough. The rhythms were informed by the sights, sounds and smells he picked up living in 1960’s South Africa. A space where indigenous music had pride of place among soul singers like Bill Withers and jazz musicians like Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk.

Hitting his formative years in 1970’s Canada, Gelcer was now paying passionate attention to pop soul radio. Early influences began to add up, helping lay the groundwork for the artist Gelcer was to become – global in style, popular in nature, fat and funky in tone – laced with references to pop and soul giants like Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. The table was being set for a new brand of musical continentalism. International tour dates with a wide variety of bands and artists in a suite of musical genres followed.

In the 80’s, Gelcer launched another career, this time as a composer for film and television, working prolifically for the CBC’s arts and current affairs portals, scoring jingles and soundtracks for television MOW’s. He is now a partner in Gopher Lunch, an international company specializing in music for tv and movies.

Gelcer’s early exposure to earthy African grooves and Middle Eastern spirituality drew him to Kirtan, a powerful style of devotional music involving call and response mantra chanting, fostered during an intensive period spent on a Paradise Island ashram. There, Gelcer learned the ancient teachings of Sivananda Yoga. His practice and Kirtan concerts continue to this day.

Gelcer’s upcoming album is only the last in a line of notable releases the artist has produced in the jazz, pop and Kirtan genres. Future tour dates include stops in Los Angeles, Bali and Australia. Ain’t no stopping him now.

• Website: Link

John McColgan

Drummer John McColgan has been playing professionally for over thirty years. .
He has played and/or recorded with: Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Richard Thompson, Teddy Thompson, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Buddy Guy, Big Mama Thornton, Pine Top Perkins, Kenny Pearson, Loudon Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, Danny Thompson, Norma Waterson, Michel Pagliaro, Jean Pierre Ferland, Michel Rivard, Jimmy James, Brian Greenway, Susie Arioli, Sue Foley and many others.

He has been teaching drums steadily for the last ten years, has recently published his first book, “Groove and Technique”, and has performed educational clinics for Pearl Drums Canada, at schools and music stores throughout Quebec.

• Website: Link

Lorne Nehring

Juno Award and Jazz Report winning drummer, Lorne Matthew Nehring is originally from Montreal where he began playing piano, saxophone and drums. Lorne studied percussion and began his jazz studies at McGill University. He has studied with noted Toronto drum teacher and author, Jim Blackley as well as with American jazz great Keith Copeland in New York City.

  Lorne is a much-in-demand musician in all aspects of “live” performance as well as in the recording studio. “The Tom Reynolds Trio” constitutes Lorne’s primary playing and recording focus at this time. This trio has produced one CD, while the second release is currently in production and is due out soon. Lorne has worked extensively in the theater, having performed in the orchestras of “Little Shop of Horrors”, “Piaf”, “Dreamland”, “Cookin’ at the Cookery”. In recent years Lorne was heard in the Stratford Festival production of the G.F Walker/John Roby musical, “King Of Thieves”.

 Lorne Matthew Nehring is an accomplished teacher who for fourteen years was the director of, and instructor at the much-respected Drum School at Long & McQuade on Bloor St. in Toronto. Lorne is currently a drum set instructor at Humber College in Toronto. Lorne recently completed a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies at York University focusing his research on the relationship between improvisation and its current and future role in jazz education.

 Lorne has played and recorded with the finest Canadian and international musicians and groups including: Tom Reynolds, George Koller, Jeff Coffin, Michael Occhipinti, Bob DeAngelis, John MacLeod, David Braid, Aaron Davis, Neal Swainson, Richard Underhill, Nancy Walker, Cocada, Rob McConnell, Bernie Senensky, Dave Young, Manteca, Alex Dean, Guido Basso, Freeflight, John Roby, Scott Alexander, Gord Sheard, John Sheard, Alannah Myles, Jim Lewis, Phil Dwyer, Kirk MacDonald, Victor Bateman, Devotion, Susannah McCorkle, Reg Schwager, Bob Brough, Duncan Hopkins, Carol McCartney, Roberto Occhipinti, Michael Stuart, Pat Coleman, Ed Bickert, Moe Koffman, Peter Appleyard, Jonathan Goldsmith, Joey Goldstein, Holly Cole, Warren Chiasson, Doug Riley, Frank Wright, The Tait Brothers, The Jazz Mechanics, The Canadian Jazz Quartet, The Rick Tait Big Band, Molly Johnson, Jackie Richardson, Tabby Johnson, Jack Grunsky, Mashmakhan, Henry Heillig, Russ Little, Carlos Lopes and many others.

