chris massey

Jazz / blues drummer & portrait artist / illustrator Chris Massey has been performing on the American and European creative music scenes for many years and has developed into a powerful, creative voice combining jazz tradition and improvisation focused into a muscular drum poetry distilled from his love of Elvin Jones, Ronald Shannon Jackson and Tony Williams. Since he attended the BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC from 1977-1979 he has performed and/or recorded with a great many cutting edge artists such as: BILL FRISELL, poet ROBERT CREELEY, STEVE SWALLOW & JOHN MILLS with 'Trio Courage', guitar loop-master DAVID TORN with 'forever sharp and vivid', blues guitarist CHRIS DUARTE & 'Arson', 'Dark Energy Live' with Finnish guitarist RAOUL BJORKEHEIM, composer MICHAEL GIBBS, pianist JIM BEARD, bassist KERMIT DRISCOLL, french hornist TOM VARNER, EPHREM LEUCHINGER & MICHAEL BECK in 'Open Hand', KEVIN EUBANKS, TIM HILL, singer songwriter JIMMY LaFAVE, U.K. saxophonist SIMON PICARD, CHRISTY DORAN, Norwegian saxophonist ERIK BALKE, The Creative Opportunity Orchestra with TINA MARSH & VINNIE GOLIA, guitarist MICHAEL LEASURE, composer JON GORR, guitar looper MARC LEVINTHAL, blues guitarist DAVID GRISSOM, SLEEPY EDDIE JAMES, TOLO MARTAAN, ALEX COKE, HANS KOCH and many others. A 9 month gig with Carnival Cruise Lines as well, allowed him to learn authentic salsa/calypso/reggae/samba rhythms in Jamaica and the West Indies. He has been touring, recording and playing in countless Festivals in Europe for the last few years. Private studies with Joe Hunt and Lenny Nelson and Master classes with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas. National Assiciation of Jazz Educators (NAJE) AWARD WINNER 1977. Chris Massey currently lives in Switzerland and is an endorser for ISTANBUL AGOP Cymbals, VATER drumsticks and AQUARIAN drumheads.I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)