Carl began playing drums in his hometown of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada at the age of 12. Over the years he took lessons from several very well respected local session drummers and instructors that all stressed the importance of playing musically. Very shortly after beginning lessons he put his love of music to work by playing with other young musicians and was gigging before he could even drive. From that point on Carl was playing across the Southern Ontario region with different original bands developing his skills as a drummer and band member. In 1996 he relocated to the Seattle, Washington area where he has been teaching, gigging and recording.
Rock solid, Supportive, and Musical
2012 WBS Drummer of the Year Nominee
Carl is a rock solid drummer. He plays with a supportive and musical approach that keeps him busy laying down grooves for a wide variety of artists in different settings and styles both in Canada, the United States and Europe. Over the years he has developed a very diverse resumé. His list of playing credits includes many original bands and solo artists. Highly regarded local blues vocalist, Mary McPage, Energetic R&B talent, May Palmer, and Seattle rock Quartet, ic3 are a few examples of that diversity. Most recently Carl has been playing live with singer-songwriter/guitarist, Dudley Taft who just released his fifth studio release, “Summer Rain”. Carl has performed with Dudley in the USA, and has toured across Europe in The Netherlands, Germany and Poland. Five different tours with Dudley over the last several years has given Carl the opportunity to perform at many amazing theaters, festivals and clubs. They have performed live on multiple radio shows in Europe and also on the Bob River’s Show here in Seattle. They released a, Live in Europe CD last year, which features a tune that was a number one hit on the, “Hit Tracks Top 100” – an international oriented, Dutch based, all-genre music chart. A spring tour is scheduled for this coming March/April 2018 and will once again include shows in The Netherlands, Germany and several dates in Poland. Between tours with Dudley, Carl began working with Seattle based rockabilly trio, HOTROD.RED that is finishing their debut CD. It will be released early 2018.
Carl’s strong reputation as a sideman makes him a natural choice for side projects both live and in the studio. He has played live and/or recorded with jazz combos, alternative and hard rock bands, with many singer-songwriters, and he has worked extensively in church worship bands. Carl understands his roll very well and adapts quickly to the many different environments that live touring musicians encounter. Carl endorses AQUARIAN drumheads and is also on the Thumper Custom Drums, roster. When he is not gigging he offers private drum instruction to students of all ages.
Whatever the gig, Carl’s passion for creating good music is evident. In the words of one of the many people he has worked with, Carl is, “…an absolute joy to work with.”