Lorne plays Headhunter Sticks and Creations

Larry Graves

Juno-nominated multi-percussionist, drummer and composer Larry Graves has dedicated himself to innovation, exploring rhythm-based performance traditions from around the world through research, creation and teaching. After studying performance and composition at the Berklee College of Music, he was charmed by the deep sounds and wondrous poly-rhythms of West Africa, and that led him on several journeys to Ghana, Burkina Faso and Senegal to further explore music, dance and language.

Larry’s musical projects have received support from the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts and he was nominated for a Juno Award in 2007 for his work with the Toronto-based Worldbeat ensemble, Mr. Something Something. 

Larry performs with and leads his ensembles, DRUMHAND and Surefire Sweat, as a sideman with various Toronto groups such as The Urban Highlanders and Autorickshaw, teaches drum set and percussion at York University, and creates music for various contemporary dance organizations in Toronto.

Derrick Gyles

Derrick Gyles has been playing drums for decades and truly cut his teeth in the music industry during the era of New Wave and Alternative radio in the 1980’s. to stardom and to the forefront of the Canadian music scene. 

Derrick now spends his time as president and CEO of MAD Design Company, as well as playing live as a guest drummer for popular artists such as Platinum Blonde, The Spoons, and with members of The Guess Who and Loverboy. Derrick’s exuberance and love for the ‘80s is the indispensable backbone of The Bomb.

Luc Boivin

Luc Boivin has been professionally involved in music for the past 40 years, first as a percussionist, and later as music director, producer, teacher and
composer. Luc has become renowned in stage, recording and television circles. For 12 years Musical Director and bandleader for Télé-Québec’s hit show “Belle
et Bum,” which features different musical performers every week. As such, he has had the opportunity to work with most Quebec artists and many international
performers such as Gino Vannelli, André Gagnon, Angélique Kidjo, Ginette Reno, Holly Cole, Patti Labelle, Johnny Clegg, and many others. “Belle et Bum” has won
two Gémeaux Awards for Best Musical Show of the Year, and one Félix best musical show 2011) Musical director of the legendary tv show Beau et Chaud
has won Gémeaux for best musical show, proof positive of Luc’s versatility, his creativity and his ability to seamlessly adapt his band’s music to the style of so
many different artists. This ability was in evidence when Luc served as Musical Director composer and arranger for the Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill in 2010, where
Canadians were joined on the Hill for the Noon Show by Her Majesty the Queen. He then inspired and led his tireless house band to play most of the
accompaniment for both the 70-minute Noon Show and the 3-hour evening show. His ability to combine a sense of professionalism with an upbeat attitude and
creative approach has made him much in demand for large-scale live and broadcast shows that feature many different artists, and he has served as Musical
Director for such shows as the Governor-General’s Performing Arts Awards; Voices of Soul” during the 2005 Montreal Jazz Festival; “Rencontres,” a
highlight of the 2008 Quebec City 400th Anniversary celebrations;( Gémeaux for best musical show of the year) The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Nationwide Gala,
broadcast live from Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto in 2002; and La Fête Nationale in Montréal in 2008, and in Quebec City in 2011.
While directing the music, Luc also performs as a percussionist onstage. His career as a percussionist has led him to perform with the Société de musique
contemporaine du Québec, the Grand Ballets Canadiens Orchestra, and as a studio musician on more than three hundred albums and in hundreds of TV
shows. His live performances placed him on some of the most famous stages in Quebec, across Canada, the United States and in Europe.
He Study at McGill Univesity classical percussions with Pierre Béluse, played with the McGill percussions ensemble and Concept Neuf ensemble, recorded the
album McGill Percussions ensemble Les Sept Jours, Walter Boudreault. Also worked with Claude Vivier in Ottawa in 1971 at the National Art Centre. Study has taken him to New
York, Cuba and Barcelona.
Arranger:
Luc also did a series of thirteen hours of documentaries on world music as a musical director and host of a documentaries on world music (La Symphonie du Nouveau
Monde) arranged for 60 musicians on stage for ARTV in 1993. Work as arranger on different TV and live shows,
As Composer:
Luc co-wrote the “Ulalena” a multi media show in Maui with Michel Cusson, for
Réalisations Productions. He also composed the music for “Immortal Chi” Beijing China productions with
Michel Cyr as collaborator in 2014 He wrote and arranged the music for the show “EQI Cheval Libre” France in 2015 for
Novalux Production and is currently teaching percussions at Université du Québec in Montreal for the past 25
Years. He has and opened his own percussions school in 2011 in Montreal, École de
Percussions Métissage.

