Genetic Drift has been playing together as a unit since September of 2007 when drummer Duane Trucks moved to Atlanta and met guitarist Nick Johnson and bassist Kevin Scott through weekly jam sessions at the 5 Spot in Little 5 Points. Upon playing together the three found that they had an undeniable chemistry and bond. They found common ground in the importance of the conversational and universal aspects of jazz and improvisational music. With encouragement from esteemed veterans of the Atlanta music scene including Col Bruce Hampton, Yonrico Scott, and Ike Stubblefield, Duane, Kevin and Nick decided to form a trio where their diverse influences in jazz, rock, and funk could be reflected in the most organic way possible with a strong emphasis on collective awareness, groove, and melody.
Guitarist Nick Johnson was born in 1987 in Weymouth, Massachusetts and began playing the guitar at age 12. Although he was initially inspired by rock music, he was drawn to improvisational music after seeing his first Allman Brothers concert when he was 14. Through high school, Nick became interested in and began to study the seemingly endless rhythmic, harmonic, and melodic vocabulary of jazz. Nick played with many of the accomplished blues/rock musicians in the area as well as with the high school jazz band and the Eastern Nazarene College Jazz Band. In 2006 Nick moved to Atlanta to find enthusiastic, like-minded musicians and to study at the Atlanta Institute of Music. After graduating at the top of his class, Nick quickly became an active member of Atlanta’s music scene where he has had the fortune to play with some of South’s greatest musicians including Yonrico Scott, Kofi Burbridge, Todd Smallie Ike Stubblefield, Col. Bruce Hampton, Sam Skelton, Mace Hibbard, Jeff Sipe, Bobby Lee Rodgers and the Codetalkers, Dante Harmon, Chris Fryar, Grant Green Jr. and others.
Born in St. Petersburg, FL, on Christmas Day, 1984 bassist Kevin Scott hails from Dothan, AL, the peanut capital of the world. Kevin was born into a very musical family that has supported and nurtured his talent from the beginning. Inspired by the late Shawn Lane and Jaco Pastorius, Kevin was attached to his bass all through high school and was active in the Alabama music scene. In 2001, Kevin was awarded a scholarship to the International Association of Jazz Educators summer program in New Orleans. Here, Kevin studied under and played with the great New Orleans drummer, Johnny Vidachovich. In search of broader musical pastures, Kevin settled in Atlanta, GA, at the age of 19. He soon was caught up in the music scene in the city and became a bass player of great demand. Kevin tours and records with the group Highly Kind, who was recently recorded by producer Johnny Sandlin. Kevin also hosts the open jam at the 5 Spot on Tuesday nights. Some of the groups/players that have sought him out include the Sid Wolf Band, the Anton Harris Quartet, Col. Bruce Hampton, Ike Stubblefield, Grant Green Jr, and Yonrico Scott.
Drummer Duane Trucks was born in 1988 in Jacksonville, Florida. He began playing drums at the age of two. Coming from a musical family, he was able to learn from some of the best musicians in the country. Drummers like; Yonrico Scott, Jeff Sipe, Tyler Greenwell, Bruce Royal, (his uncle) Butch Trucks, and the legendary Bernard Purdie taught him priceless lessons. It wasn’t until high school, that he really threw himself into the craft of making music. After graduating high school, he toured with his brother’s band, Soul Stew Revival, across the country playing side-by-side with Yonrico Scott. After ending the month long tour he packed up and moved to Atlanta, where he immediately found the thriving music scene he was looking for. Since then Duane has had the priviledge of playing with such musicians as; The Allman Brothers Band, Col. Bruce Hampton and The Aquarium Rescue Unit, The Derek Trucks Band, Oteil and The Peacemakers, The Codetalkers feat. Col. Bruce Hampton, Ike Stubblefield, Grant Green Jr., Luther Dickinson, Doyle Bramhall II, Warren Haynes, and many others.
