Jeff was born and raised in Oakland, California where he began playing drums and percussion at a very young age.  Inspired by the character “Bruno Martelli”, synthesizer guru, on the 80’s television show “Fame”, he became deeply fascinated with electronic synthesizers and drum machines, taking up formal drum instruction around this same time. 

Jeff got his first drum machine right around the time the popularity of hip-hop music and break dancing was in its infant stage.  He became immersed in the sounds of the time-making beats and entering local talent contests with neighborhood rap groups.  Jeff started playing “Trap” drums soon there after with a drum set that was given to him by his Grandfather.

His musical world rapidly began to expand as he discovered other types of music. He became very interested in playing the musical styles of Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Blues, Reggae, Funk, and Rock music (the most influential of these being Jazz Fusion music). Jeff attended YMP (the Young Musicians Program) at the University of California, Berkeley his junior year of high school, where he was exposed to the many different talents and musical tastes of other young passionate musicians from around the Bay Area.  After graduating high school, he went on to receive his Bachelors degree in Music and Recording Arts from California State University Chico. 

Upon returning to the Bay Area in the mid-90’s, Jeff continued to pursue his passion and love of music while working on many different local production and sound reinforcement teams in some of the Bay Area’s most influential music venues. He still plays and creates music in his spare time. Jeff resides in the east bay with his wife and is still, very much, a passionate student of music and the arts!