Lowell Whitty

Lowell has been an active musician in Toronto’s vibrant jazz scene for many years. His infectiously energetic approach to the drums has kept him in demand on sessions and performances all over the world.
As a member of The Heavyweights Brass Band he brings the vibes and tradition of Crescent City drumming to the stage. Laying down second line grooves, Afrocuban influences and Rocknroll is all part of what keeps the band swinging.
When Lowell isn’t bringing swampy grooves to the Heavyweights, he can be heard at The Soupepper Theater Company as the resident drummer accompanying a variety of theatre productions and concerts. His recording credits include many notable artists such as David Clayton Thomas, Jane Bunnett, Jackie Richardson, percussionist Giovani Hidalgo, Albert Shultz, Kevin Breit, Saidah Baba Talibah, Patricia O’Callahan, Suba Sankaran, Walleed Abdul Hammid, Kevin Quain, and jazz pianist Robi Botos.

Lowell plays the Headhunters’ MG C model.

• Website: Link

Markus Gilvear

Currently a part-time member of the rock band Inkubus Sukkubus and several others, Marcus has also been writing and producing his own dance tracks with the up and coming singer Rebecca Carter; quite a departure from his rock roots as drummer with the likes of Stormtrooper, Gene Loves Jezebel (Beggars Banquet/Geffen) and I Love You (Geffen)… ‘The look, grip, weight and balance afforded by Maple Groove Cs enhance drumming whilst also being exceptionally kind to the wrists!’

Mark Scholl

Mark is originally from Winnipeg.  He has had the opportunity to perform with touring acts, The Mama’s and Papa’s, Herman’s Hermits and Rosemary Clooney when they performed in Winnipeg. Mark’s composition career also started in Winnipeg as he was commissioned by the CBC to write and record several pieces for a Jazz  Radio series. 

After many years in Winnipeg, Mark had an opportunity to move to Los Angeles where shortly afterwards he started working with Pop Superstar Barry Manilow. He toured with Barry for 11 years which included multiple tours of over 1,100 shows in Arena’s and Amphitheaters in 14 countries around the world. They also performed dozens of times on all of the major Network talk shows such as The Tonight Show, Today Show, Good Morning America, A&E’s Live By Request, Arsenio Hall, Entertainment Tonight etc. as well as the 25th Anniversary of Arista Records.

Mark also recorded drums and performed with a wide variety of shows in LA including many gigs for Disney as well as being hired by noted composer Emilio Kauderer to contract the musician’s and to play drums on a Lion’s Gate film soundtrack for a Robert Downey Jr. movie called ‘Friends and Lovers”.

