keith laudieri - ireidual htiek

I used to sneak down to the basement when I was a kid to play all the instruments in my big brothers band room. I tried the guitar, twang boring. I tried the keys, ok, but what about those drums? Yes! As soon as I sat down I felt at home. I got home from school an hour earlier than my big bro so every chance I got; I’d play the drums. This went on for about 2 years when finally the unmentionable happened, I broke a stick. I had to fess up now. Maybe I could hide it. No, that wouldn’t work. I reluctantly told my brother what I had done. He yelled at me and said he would tell his drummer. Even worse he threatened to tell MOM! His drummer was fine with it and encouraged me to show him what I had learned. I played a basic rock beat with some classic 80’s fills and he was impressed. When Mom found out she got me some lessons with a local drum teacher Dave Zemnicki.
Dave taught me all about rudiments and technique. I stayed with him for a couple years while playing in the school marching and concert bands. I was a snare drummer. Throughout High School I had a few bands that covered all tunes that were popular in those times.
I decided to make drumming a profession. In 1999 I moved to Nashville to find a band. I jammed and/or recorded with a dozen artists until I was invited to join “Stoik Oak,” The Southern Rock Jam band that spawned the careers of country music diva Sarah Buxton, and a few other successful Nashville musicians. I only stayed with the group for 8 months and moved home to Western Massachusetts to raise my family.
Shortly after coming home I started networking with musicians at open jams in Boston, Providence and New York City. It wasn’t long before I was playing 4 nights a week with different jazz, funk and rock bands. I wrote and recorded a score for a Travel Channel presents television show, and started hiring musicians for performances on a case-to-case basis. I was gifted 6 drum lessons with the legendary Joe Morello. Joe basically broke my wrists and reset them. I also got a chance to attend Umass’ Jazz in July program which allowed me to pick the brain of Max Roach.
In 2004 I joined the talented "Bathtub Mary", a group of musicians focused on lyrics and challenging musical compositions. The band featured Phil Derosa, Jon Wearn, Jeremy Milligan, and Jackson Smith. During my 10 months with the band, we played an average of 4 shows per week in clubs, colleges, and festivals throughout the North-East. I left the band to stay local since my schedule was filled with students and jazz ensemble performances.
In January of 2005 the "Shokazoba Afrobeat Battalion" was born, a collection of musicians who come together to study and perform Afrobeat music. This 9-16 piece rotating ensemble has attracted some of the finest musicians available including past and present members of OJ Okemodo, Babatunde Olatunji, the Inner Orchestra, the 5’th Pocket, the Black Rebels, the Primate Fiasco, the Trey Anastasio Band, the Pangeans, Gaiah Roots, etc. Besides the core members, our players rotate pretty consistently. In the process, I've been able to work with dozens of great and talented musicians from this project alone.
Shokazoba remained my main focus on music throughout 2007. However I also joined the national act, "Somebody’s Closet". Somebody's Closet was created in Tempe, AZ and now bases out of Northampton, MA. They've had several full U.S. tours, 4 albums along with thousands of live recordings in circulation, and a 'Best Jam Band of 2003' award at the Arizona Infusion of Music Awards. Did I mention they are also beautiful folks.
2008 finds me working with a few new faces and creating some NEW music! Keep on the lookout for me with "the Pangeans", the new rock band "The Inside Job", the blues band "Sharp Harp Jr. and the Blades" and my own jazz quartet!
I have performed at over 150 venues, festivals, and colleges including:
Ryles Jazz Club, Boston
Tonic, NYC
Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA.
Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA.
Hard Rock Café, Pittsburgh, PA.
Orange Peel, Asheville, NC.
Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS.
Exit/In, Nashville TN.
Pines Theater, Northampton
The Hot Tin Roof, Martha's Vineyard
Club Helsinki, Great Barrington
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