Playing drumset. Practicing drumset. Listening to a lot of Jazz, Funk/Fusion, Calypso and Latin/Cuban Jazz, some Reggae, Blues, Rap, classical music, Drumcore stuff, etc...

I'm largely influenced by Brian Blade - he's the most talented musician I can find to listen to.

Other drummers in my collection (in general order of preference): Ari Hoenig, Greg Hutchinson, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Art Taylor, Jack Dejohnette (love his sticks), Bill Stewart, Steve Smith, Jojo Mayer, Billy Cobham, Vinnie C, Adam Deicht, Stanton Moore (his sticks are nice too), Marco Minneman, Derico Watson, and a few others.

Chapin Method, Portraits in Rhythm, Art and Language of Jazz Vibes, Jazz Chord/Scale Handbook

Drumset, Vibraphone, Marimba, Steel Pan, Saxaphone, Guitar

Squareness, ^misplaced apostrophes

I'm attending college right now as a music education major - plan on getting my doctorate and teaching percussion at a four-year (marching, concert, ensembles, etc.) while I play my way to the top of the jazz drumset world, thus fulfilling nearly every aspect of my unhealthily music-driven life.

I've taught a few drumlines and plenty of private lessons, done some studio work, and played in steel pan orchestras, symphony orchestras, and various combos and ensembles over the last several years. I enjoy playing and hearing jazz more than any type of music out there, and this new era of "young lions" has pushed the genre to terrific levels that I only hope I can surpass.

The demands of ever-expanding rhythmic freedom and relentless impromptu variation on today's jazz musicians allow for endless reinvention of improvisation and unprecedented potential for vocabulary and feel.