Biography
Drew Shoals strives to say something new with his drums. Building off the foundation of his rock and funk origins, this Portland, OR native is furthering the musical dialogue of modern-jazz drumming. Calling upon the primordial pulse of hip-hop and the tension and release of mix-metered fusion, Shoals incorporates his love for the eclectic into every beat.
He has studied extensively with Marty Higgins, Israel Annoh, Mike Van Lew, Herb Kost, Ronnie Harrison, and at Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA where he worked with percussion instructor Spencer Martin as well as graduating with honors, earning a BA in African-American Studies in 2005. Under the direction of trombonist and jazz department chair Dave Glenn, Shoals was able to play in stellar ensembles focusing on anything from straight ahead, to ECM and Afro-Cuban.
While studying at Whitman, Shoals competed at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival where he was awarded Outstanding Drum Soloist for the college division in 2005. Now he resides back in Portland while keeping busy performing and recording with several projects.
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