Drummers

Dennis Chambers (born May 9, 1959) is an American drummer who has recorded and performed with John Scofield, George Duke, Brecker Brothers, Santana, Parliament/Funkadelic, John McLaughlin, Niacin, Mike Stern, Greg Howe, and many others. Despite a lack of formal training, Chambers has become well known among drummers for his technique and speed. Chambers is particularly regarded for his ability to play “in the pocket” but can also stretch very far out of the pocket which is also a hallmark of his technique. Chambers exhibits a powerful style that is technically proficient, yet highly musical and groove-oriented. He can play in a wide variety of musical genres, but is perhaps most notable for his jazz-fusion, funk, and Latin music playing. He is mostly...

Peter Erskine was born in Somers Point, New Jersey, U.S.. He began playing the drums at the age of four. He graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, then studied percussion at Indiana University. His professional career started in 1972 when he joined the Stan Kenton Orchestra. After three years with Kenton he joined Maynard Ferguson for two years. In 1978 he joined Weather Report, joining the legendary Jaco Pastorius to form a formidable rhythm section. After four years and five albums with Weather Report and the Jaco Pastorius big band Word of Mouth, he joined Steps Ahead. His big band recordings with the Bob Mintzer Big Band are excellent modern big band jazz/funk performances studied by many students of drums and...

Jonathan Moffett is a very accomplished musician, songwriter and producer. His huge talent led him to perform in concert on twenty-two major tours including the world famous Jackson’s Victory Tour. He has recorded with great artists such as Madonna, Diana Ross and Elton John. Moffet has performed on popular television shows such as The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, Saturday Nite Live and Arsenio Hall and numerous music videos, movie song titles and television commercials. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the third son of a musical family of siblings, Jonathan began playing on a marching snare drum at the tender age of six. From the six weeks he was in contact with Jermaine Jackson and his brothers, and the group Undisputed Truth and New Birth. Formal...

Will Calhoun (born William Calhoun, July 22, 1964, Brooklyn, New York) is an American drummer, who graduated with honors from Berklee College of Music. He is best known as a member of the hard rock/metal band Living Colour. Calhoun originally comes from the Bronx, New York. He moved to Boston, Massachusetts to attend the Berklee College of Music where he graduated with a degree in music production and engineering. He also received the Buddy Rich Jazz Masters award for outstanding performance as a drummer whilst there. Calhoun is best known as the drummer of the rock band Living Colour. He has also played with Jungle Funk and HeadFake, recorded several jazz albums as a leader, and has appeared as a sideman with a diverse group of...

Ricky Lawson started playing drums at the age of 16. He would borrow is Uncle’s drum set, and would carry it to his house all the way across town via the Detroit Buses that ran in the town. In high school Lawson played in his high school jazz band, which consisted of only 5 members (including the director). Ricky played for The Sons of Soul, who performed at the 1969 Michigan State Fair, opening for The Jackson Five along with The Blazer, a band from Cooley High School in Detroit that included La Palabra. Also in high school he played such sports as water polo and swimming. His swimming talent eventually earned him a scholarship to college. Though he only spent one year at college and was asked to play drums for Stevie Wonder. Then in the 80′s and...

He is also the associate producer and drummer on the platinum and Grammy nominated album (7 million world wide) It Had To Be You…The Great American Songbook by Rod Stewart. His musical versatility spans hard rock, funk, R&B and jazz. His film credits as composer include “The Circle” (2005) Dancing at the Blue Blue Iguana (2000), Wedding Bell Blues (1996), Kill Me Later (2001) and the The Untold (2002). Tal Bergman has toured and recorded with some of the most exciting performers on the music scene, including: Billy Idol, Joe Zawinul, Simple Minds, LL Cool J, Chaka Khan, Herb Alpert, Belinda Carlisle and Terence Trent D’Arby, to name a few.                 Official Website:...

Sterling Campbell (b. May 3, 1964) in New York City, New York, is an American rock drummer who has worked with numerous high-profile acts. He rose to attention in 1986, touring with Cyndi Lauper on her her True Colors World Tour, in 1986, and in 1987. He was a member of Duran Duran from 1989 to 1991. and he was hired to tour with the band during the promotion of Big Thing, and was made a full member of the band at the end of the year. He contributed to the recording and promotion of Liberty, then was asked to leave after he failed to get involved for preparations for what would eventually become The Wedding Album. Campbell was hired first as a session player in 1991, by Soul Asylum, playing on half of the songs that saw their 1992 release, Grave Dancer’s...

Widely acclaimed for his versatility, technological prowess and groove, Omar Hakim is one of the most successful drummers and session men of the past thirty-five years. He has collaborated with artists ranging from Miles Davis to Madonna, and has left his imprint on hundreds recordings including several under his own name. Born in New York City to a musical family, Omar began playing the drums at age 5. At the age of ten, he was performing publicly with his father Hasan Hakim, a trombone veteran of the Duke Ellington and Count Basie bands. This period formulated Omar’s traditional and improvisational jazz drumming techniques, and built a strong foundation for his unique drumming style. His father’s friendship with John Coltrane enabled young Omar spend time...

Born in Manhattan, NYC, Zachary Alford began his musical journey being influenced by musician friends of his older siblings (his sister’s boyfriend’s band used to rehearse in their living room). “I used to look under my bed at the drums that were stashed there. Being so close to real instruments started my fascination with them.” “My brother’s friend Chandara lived on the 18th floor and he was a drummer too”. After demonstrating an understanding of the drum kit at age 10, Zack’s mom bought him a second hand drum set and he never looked back. “my neighborhood was full of drummers”. Peter “Phoenix” Rivera, Sterling Campbell, Ben Perowsky and Poogie Bell (Zack’s 1st instructor) all lived...

Jonathan Mover is an American drummer who has worked with a number of artists including Aretha Franklin, Fuel, Alice Cooper, Shakira, Julian Lennon, GTR, Mick Jagger, Steve Howe, Peter Frampton, Oleander, Celine Dion, Elton John, Stuart Hamm, They Might Be Giants, Frank Gambale, Mike Oldfield, Steve Hackett, Marillion, Joe Satriani, Derek Sherinian, Joe Lynn Turner, Dave Koz, Jan Hammer and others. He was raised in the Boston area and began playing drums at age thirteen. His focus since he began playing has been to see the world via touring and work steadily as a freelance session musician. His style allows him to play in genres such as rock, soul, R&B, heavy metal, jazz fusion, funk, punk, rap, hip hop and pop. As an engineer and/or producer, Mover has worked...