Mark Kelso

Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Mark Kelso has made Toronto his home for many years. A former student of Humber College, Mark has built his reputation around his ability to be a musical chameleon and has become one of the first call players across Canada. His ability to play many different styles has enabled him to work with diverse artists such as John Scofield, Herbie Hancock, Bob Mintzer, Chaka Khan, Gino Vannelli, Dave Grusin, Mike Stern, James Taylor, Holly Cole, Paquito D’Riveria, Michael Bublé, Marc Jordan, Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, the Hilario Duran trio & big band, Carol Welsman, NOJO, Brigham Philips Big Band,Ranee Lee, Olivia Newton John, Amy Sky, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Jovino Santos Neto, Molly Johnson, The Montuno Police, Maria Schneider, Soul Stew, Peter Murphy (Bauhaus) Michel Cusson, Susan Tedeschi, Measha Bruggergosman, Joe Sealy, Brian Hughes, Matt Dusk, John Pizzarelli, David Clayton-Thomas, Dave Douglas, Vince Mendoza, Alain Caron, Jeri Brown, David Foster, Deborah Cox, Gary Morgan’s Pan Americana Big band, Ron Sexsmith, Jesse Cook, Ian Tyson, Eliana Cuevas, Gordie Sampson, Susan Aglucark, Bonnie Raitt and Shania Twain. Mark’s touring schedule has taken him to such places as Russia, Japan, Iceland, Australia, England, Scotland, South Korea, Italy, France, Germany, Indonesia, the United States and even the North Pole. He has over 220 CD recordings to his credit along with many movie soundtracks and recording sessions. Mark also runs his own recording studio aptly called “Groovy Drums Studio” where he records drum tracks for many recording artists. A clinician for Yamaha Drums and Paiste Cymbals, Mark has performed at major drum festivals such as the Montreal Drumfest, Cape Breton Drumfest and KOSA and he has been featured in Canadian Musician, Drums ETC and Modern Drummer. More info can be found at Mark’s website – www.groovydrums.com

Check out Mark’s new Headhunters’ custom stick…..Mark loved our 2B maple but was looking for more warmth and cymbal focus, that sort of elusive sound that you can’t really describe until you hear it. And hear it he did after many tries….we re-worked the tip on our 2B maple platform to a unique tapered down bead, not round, not square, not acorn, not oval……..magically delicious.

The Mark Kelso Groover!

• Website: Link

Max Senitt

Drummer/Percussionist Max Senitt is a highly regarded and in-demand freelance musician on the Toronto and international scene. He brings a wealth of experience and versatility gained from performing across Canada, USA, the Caribbean, South America, and Europe with such Grammy and Juno award winning artists as: Alex Cuba, Hilario Duran, Odessa/Havana, and Carol Welsman. Presently a member of Tzadik Recording artists “Zebrina” and Urugayuan singer Valeria Matzner’s bands, he also leads his own Trio. A Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, and Headhunter Drumsticks artist, Max is also quite active as an educator. http://www.maxsenitt.com

• Website: Link

Mike Mallais

Mike “Machine” Mallais is a passionate Canadian drummer who has made a life long commitment to his craft. Having played since the age of 2, Mike so far is best known for being the Worlds Fastest Double bass player, having set 3 undefeated World Records in 2007 in the Double Bass Single stroke category with “WFD”.

Mike has performed countless shows all over Canada and beyond. He is also a globally recognized teacher who is always craving more from the art of music and continues to showcase himself as a very diverse and open minded player and educator.

• Website: Link

Maury Baker

Maury comes from a showbiz family.  His grandfather was Maurice Abrahams, the acclaimed Tin Pan Alley composer.  His grandmother was Belle Baker, the famous vaudeville singer.  His father was Herbert Baker, the Emmy Award winning Hollywood comedy writer.

Maury’s experience as a drummer, timpanist, and composer includes all genres of music.   In 1969, he toured with Janis Joplin in her Kozmic Blues Band (performed at Woodstock, and several other large pop festivals, including Madison Square Garden).  He can be heard on her I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! album on the hit single Try, and others.  Maury’s television appearances with Janis include The Dick Cavett Show, The Tom Jones Show, The Glen Campbell Show, and The Music Scene.  In 2003, he performed with the Kozmic Blues band, sharing the bill with Big Brother and The Holding Company at New York’s prestigious SummerStage in a tribute to Janis Joplin.  

