ARTIST NAME: Rich Stitzel                  

BORN IN (city): Denton, TX

LIVES IN (city): Chicago, IL

DRUMMING SINCE (year): 1982, Professionally since 1991

CURRENT BAND/PROJECT(S): The DrumMantra, The Unknown New, BKO,Independent/Session

BIGGEST INFLUENCE(S):

Musicians: Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, John Scofield, Count Basie, Sting, Joe Zawinul, Eddie Van Halen, John Coltrane, Peter Gabriel, Frank Zappa

Drummers: Tony Williams, Ed Thigpen, Sonny Payne, Stewart Copeland, Omar Hakim, Keith Carlock, Alex Van Halen, Bill Stewart, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jim Keltner, Matt Betton Jr.

Artists: Willem DeKooning, Mark Rothko, Joan Mitchell, Agnes Martin, Cy Twombly

FAVOURITE ALBUM YOU PLAYED ON: e band, No Lonely in Alone

FAVOURITE ALBUM YOU DIDN’T PLAY ON: Sportin’ Life (Weather Report) 

CAREER HIGHLIGHT: EVERYTHING! I see every gig, session, concert, performance, clinic, etc, as equally cool & important.  From small jazz clubs with Unknown New to theatres with Christian Howes to huge fests with Cathy Richardson to sessions & events with Beatmix Music to arenas with Miranda Lambert and everything in between!

FAVOURITE SABIAN CYMBAL: 22” Encore Flat Ride