Born: October 5, 1970 Primary Instrument: Drums
Jeremy Steinkoler, “a very swinging drummer who's mastered the art of coordinated independence,” (East Bay Express), is a native New Yorker who's been playing drums professionally since the age of fifteen. In his last 17 years in the Bay Area, he has built a solid reputation among fellow musicians, music lovers, and critics as a creative drummer and composer who draws from eclectic musical influences. Inspired by the hard driving bebop of Max Roach, the Elvin Jones “circle of sound,” the modern phrasings of Jack DeJohnette, as well as a rich influence of New Orleans second-line playing, funk, R&B, and rock, Jeremy speaks with his own unique voice on the drums that is unmistakably fresh and unique.
He has performed and recorded with a wide array of groups, including Hot Links (New Orleans R&B), Guru Garage (funk-jazz), Phatlip (funk-jazz), Kirk Joseph (of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band), Dave Ellis, Bob Bradshaw & the Resident Aliens (rock), Marie Schumacher (folk-rock), as well as with well- known jazz players Adam Levy & Lee Alexander (Norah Jones). He has played at dozens of popular Bay Area venues and festivals, including the San Francisco jazz Festival, Sonoma Jazz Festival, Yoshi's Nightclub in Oakland, the Shoreline Amphitheater, and at Lincoln Center and the Village Gate in New York City. Currently leading his own J. Steinkoler Quartet, as well as the saxes-and-drums-trio Mo'Fone, Jeremy continues to play weekly all over Northern California. He has been featured locally on WWOZ, KCSM, KFOG, KPFA, KUSP and KALX radio stations, and has received airplay across the U.S. and in Europe, Australia, South America, and Africa.
In addition to his busy performing career, Jeremy maintains a full teaching schedule of private students at his studio in Oakland, CA. Jeremy has taught clinics and master classes in Ann Arbor, MI; Berkeley, CA; at the Ark Centre for Children and at the Helix in Dublin, Ireland; and at Cazadero Performing Arts Camp in Cazadero, CA, where he was the Co-Director of the Family Camp program from 1999-2001. He has earned a reputation as an excellent and patient teacher, and currently has a waiting list of students wanting private lessons. Jeremy also is a Co-Founder and Co-Director of BandWorks, (www.bandworks.com) a school of rock for musicians wanting more experience playing in a rock band, with several locations around the Bay Area and in Portland.
Jeremy is proud to endorse Vic Firth drum sticks, Istanbul Cymbals and Attack Drumheads.
Awards:
Voted Best Jazz Group, East Bay Express Readers' Poll 2008 Nominated for Best Funk Band, SF Weekly Music Awards 2008 Nominated for Just Plain Folks Award, best jazz song 2007“Time and again you find your ears drawn to the crisp rhythmic drive he imparts to every groove, from funk and New Orleans R & B to straight-ahead jazz, and to the deft accents he tics out on cymbals and skins.” (SF Bay Guardian)
“Steinkoler's orchestral approach to the trap set is thrilling. He's a whirlwind of activity, filling up empty spaces without sounding busy.” (Contra Costa Times)
“A minimal but mighty romp!” (East bay Express)
“If Mo'Fone doesn't blow your socks off, you're not paying attention.” (allaboutjazz.com)
“One of the hottest bands to surface in a long while.” (jazzwest.com)
“My favorite album of the year by far.” (Contra Costa Times)
“A powerhouse to be reckoned with...In a word, Mo'Fone delivers.” (allaboutjazz.com)
“Like a furious detachment of the Tower of Power horns” (ejazznews.com)
“One of the funkiest jazz albums you'll ever hear” (Carl Abernathy)
“Mo'Fone swings so hard it sounds like an ensemble twice its size” (SF Chronicle)
Primary Instrument:
Drums
Location:
El Cerrito, CA
Willing to teach:
Beginners
Credentials/Background:
Jeremy has been teaching drum lessons since 1991. He is respected as one of
the premier teachers in the SF Bay Area, with a reputation for being fun, patient,
knowledgeable, and great with kids. He has also taught rock band workshops
for over 17 years and brings his coniderable experience working with bands and
in bands to bear on his lessons. Jeremy is also endorsed by Vic Firth
Drumsticks, Istanbul Cymbals, and Attack Drumheads. $75/hour, $40/half-
hour, Mon-Fri.
Clinic/Workshop Information:
Please contact me for information about drum clinics and rock band workshops.