You can find Maury’s credits listed with Janis Joplin in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He performed and/or recorded with Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Carlos Santana, George Duke, Ron Carter, David Benoit, Jimmy Haslip, Bunny Bunel, Johnny and Edgar Winter, Tom Jones, Jackson Browne, Steve Stills, Van Morrison, Seals & Croft, Judy Collins, Phil Ochs, Bobbie Gentry, Trini Lopez, R. B. Greaves, Albert Lee, Big Brother & The Holding Company, Robert E. Luna, Booker T. Jones, Tom Paxton, Bobbie Gentry, Theodore Bikel, Zoot Money, Dr. John, Scott LaFaro, Pepper Adams, David Amram, Lee Michaels, Miroslav Vitous, Henry Franklin, Theo Saunders, Nick Mancini, Michael Saucier, Otmaro Ruiz, Leslie King, Barbara Morrison, Leddie Garcia, Austin Peralta, Zane Musa, and many others.

He composes music for film, TV, video games, and the Internet.  His music can be heard on national promos for CBS including: JAG, Nash Bridges, Dr. Quinn, – Medicine Woman, Walker, – Texas Ranger, the soundtrack used by the award winning Russ Saunders Electric on the 1995 Emmy Awards show, the logo used on District 9 (See QED Project in the VIDEOS page) for the international film distributor QED, the score to an Aikido documentary that received rave reviews in the Los Angeles Times, among other projects.

A new Frank Zappa CD “Little Dots” was released November 4, 2016 featuring Maury on drums, and steel drums in Part 1 and  Part 2.  Maury wrote Liner Notes for the CD.

Olaf Szester

Olaf Szester is a Toronto based percussionist/drummer and composer. Olaf graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Music from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2006 where he specialized in Orchestral Performance and Composition. In addition, he had the opportunity to perform across Holland while studying percussion at the Royal Conservatory in Den Haag (Koninklijk Conservatorium), which is renowned for its focus on New Music. He graduated from Koninklijk Conservatorium with a second Bachelor Degree in Percussion in 2008, where he studied with Luuk Nagtegaal, Hans Zonderop, Fedor Teunisse, Ali N’Diaye Rose, Wim Vos, and Stefan Kruger.
In Canada, Olaf has had the pleasure of studying percussion with Trichy Sankaran, Dave Campion and Gary Tomlin. In the field of composition he has studied with Michael Coghlan, Richard Windeyer, Peter Hatch, Glenn Buhr, and Linda Catlin Smith.
Olaf currently focuses his energies on freelancing, teaching and exploring a variety of diverse projects. 

• Website: Link

Sean Kilbride

Seanʼs credits include being a member of the Kim Mitchell Band for three years as well as working with Alannah Myles, Sass Jordan, Moe Berg and touring and recording with Juno Award winner Derek Miller. He has also performed with Tom Cochrane, Randy Bachman, Sarah Harmer and Louise Pitre among others. He became involved in musical theatre with the original Toronto production of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH. He was also the principal drummer in the productions of ROCK OF AGES, THE TOXIC AVENGER, OH CANADA WHAT A FEELING! and was picked by Brian May and Roger Taylor for the Queen musical WE WILL ROCK YOU.

Currently, Sean is the drummer in the Toronto production of the hit musical, COME FROM AWAY. He also plays with The Test Icicles (www.thetesticicles.com), as well as doing sessions for numerous artists at his own drum studio.

www.seankilbride.ca

Rick Lazar

Rick was voted Percussionist of the Year five times by Jazz Report magazine and has produced and released 4 CDs with his group Montuno Police: “Bang,” “Touch,” “The Call,” and “Nomads.” Rick has toured/recorded with such artists as Bruce Cockburn, Barry White, Paul Shaffer and is a regular collaborator with Loreena McKennitt on her recordings and tours. Rick is the creator and artistic director of Samba Squad and has written, produced and released 2 CDs with this group,“Samba Squad” and “Batuque.” He is also an educator at York University (ESCOLA DE SAMBA AND CUBAN MUSIC COURSES). Lazar has also developed workshop techniques, which are being successfully used in the Samba Kidz and Samba Teens programs. Rick’s knowledge of world drums and passion makes him a unique percussionist who is first call for a diverse array of artists.

