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| About
Us |
Brandon Draper
Drumset and World Percussion Specialist, Educator, Composer, Clinician, Lecturer
Brandon Draper is a full time percussionist living in Kansas City MO and performs regularly in many different settings from classical to hip-hop. He started drum lessons at the age of 5 and was sitting in with bands at 9. He began playing professionally at the age of 14 in various blues bands with his father, Paul Draper, a professional Hammond B-3 player. Draper holds a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from the University of New Mexico and a Bachelor of Arts in Percussion from Bethany College.
From 2003-2006, Draper held the position of Director of Music at East Mountain Charter High School in Sandia Park New Mexico where he composed for and directed the Rhythm Ensemble, World Percussion Ensemble, Guitar, and Jazz Ensemble. He wrote the curriculum for all classes, focusing on culturally specific world music origins, their role in society, and performance. Brandon is currently the percussion director at Shawnee Mission West High School in Overland Park, KS and jazz drumset instructor at The University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. In addition Draper is a drum circle facilitator and has been a clinician at many summer music camps throughout the Midwest and Southwest and is part of the Vic Firth Education Team.
He has performed in many classical settings including The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra. In contemporary and jazz settings Brandon has performed with Ottmar Liebert, Donna Summer, John Fedchock, Frank Mantooth, Mose Allison, Bruce Dunlap, Eddie Daniels, Doug Lawrence and Kevin Hays. Draper also performs regularly with live DJ's and tours throughout the US with Organic Proof, a duo that combines urban musical elements with tribal drumming.
John Brewer
Pianist - Composer - Keyboardist
John Brewer absorbed varied musical textures growing up, whether he was being lulled into slumber with Brahms Fourth Symphony or taking his first steps to Stevie Wonder's Innervisions. At age six he began taking classical piano lessons but would graduate to jazz in high school. Brewer received a scholarship from Loyola University in New Orleans to further his jazz studies. Outside Loyola, he was quickly picked up by the hard-funk group Afroskull and was one of the founding members of the live hip-hop group Mental Metropolis.
Brewer had the opportunity to study abroad in the African nation of Ghana where he soaked up the culture and polyrhythmic music. After Loyola, John continued his jazz education at the University of New Orleans where he studied under jazz luminaries Terrence Blanchard and Steve Masakowski. He also studied extensively with Micheal Pellera, Doug Bickel, and Victor Atkins. He would go on to record with Masakowski, drummer Adonis Rose, drummer Adam Deitch, bassist Roland Guerin, saxophonist John Ellis, and more.
Brewer has also had the opportunity to play gigs with Johnny Vidacovich and Tony Digradi of Astral Project; Eric Krasno, Ryan Zoidas and Sam Kininger of Soulive; and Lige Curry and Starr Cullars of P-Funk fame. Brewer has sat in with the likes of Nicholas Payton, Paul Jackson Jr., Melvin Sparks, Brian Haas, and Mike Clark while attending their respective gigs. He has also toured with Karl Denson's Tiny Universe guitarist Brian Jordan.
Upon receiving a Master's Degree from the University of New Orleans, John moved back to his hometown and became a Kansas City fireman. The job is structured perfectly for a working musician because it allows him ample time to gig and tour. Firefighting not only allows Brewer to help people, but is also giving him time to develop healthy living habits and foster creativity and growth. |
| Band Members |
Brandon Draper: Drums, Percussion, Loops, bass, guitar, vocals, and African marimba
John Brewer: Keyboards, effects, vocals, drums, percussion, and African marimba |
| Favorite Bands |
| Our influences span across several genre's of music. |
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