Music Drum Set < Back Although Jesse began playing percussion at an early age, it was an encounter with legendary drummer Elvin Jones when Jesse was 15 that really ignited his passion for the drum set. Three years later, Jesse was named “Young Jazz Musician of the Year” by both the International Association of Jazz Educators and Jazz Report Magazine in recognition of his abilities as a drum set performer. In the years since, he has performed with a veritable who’s who of performers in the jazz and creative improvised music idioms including: George Lewis, Roswell Rudd, Evan Parker, Bill Dixon, William Parker, Joe Mcphee, Pauline Oliveros, Carlo Actis Dato, Dominic Duval, Frank Gratkowski, Gerry Hemingway, Achim Kauffman, Maggie Nicols, and many others. He is currently a member of the David Mott quintet and Tallboys with virtuoso musicians Kevin Breit (guitars) and Matt Brubeck (cello). He has toured and recorded extensively. His drum set playing has been described as “truly exciting” (Musicworks 76), “exceptional” (Cadence Oct. 2002), and “phenomenal” (Cadence Nov. 1999). “He plays like four drummers all playing a different style but simultaneously” writes one reviewer. Texas-based reviewer Frank Rubolino described him as “...one of the finest young drummers and percussionists on the scene today” (One Final Note Summer/Fall 2002).