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Greg Fundis

Greg Fundis is a highly sought-after Chicago-based drummer known for bringing energy, groove and chops to his live performances spanning a multitude of musical genres. Currently touring with internationally known tribute group Led Zeppelin 2 as well as world renowned guitarist Fareed Haque, he has shared the stage throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, Israel, Caribbean Islands, Indonesia and Japan along side other notable artists such as George Benson, Joey DeFrancesco, Paquito D'Rivera, Roy Hargrove, Louis Bellson, comedian Rich Little, Joe Lovano, Bob Brookmeyer, Tom Harrell & Tony Monaco.  
Greg has been recognized in Downbeat Magazine as a notable jazz alumnus holding a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from DePaul University in Chicago and a Bachelors from Millikin University. While at Millikin, Fundis became an internationally published percussion composer at the age of 19 with his book of compositions, "Contemporary Audition Solos for Percussion"(Studio 4 Music/MostlyMarimba). His teachers and mentors have included Steve Smith, Louis Bellson, Jim Chapin, Steve Houghton, Brian Justison and Kim Klickna.
In addition to relentless performing, Fundis is a music educator, ensemble director and clinician in the Chicago area where he has held positions at Roosevelt and DePaul universities and currently teaches percussion classes at Whitney Young High School and coordinates world percussion activities for over 3,000 area youth with JCC of Chicago.
Greg Fundis plays Ludwig drums, Paiste cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Humes and Berg cases and Remo drum Heads.

Official website: www.gregfundis.com 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/gregfundis

Instagram: www.instagram.com/gregfundis

Gear

Ludwig Drums

Paiste & Zildjian Cymbals

Vic Firth Sticks, Brushes & Mallets

Humes and Berg Cases

Remo Drum Heads


Tags

33
Album Review

Alternative Guitar Summit: Honoring Pat Martino, Volume 1

Read "Honoring Pat Martino, Volume 1" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Each year the Alternative Guitar Summit, led by Joel Harrison, presents a concert to honor a living jazz composer/guitarist. That wasn't possible in 2021, however, as venues in and around New York City were shuttered tight by the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, it was clear that the chosen honoree, the great Pat Martino, was gravely ill and might not have another year to live. With that in mind, members of the Summit took their guitars straight to a studio to record ...

15
Album Review

Joshua Jern Jazz Orchestra: Lockdown

Read "Lockdown" reviewed by Jack Bowers


After taking a pleasant and romantic Midnight Stroll in 2019, trumpeter/composer Joshua Jern's Chicago-based Jazz Orchestra (like almost everyone else) began a coronavirus-decreed Lockdown but has emerged two years later from that self-imposed hiatus swinging harder and more often than ever. As before, most compositions and all arrangements are by Jern; and as before, the orchestra performs them with ardor and panache. This time around, however, there is a formidable new “weapon" on two tracks ("A Stretch ...

6
Album Review

Joshua Jern Jazz Orchestra: Midnight Stroll

Read "Midnight Stroll" reviewed by Jack Bowers


One can only imagine how difficult it must be, especially in such uncertain times, for any musician to decide that the time has come to assemble a big band and usher it into a recording studio, let alone one whose name and reputation are, more than likely, scarcely known outside his own neighborhood. Thumbing his nose at the odds, Joshua Jern, a Chicago-based trumpeter and educator with impressive talents, has done exactly that, escorting his remarkably well-groomed ensemble on a ...

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"Greg Fundis can execute a commanding minutes-long drum solo that would make the real John Bonham green with envy" - A.V. Club read full article

"high-velocity improvisations driven hard by drummer Greg Fundis' eruptions" -Chicago Tribune read full article

"Greg Fundis’ acoustic and electric drum kit open up new frontiers for the time honored genre. . .Fundis’ electric drums can sound like they are bouncing off the moon before reaching the audience’s ears or they can pierce through the air like lasers at the speed of light. Greg does a great job of balancing the styles of acoustic jazz trap drumming with electric percussion. His acoustic solos are clean and articulate, using the digital pads to spice his rhythms." -JamBands.com read full article

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Primary Instrument

Drums

Location

Chicago

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

In addition to relentless performing, Fundis is a music educator, ensemble director and clinician in the Chicago area where he has held positions at Roosevelt and DePaul universities and currently teaches percussion classes at Whitney Young High School and coordinates world percussion activities for over 3,000 area youth with JCC of Chicago.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Greg Fundis also performs as a drumset and percussion clinician throughout the US and abroad with past clinics at Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia, Boise Jazz Festival- Boise, Idaho, Illinois Day of Percussion-Roosevelt University & School of Rock-Andersonville Chicago, IL

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Honoring Pat Martino,...

HighNote Records
2022

buy

Lockdown

Self Produced
2021

buy

Midnight Stroll

Self Produced
2020

buy

As You Spend Your Life

Southport Records
2011

buy
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7JSAJt0GMD8RQB6C92xhZ9?si=1cbdb412996d4fc6

Videos

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