A native of Prescott, Arizona, Charles Foldesh began playing drums at age ten. Since then, he has obtained a long list of accomplishments, his most recent being his selection as a recipient of the John Coltrane Scholarship. Charles received his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies and Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, under the instruction of jazz legend BILLY HART.
Charles has shared the stage with the likes of MARCUS BELGRAVE, GARY BARTZ, CLAUDE BLACK, GEORGE BENSON, JIMMY HEATH, DAN WALL, SLIDE HAMPTON, JOHN CLAYTON, BRYAN LYNCH, CLAUDIO RODITI, ROSCOE MITCHELL, and KI ALLEN. Actively performing with the THEO CROKER QUINTET, the Murphys Jazz Trio, and the ALEX HAN QUINTET, Charles has performed at such festivals as the Texas International Jazz Festival, the Art Tatum Jazz Heritage Festival, the Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Festival, the Detroit Jazz Festival, and the LaPatai International Jazz Festival (Uruguay). Most recently, Charles spent four months in Shanghai, China with the Theo Croker Quintet as the house drummer at Shanghai's premier jazz club, the House of Blues and Jazz.
In addition to studying with BILLY HART, Charles has RECEIVED GUIDANCE AND INSTRUCTION FROM SUCH REMARKABLE MUSICIANS AS Dr. Wendell Logan, Donald Byrd, Cedar Walton, Robin Eubanks, Lewis Nash, Greg Bandy, Paul Samuels, Neal Smith, Kenny Washington, Antonio Sanchez, Jamey Haddad, Jason Marsalis, Ed Shaughnessy, Mel Zelnick, Jonathan Lerner, Dan Bradstreet, Marcus Belgrave, and Peter Dominguez. In addition to studying at Oberlin, Charlie has attended the Berklee School of Music and Skidmore Jazz Institute.
Charlie looks forward to continuing his study and sharing music with those around him.
____________________________________________________________ _______________"I met Charles when he first came to Oberlin and since then, I have watched him grow tremendously. You can really determine someone's playing ability when you actually get the oppurtunity to play with them. I have played with Charles, and I can tell you that he is going to be one of the truly great drummers."-GARY BARTZ