Professional Resume

Educational Background

Drumset: 1991-94 Studied with Chris McCann
-internationally known as an exciting and technically advanced Jazz drummer and bandleader, Chris now teaches full time at McGill U in Montreal.

1992-95: Humber College School of Music
-In addition to learning two years of theory, ear training and rhythm reading, I was taught stick technique and several styles of music by esteemed classical percussionist and educator Roger Flock.

1992-94: Memo Acevedo: While at Humber I took private lessons with Memo and learned the structure, style and technique of several Latin American music forms on drumset, conga, timbale and other various percussion.

1999-2000: Paul De Long and Rick Shadrach Lazar: Returning to Humber to complete a performance diploma, I studied fusion, funk and jazz kit with studio and touring great Paul De Long and congas and other Latin percussion with Rick Lazar (Loreena McKennit, Montuno Police).

Professional Playing Background

Current:
As of this writing I am playing in four bands. Duran Duran Duran is an 80's tribute group. Coca is a live group playing Brazilian, Jungle, Drum N Bass, Trip Hop and several other styles of Electronica. Soul Flight is a soul band and I also back up Emily Fennel, a singer songwriter with an original CD released and a rapidly expanding fan base.

A Quick Summary:
My career started in high school with a straight up rock 'n' roll band called Bacon After Midnight which played Led Zeppelin Cream, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, and Rush. We entered two local high school "Battle of the Bands" contests, finished second and first respectively and recorded a full length demo.

In 1993 I attended the Humber College School Of Music, one of North America's most prestigious music schools and maintained an 80% average through out . I played in various Jazz ensembles and the Latin ensemble at Humber, sat in with a professional Latin Jazz band on congas during my second year, recorded with Toronto funk\hip hop group Ashanti and worked with Universal recording artists Bass is Base.

In 1996 I left school to pursue a professional career. I returned in 1999-2000 to complete my diploma, played with several Latin bands and a fusion ensemble in third and graduated with honours in performance. I have played congas and percussion in several swing, acid jazz, funk and soul bands over the course of my career and freelanced for Toronto based Salsa band Abanico.

1995-1996: played drums and toured with Canada's most successful tribute band, The Road Apples, a tribute to The Tragically Hip.

1996-2003: Formed and led the eight piece Pico De Gallo, a highly successful Afro Cuban\Brazilian dance band, the highlights of which have been a highly successful house gig at the Scherzo Nightclub in Kingston Ontario, appearances at several festivals and events, including the 20th anniversary of the Blue Skies Music Festival in August 1998, and a CD released in 2001 .

In addition I have played in dozens of funk, jazz, rock and other groups too numerous to mention, including Haskell And The Cleavers, a swing group led by Jazz vocalist Andy Poole, Congas and Timbales in The New Digs (acid jazz), Bloom (funk), Ghetto Express (Soul Music), Riff Raft (funk) and several others.

Musicals:
2002-drums for Peter Pan (twice) at the Grand Theatre, Kingston
2003 (summer) -drums for Fame at the Grand Theatre
2003 (fall) -drums for Cabaret at the Grand Theatre
2004 (summer) - drums for West Side Story, Grand Theatre
2004 (fall) - drums for Kiss Me Kate, Grand Theatre
2004 (fall) - drums for The Wizard Of Oz, Grand Theatre

2001\'03:
-Opened for the Doobie Brothers at the Memorial Centre 3,000 seat arena
-Backed up touring Blues multi instrumentalist and 4 time Grammy award nominee Alan Gerber
-Played drums for the Bob Ayre big swing band.

2004:
Played drumset for 19 year old Cuban sax phenom Roberto Martinez Pereira

ShowBand Experience:
-From February 16th to June 13th, I was under contract as a show band performer for Carnival Cruise Lines. Performances included Las Vegas style production shows, big band cocktail sets, small venue combo and backing up fly-on performers such as jugglers and singers. Knowledge of several styles of music and reading ability were required for the gig.