Artists - Yamaha

Gulli Briem

Born in Reykjavik, Iceland. As a child Gulli started banging on pots and pans on the kitchen floor of the family home in Reykjavik. Played guitar for two years and sang in a school band until the original drummer got sick and was forced to leave his chair. Practiced drums in the loft of the Briem family residence, while playing in high school bands and musicals, where he met Johann Asmundsson a co-founding member of Mezzoforte (1977). The pair soon met Eythor Gunnarsson and Fridrik Karlsson in a Reykjavik music store, where Fridrik sold guitars. Recorded and toured with the band internationally from 1982. Their first big worldwide success with the group was in 1983 with the U.K. dance funk hit "Garden Party" and the Surprise, Surprise album. Mezzoforte has been nominated five times as the drummer of the year in Iceland.

Michael Baker

Matthew Garrison

Adam Topol

Drummer Adam Topol has been on some remarkable musical journeys, including a recent world tour with Jack Johnson, with whom he's played since the late 1990s. But he's as musically adventurous as he is well traveled: As a solo artist, collaborator, and sideman, Topol has explored an atlas-full of world music styles, with an emphasis on Cuban and Jamaican grooves.

Marcus Baylor

Kenny Garrett

Akira Jimbo

Casiopea 3rd/Independent

Dave McClain

Machine Head

Teddy Campbell

American Idol

Mickey Curry

Born in 1956 in New Haven, Connecticut, Mickey took up drums when he was 11 and played with local bands. His early inspirations ranged from Ringo Starr and John Bonham through to Chicago’s Danny Seraphine and – under the influence of his older brothers – the classic R’n’B of Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding and James Brown.

Richard Spaven

Some people navigate the world quietly, treading softly wherever they go, leaving an impression that lasts nonetheless. Richard Spaven is such a person, his humble attitude and down-to-earth, warm personality actually draws people to him and when you hear what he has to say musically on the drum set, you know you should be paying close attention. In this current world of cut-throat business, hire and fire mentality and quick-fix it is refreshing to listen to a player that can deliver without adding any further brouhaha to the mix, a player that has his own unique take on how to make things swing, groove and excite, not only the artist that he is working for, but the audience too. With all these qualities, you know you are in the company of a great musician.

Tommy Aldridge

Independent