Riley O’Connor

Riley O’Connor is a sought after Canadian drummer with a Humber background who is established as an international touring musician and session player in genres ranging from jazz, r&b and country to heavy rock.

Riley plays regularly with Toronto acts The Michael Schatte Band, Love Tapper, CR Extraodinaire and freelance with many others.  He has also performed with many of Canada’s notable jazz musicians including Brownman Ali, Jordana Talsky, Ted Quinlan and Shirantha Beddage.

Performance credits include The TD Canada Trust Jazz Festival, Beaches International Jazz Festival, NXNE, CMW,Oakville Jazz Festival,Canadian Country Music Awards, World Pride Toronto, Russian Music Festival (Dundas Square), The International Blues Challenge finals (Memphis) and The Motor City Music Festival (Detroit).

Riley’s drumming is captured on recordings from Toronto’s top studios such as CBC, Phase One and Coalition Music and has been featured on The Edge 102.1, Much Music, CBC Television and Lionsgate Pictures.

• Website: Link

Sam Cino

Sam has studied music at Humber College and with many private teachers such as: Nick Macerollo, Pete Magadini, Jim Blackley, Roger Flock, Don Vickery, Paul DeLong, Rick Gratton, Memo Acevedo and Ted Warren.

He has been involved in many recording projects and performing ensembles over the past 30 years including: Adams Rib, A Single Voice, Back Drop Theroy, Robin Benedict, Big Smoke, Black Cabbage. Brothers Inc, Ken Brown, B.T.K, C2 Entertainment, Sam Cino Trio, Cardiac Arrest, Chipotle, Collateral Dammage, Eccodeck, Fiddlestixs, Grier Copins and Taxi Chain, The Hodads, House of Velvet, Shane Phillips, Brent Rowan Trio, King Cobb Steelie, Kinnie Star, The Kramdens, Teresa Levasseur, Dutch Mason, Brenda McMorrow, Andrew McPherson, Lewis Melville, Microbunny, The Nationals, Nice House, Passanger, Parker Thomas Jazz, Peeler, Aaron Riches, Oliver Schroer, Tanis Slimmon, Aaron Solomon, Sexual Chocolate, Spank, Superex, Jude Vedela, Leisa Way and the Wayward Wind and The Woodchoppers.

Shawn Pelton

Shawn Pelton is an American drummer and percussionist. He has recorded with a wide range of artists and has been a first call player since moving to New York in the late 1980s. Known for his great feel, deep soulful pocket and a high level of musicianship across a broad range of styles, Shawn has recorded with artists such as Sheryl Crow, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Billy Joel, Van Morrison, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Five For Fighting, Natalie Merchant, Ingrid Michaelson, Michelle Branch, Regina Spektor, Tears for Fears, Citizen Cope, Matisyahu, Jonatha Brooke, David Byrne, Goo Goo Dolls, Gavin Degraw, Peter Wolf, Edie Brickell, Marc Cohn, Richie Havens, Joan Osborne, Hall and Oates, Odetta, Pavarotti, Phillip Phillips, George Michael, Carly Simon, Dixie Chicks, Chris Botti, Loudon Wainwright, and Buddy Guy, and has played on several Grammy winning albums for artists including Ray Charles, The Brecker Brothers, Rosanne Cash, Shakira, Shawn Colvin, William Bell, Les Paul and the Hank Williams tribute album with Bob Dylan.

Shawn is also the longtime drummer in the house band for Saturday Night Live since 1992.

“I love the wide range and uniqueness of the Headhunter Creations. They have really opened up the door to a lot of creative sonic possibilities that I’m using live and in the studio. Very, very cool.”

