… “but I kept play’n!” I was born and raised in Washington, DC. When I was younger, I would always hang out at my best friend’s house that lived in the next block. One day his mother asked us if we wanted to take free music lessons offered at a local high school. I guess she got tired of us just sitting around on his front porch. Thanks Ms. A. We went down to sign up for lessons with The DC Youth Orchestra Program. My buddy knew he wanted to play the sax right away, but I had to think about it. I first asked for piano…they didn’t offer that. “How about the guitar?” I said. They didn’t offer that either. The upright bass was bigger than me and I thought it was too heavy to carry. How wrong was I? Okay, so I went from the frying pan into the fire! Hey, what did I know? I was only an 11 year old kid at the time. Well, the strings were out and I didn’t care for wind instruments. Drums it is! I guess it was meant to be. Three years later I asked my dad for my first set of drums. I saw them in the window of a music store; a 4-piece Ludwig Clear Vistalite Drum Set. It didn’t come with cymbal stands or a seat…but hey, I was on my way. I still kick myself for selling that set. Oh well, thanks anyway dad. I didn’t really consider being a full time musician back then. With my father’s “encouragement”, I followed the more traditional life track. You know…go to college, pick a major (anything but music), graduate, get a job and live “happily ever after”. For me, the job was in the field of architecture. I was pretty good at it and stayed in that profession for 12 years…but I kept play’n the drums. One day I found out about a musical play in town that needed to replace its drummer. It was the Ford’s Theatre Production of “FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE”, which featured the music of Louis Jordan. I auditioned and to my surprise, I got the gig! We had a three month run at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC and six weeks in Boston, Massachusetts at the Wilbur Theatre. While in Boston, I auditioned for and was accepted into The Berklee College of Music. Unfortunately, finances at the time didn’t work out in my favor to attend the school. The play was my first experience performing at that level and it set the wheels in motion for me. I began to think, “Maybe I can make a living playing the drums.” Well, the production soon ended…but I kept play’n. I returned home to DC grateful for the experience, but now I needed a job. So, I went into sales as my next move. I sold cars for two years…but I kept play’n. I sold home furnishings for six years…but I kept play’n. With all of that play’n, I soon became fairly popular on the local music scene but I realized that my drumming and reading skills needed to be sharpened if I wanted to pursue music on a national level. I set out to improve my skills and in the summer of 2000, I attended my first KoSa Percussion Workshop in Castleton, Vermont. My newly found education that year and subsequent years was presented by some of the industries top drummers and educators like Ndugu Chancler, Jim Chapin, Russ Miller, Ed Thigpen and Steve Smith to name a few. From there, I attended my first Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) and the International Association for Jazz Educations’ (IAJE) International Conference where my education would continue. My continuing education and practice is starting to pay off. Currently, I’m working with THE MARY ANN REDMOND BAND and TYRONE SHUZ & HIS FUNKY BLUZ. As well as, the rhythm section house drummer with the ELLISTON MUSIC STUDIO FOR JAZZ STUDIES under the direction of Ron Elliston & Ronnie Wells. I also perform and record with various local artists throughout the greater metropolitan Washington, DC area. I am honored to be asked to play and share the stage with these incredibly talented people. Thanks for considering me as your “first call” drummer. I guess I must be doing something right. I know that I’ve been blessed with a gift that I must nourish by constantly practicing, listening and learning. To continue to improve the art of making musical paintings through drumming. And no mater what style of music I’m hired to perform, I always seek to serve the music FIRST!! Well, that’s the “elongated-short” version of where my career has taken me so far. I’m looking forward to the next challenge. So, please check back from time to time and I’ll try to keep you posted. But whatever happens… …I’ll keep play’n!! God Bless, and thanks for reading. Jeff