The Innovative Percussion artist roster is actively growing with some very exciting names. Here are just a few recent additions for 2012.
JAZ SAWYER
Innovative Percussion welcomes one of Jazz music's exciting and
versatile drummers -- Jaz Sawyer. Originally hailing from San Francisco, Sawyer
now splits his time between the City By
the Bay and New York. A graduate of
The New School in New York, Jaz has performed with some of the biggest names in
the genre including Wynton Marsalis, Abbey Lincoln, George Benson, Bobby
Hutcherson and Mose Allison. About
working with Jaz, Abbey Lincoln says, "Simply Brilliant!" Jazz Times magazine
says, "Sawyer offers a solo display of ticking-sticks artistry, versatility,
ingenuity and maximum musicianship." Jaz
Sawyer has appeared in the most prestigious venues in the world including the
Blue Note, Carnegie Hall, Davie Symphony Hall in San Francisco and the North Sea
Jazz Festival in Holland. Sawyer has
released his solo debut CD entitled "Itz Time", on his own label, Pursuance
Records and is currently playing with Grateful Dead legend, Phil Lesh, among others. In Jaz's words, "I use the IP Hybrids -- the
perfect drumstick for music performance.
The brushes are great and the Smooth Ride sticks are just great for
Jazz...5 Stars!" More info can be found on
his website, Pursuancerecords.com. Look
for tips for students of all levels, as well as beneficial educational tools
from Jaz in upcoming Innovative Percussion Newsletters!
BOB LEATHERBARROW
Bob Leatherbarrow is one of Los Angeles' most respected
musicians. He has appeared on hundreds of
records, soundtracks and national commercials, both as a vibraphonist and a
drummer. His credits include work with
Ernie Watts, Victor Feldman, Bill Watrous, Joe Farrell, Natalie Cole, Rosemary
Clooney, Bill Homan and Doc Severinsen, to name a few. Recent recordings featuring Leatherbarrow
include Ernie Watts' Four Plus Four, To The Point, plus Kathy Kosins' To The
Ladies Of Cool and an upcoming release by the Frank Bennett Big Band. Most of us have heard Bob's playing on
soundtracks like Austin Powers' The Spy Who Shagged Me, Alvin & The
Chipmunks, The Simpsons (including the recent 500th episode), Seinfeld, Family
Guy, The Cleveland Show, The Secret Life Of An American Teenager and American
Dad. Just some of the iconic Pop artists
Bob has played for include The Temptations, Bette Midler, Leonard Cohen, Henry
Mancini, Leon Redbone and Dolly Parton.
Chances are you've also heard his grooves on TV Ad campaigns by
Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Ford, Dodge, Nissan, Cheetos, Quaker Oats...you get the
idea. Mr. Leatherbarrow has recorded and
performed in virtually every aspect of music.
Innovative Percussion is proud to welcome this vastly talented drummer/percussionist. You can find more information on his website,
Bobleatherbarrow.com.
ED ROSCETTI
Drummer, composer,
author and clinician Ed Roscetti brings wide range of experience and
excitement to Innovative Percussion's artist roster. For over 30 years now, he has been a mainstay
curriculum author and educator at the Musician's Institute in Hollywood
California and the MI schools in Japan, teaching his odd meter class. As an author, Roscetti's Hal Leonard catalog
includes World Beat Rhythms Series - Brazil, Africa, Cuba & USA, Drummer's Guide to Odd Meters, Blues Drumming, Funk &
Hip Hop Drumming, Rock Drumming Workbook, Stuff Good Drummers
Should Know and Creating Professional Drum Loops. He has conducted concerts, clinics, workshops,
master classes & music camps at PASIC, NAMM, IAJE, TMEA, AMTA, Berklee
School of Music, the World Percussion Festival and at universities, schools and
retail venues across the country. His interactive music video installation
opened at NAMM's Museum of Making Music in 2011 for a ten-year run. Ed Roscetti
recently created an iPhone App - Holiday Classics, which was released in 2011.
He has performed and composed music
for numerous records, TV shows and films, including Disney's Mostly
Ghostly, Saturday Night Live, The 60's, Biography, The History Channel, WWE
& General Hospital to name a few. He has worked with Quincy Jones, Herbie
Hancock and Joe Sample, among others.
More info can be found at Roscettimusic.com.
ERNIE DURAWA
For decades now, in the musically vibrant town that is Austin Texas,
Ernie Durawa is known as a drumming treasure.
In 2005, the Mayor of Austin declared February 3rd, Ernie
Durawa Day. How often does that happen for us drummers?! Ernie is a recipient of many awards and
honors, including the Dutch Grammy award, the San Antonio Ambassador of Good
Will, the Texas Hall of Fame and the winner of a Grammy Award for Best
Mexican/American Performance, as drummer for Latin music legend, Flaco
Jimenez. Like the town he lives in,
Ernie plays an eclectic mix of Jazz, Blues, Country, R&B, Rock and of
course, Tex-Mex. Durawa has worked with
legends like Delbert McClinton, Willie Nelson, Freddy Fender, Rufus Reid,
Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, Sonny Landreth, Elvis Costello and for years and currently, is a member of the all-star,
Grammy winning band - The Texas Tornados.
IP is proud to welcome this great drummer and Austin Icon and look
forward to many years together. More
info on Ernie can be found at Erniedurawadrums.com.
Stay tuned for more artist announcements coming soon....