Terry Clarke

TERRY CLARKE (drummer) was born August 20, 1944 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He began displaying rhythmic aptitude at a very early age, and was just 12 twelve years old when he began studying formally with noted drum teacher and author, Jim Blackley, Blackley was, and remains, a primary figure in Clarke’s continuing development as a musician.

In 1965, Clarke moved to San Francisco to work with legendary saxophonist, John Handy III. He performed with Handy for the next two and a half years, during which time the GRAMMY nominated recording, Live at The Monterey Jazz Festival (Columbia – 1966) was made. Following the John Handy experience (which included Terry’s long-time musical collaborator and friend, Don Thompson), Clarke began building his reputation for versatility by joining the world-famous pop vocal group, “The Fifth Dimension” at the height of their popularity, travelling and performed extensively with them throughout the U.S.A., Canada and Europe.

Clarke left “The Fifth Dimension” in 1970, subsequently re-locating to Toronto where, for the next 15, he played an abundance of jazz in all styles, and established himself as a major figure in Toronto’s then-considerable studio scene. Countless television shows, jingles and recording dates were his mainstay, as well performances in legendary Toronto jazz clubs including “George’s Spaghetti House”, “Bourbon Steet”, and “Basin Street”, often working with international jazz figures including Frank Rossolino and Lenny Breau. During the same period, he also toured extensively in Japan and Europe with jazz guitar legend Jim Hall and piano great, Oscar Peterson.

Terry Clarke is an original member of the “Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass” jazz big band, recording and touring with the world-acclaimed ensemble for 25 years. In 1985, seeking greater musical challenges, Clarke moved to New York City to pursue an exclusively jazz-oriented career. During his tenure there, he worked and recorded with The Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, Helen Merrill, Toots Theilemans, Ann Hampton Callaway, Red Mitchell, Marvin Stamm, Jim Hall, Bill Mays, Roger Kellaway, and Joe Roccisano, to list just a few.

Having recorded over 300 albums with various jazz artists, Terry Clarke is a familiar face at jazz festivals, concert halls, and venues throughout the world. In August of 1999, he returned to Toronto, reuniting with Rob to join his exciting new ensemble, “The Rob McConnell Tentet”, Terry Clarke’s most recent CD release is ‘Bick’s Bag’ (Triplet Records) featuring the trio of Bill Mays, Neil Swainson, and Terry Clarke, in tribute to Canadian jazz guitar legend, Ed Bickert.

Terry Clarke continues to perform and record with a number of international artists, including Nancy Wilson, Bill Mays, Renee Rosnes, Jim Hall, and Helen Merrill, as well as with an exciting line-up of Canadian musicians, among them David Braid, Jake Langley, Don Thompson, Nancy Walker, Neil Swainson, and David Occhipinti. Clarke is also an enthusiastic jazz educator, and for the past several years has been a member of the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto.

In 2009, Terry released his first album as a leader, “It’s About Time.” The record featured Jim Hall, Greg Osby, Joe Lovano, Phil Dwyer, and Don Thompson and won the JUNO Award for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year in 2010. The following summer, Terry toured Canada extensively with a trio that featured multi-instrumentalists Phil Dwyer and Don Thompson.

Awards:

2002 – Named a Member of the Order of Canada, the highest civilian honour given in this country. It is granted to Canadian citizens ‘for outstanding achievement and service to the country or to humanity at large.’

