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Adam Carlson

Adam Carlson is a Bend native living in Eugene, Oregon as a freelance musician. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2014 with a bachelors degree in Jazz studies (Cum Laude), and performs frequently around Eugene and the Northwest. Adam plays many styles of music including jazz, rock, latin, funk, and pop. He has played drums on numerous albums, and has performed with many Eugene musicians, and UO faculty members. Adam is interested in many styles of music, and dedicates time to compose and arrange his own music. Adam also teaches private drum lessons in Eugene: all ages, skill levels, and styles.

Full Biography ADAM CARLSON – Eugene drummer – is a native of Bend, Oregon and was born in 1991. He began playing drums at the age of 13 when he joined the middle school jazz band. From there, his interest in jazz grew exponentially and eventually become an addiction. Inspired by local Bend jazz educators, such as Andy Armer and Jody Henderson, he immersed himself in the Bend jazz scene. Whether he was taking classes at the Cascades Community School of Music, playing in local musical productions, like Caberet, or playing gigs at Bebop Coffee House, Adam was playing the drums. He began attending summer jazz workshops — like the Mel Brown Summer Jazz Workshop and the University of Oregon Summer Jazz Camp — and sought out the best drum instruction he could. Among his many teachers are Portland drummers Gary Hobbs, Mel Brown, Todd Strait, Charlie Doggett, Jason Palmer, and Carlton Jackson. In 2008 & 2010, he was selected to drum for the OMEA All State groups, and in 2009 he was chosen as the drummer for the MENC All Northwest Jazz Choir. He was also awarded an Outstanding Musician Award at the Reno Jazz Festival in 2009 & 2010, and then again in college in 2011 & 2012. Picture Adam graduated cum laude from the Jazz Studies program at the University of Oregon with a Bachelors Degree in Jazz Studies in Spring 2014. Upon graduation he was awarded the Most Outstanding Performer Award in the area of Jazz Studies. During his time in the program, Adam studied with drummer Gary Hobbs, and played drum set in the University's top jazz combo. He also played drum set with the Oregon Jazz Ensemble, the premiere UO big band under the direction of Steve Owen. In the summer of 2014, the Oregon Jazz Ensemble was sponsored to travel to Europe, and play at four renowned, international Jazz festivals: The Montreux Jazz Festival, the Umbria Jazz Festival, Jazz á Vienne, and Festival Internazionale del Jazz della Spezia. As a musician who has been extremely involved in what both the University and Eugene has to offer, he takes every opportunity to work with a variety of local musicians. Among these are Mike Denny, Carl Woideck, Steve Owen, Tyler Abbott, Olem Alves, Tim McLaughlin, Don Latarski, Torrey Newhart, Adam Harris, Paul Biondi, and Siri Vik. Adam has been privileged enough to play drums on numerous debut albums including that of Paul Krueger, Torrey Newhart, Tony Glausi, Nick Hamel (leader of Hands Like Sticks), and the Olem Alves led funk/jazz fusion band called Inner Limits. Another project Adam is involved with is the Michael Radliff Quartet. This group plays frequently around Eugene, bringing their arrangements of vocal jazz and pop tunes to public venues. To check out any of these projects, be sure to click on the links in blue!

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Tags

Primary Instrument

Drums

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Adam holds a B.A. from the University of Oregon in Music: Jazz Studies in 2014, cum laude, and has been teaching privately since 2008.

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