2004 – National Jazz Awards winner as ‘Drummer of the Year’

2005 – National Jazz Awards winner as ‘Drummer of the Year’

2006 – National Jazz Awards winner as ‘Drummer of the Year’

2007 – National Jazz Awards winner as ‘Drummer of the Year’

2008 – National Jazz Awards winner as ‘Drummer of the Year’

2010 – JUNO Award for ‘Traditional Jazz Album’ for the album “It’s About Time”

Tim Timleck

TIM TIMLECK

Tim Timleck is a Toronto-based drummer who is currently touring with multi-platinum,  Juno-award winning rock icon Carole Pope of Rough Trade, Emm Gryner, as well as 80’s inspired hard rockers Trapper (featuring Emm Gryner and Sean Kelly), with whom he recently completed a Canadian arena run in support of Def Leppard)

Tim came up as a drummer in the early 80’s Queen Street scene in Toronto, cutting his teeth with a number of punk and rock n roll bands, and developing a sense of street style that permeates his playing to this day.  This led to touring Canada’s then burgeoning cover band bar circuit, playing 7 nights a week, and ultimately landed Tim the drum chair in Atlantic Records recording artists Michael White’s world famous Led Zeppelin tribute band, The White. Tim then further diversified his playing with Virgin Records roots and country artist Lori Yates (alongside such venerable players as Blue Rodeo’s Basil Donovan and guitar legend David Baxter).

His next big touring stint came with 90’s recording act Universal Honey, a gig that had Tim playing festivals, clubs, theatres and arenas all over North America.

Other acts Tim has toured and/or recorded with include Tariq (EMI), Galore (Fading Ways), Crash Kelly (Century Media/EMI) and others, and continues to work as a first call freelance studio and live drummer in Toronto.

Tim is proud to play and endorse Sonor Drums and Headhunters Sticks and Creations.

Tom Walsh

Tom is a native of Buffalo, N.Y., where he received a degree from SUNY in music and political science. In Buffalo, he was a founding member of Spyro Gyra, playing on their first record, including the hit Shaker Song. He moved to Los Angeles as a member of the smash pop group America, and toured with them for the next several years. Since then, Tom has become a fixture on the L.A. studio scene.
Tom has performed or recorded with numerous artists, including Joe Cocker, Supertramp,Tina Turner, Keiko Matsui, the Rippingtons, Grant Geissman,Michael MacDonald,John Waite, Henry Mancini,Helen Reddy, Engelbert, Patti LaBelle, Monica, Rod Stewart, Michael Buble, Don Felder, and, as a member of various house orchestras, could list just about every major star on the scene. Recently, Tom has been performing with Dennis Quaid’s band, the Sharks, involving TV and live performances around the globe.
Tom’s recording career has included countless movie,TV soundtracks, and jingles. He played drums on the three longest running TV themes; Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and America’s Funniest Home Videos. Other shows include Friends, MadMen,the Office etc. Tom is also a member of the in house orchestra for Hal Leonard publishing, which entails recording myriad types of musical projects for worldwide distribution. Some of those include a live recording with Izzy Chait at the Jazz Bakery, performances with Katey Sagal, Vicki Lewis, Sharon Lawrence, Peter Gallagher, and others in a presentation of Damn Yankees(Georgia Stitt MD). Tom recently performed live at Carnegie hall, in a trio performing music from the creator of Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane.
Recent projects includes record dates with John Batdorf, Robyn Spangler, Pat Marshall, Susan Egan and Georgia Stitt, Power Jazz, Emilio Palame, as well as the usual pallette of session work, including Disney Tokyo’s electric parade, and the current State Farm, and Miller lite campaigns.

Tom has reconnected recently with Helen Reddy, and will be doing dates with her across the country over the next few months. 

Tom lives in West Hills, Ca. and is a proud endorser of Paiste Cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Remo Heads and Headhunters Creations

Troy Feener

Troy Feener has been playing drums ever since fate brought him into the Toronto Percussion Center and he left with a pair of drum sticks and a new drum teacher. Ironically the sticks were what became Headhunters BB’s and the store was owned by Dave Rundle! Troy spent many years touring the world and recording with artists like Tom Cochrane, Gowan, David Usher, Rick Emmett and his own band The Full Nine. These days you can find him on stage across North America as the drummer for Classic Albums Live, a position he has held for almost 10 years. Troy is also busy with his progressive rock band Druckfarben who are making fans around the world with their debut CD and live performances. Troy uses the Headhunter 5B, BB, Brushes and Bundled Rods.