Chris McHugh can be seen touring with Keith Urban on his 2009 “Escape Together World Tour,” but his work can be heard on numerous platinum and Grammy Award winning recordings from a virtual who’s who in the music industry. It is estimated that his involvement in the making of nearly 50 albums has played a role in the sale of upwards of 100 million CDs worldwide.

A New Jersey native, Chris moved to Nashville in 1985 to start his professional music career. He has since recorded, produced and audio engineered for the likes of Faith Hill, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Jewel, etc. He has also served as Keith Urban’s musical director for the past two years.

For more information on Chris McHugh and his upcoming tour with Keith Urban, please visit: www.keithurban.net



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Matt Chamberlain has been a force in the drumming community for over two decades. Matt’s drumming can be heard on countless albums, and he’s provided the backbone for some of the music industries best artists.
 
Matt’s drumming can be heard on some particularly innovative work, including tracks and albums with: Tori Amos , Morrissey, Fiona Apple, Stevie Nicks, Critters Buggin, Dido, Sean Lennon, Melissa Etheridge, Robert Fripp, Jon Brion, Martina McBride, David Torn, Indigo Girls, Weapon of Choice, Stone Gossard, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Pearl Jam, Tim and Neil Finn, David Bowie, Elton John, Peter Gabriel, The Wallflowers, Natalie Merchant, Bill Frisell, The Saturday Night Live Band, Robbie Williams, Kanye West, Garbage, Anika Moa, Shakira, John Mayer, Brad Mehldau, Keith Urban, Liz Phair, Chris Isaak, Dave Navarro, Kevin Max, Sam Phillips, Aaron Neville, The Corrs, Macy Gray, Dave Koz,  Faith Hill, Natalie Merchant, Bruce Hornsby, Elisa, Danny Elfman,  Sara Evans, Lifehouse, Christina Aguilera, Lisa Loeb and William Shatner.
 
In August 2007, Chamberlain will release the debut project Floratone with musician Bill Frisell. Matt, who has worked with Tori Amos for over ten years, will be featured during her upcoming US Tour, starting October 9th in New York.

For more information, and the entire 2009 Tori Amos Tour Schedule: www.toriamos.com

Check out Matt's website: www.mattchamberlain.com



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Ronnie’s solid and tasteful playing-skills have been a key ingredient in The Killers success over the last five years.

In the late '90s, Ronnie played in the melodic indie-rock group Expert On October with The Killers current touring backup guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist, Ted Sablay. Vannucci, then joined The Killers in 2002 with Mark Stoermer, Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning. The Killers first album "Hot Fuss", released June of 2004, was a breakthrough success. The album included multiple hits, including: "Somebody Told Me", "Mr. Brightside", "All These Things That I've Done", and "Smile Like You Mean It". “Hot Fuss” went on to win multiple awards and nominations throughout the music industry, including: MTV Video Music Awards 2005 - Best New Artist; MTV Europe Music Awards 2006 - Best Rock Group; and World Music Awards 2005 -World's Best Selling New Group.

The Killers second studio album “Sam’s Town”, released October of 2006, is continuing the bands ongoing success. The first single off the album "When You Were Young" debuted on radio stations in late July ’06 and was an instant hit. “Sam’s Town” went on to sell over 700,000 copies worldwide in the first week of its release. The Killers next single, "Bones" was the second video from the band, and was directed by Tim Burton. “Bones” went on to win the 2007 Shockwaves NME Award for Best Video. The Killers have announced that the band will be in the recording studio sometime in mid 2008 for their third album. To date, “Sam’s Town” has produced four singles in the United Kingdom and United States: “When You Were Young”, “Bones”, “Read My Mind”, and “For Reasons Unknown”. The Killers were recently awarded the 2007 BRIT Award  for Best International Album, as well as Best International Group. The Killers are currently on tour in Europe, promoting “Sam’s Town”.

"I'm not paid by anyone, I don't get a snare drum for writing something nice about Craviotto Drums. I only endorse something I truly believe in. Plain and simple. I play these drums because they make me sound good. I think it's the only reason you should play a particular brand of instrument; after all, it is the point, right? To sound the best you can. It's as if Johnny Craviotto were destined to make drums like these. A simple idea, perfected. So much time and craft has gone into these drums, and you hear it!. Not to mention their beauty. Perhaps it's said best when being asked to describe a set of Craviotto Drums, is that they sound honest. There's nothing getting in the way. They say that being truthful and honest is always the way to go. If you want the truth, then maybe you should play these drums. I do."

r
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For more information on The Killers, and their entire 2008/09 Tour Schedule: www.thekillersmusic.com



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Chad Cromwell’s career began to blossom in Memphis, Tennessee during the early 1980’s. In 1986, Chad moved out west to join Joe Walsh for a collaboration which produced Got Any Gum? and Ordinary Average Guy, which resulted in multiple US and worldwide tours. The following year, 1987, Chad got the call to record with one of the world's most prolific songwriters, Neil Young. These sessions became Neil Young & The Bluenotes. After touring to promote this record, and producing MTV's 'Video of the Year', This Note's For You, Neil's interest circled back to 3-piece Rock & Roll which led to the New York and San Francisco recording sessions that ultimately became the album Freedom.

In 1990, Chad moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Richard Bennett and Tony Brown were among the first producers in Nashville to request Chad for session work. These two producers would prove extremely helpful in creating a successful recording career for Chad, in Nashville. In 1996, Chad’s artistry behind the drums was formally recognized by his peers, when Chad was nominated for the Nashville Music Awards as “Drummer/Percussionist of the Year”. That same year, Chad could be heard on Leann Rimes breakthrough album, “Blue”.

During the mid-90’s, Mark Knopfler recruited Chad for the recording of Golden Heart, Mark Knopfler’s first solo album. Chad soon went on tour with Mark in 1996, to promote the album. Mark Knopfler and Chad Cromwell would go on to work together quite a bit; including the soundtracks to the films Metroland and the US blockbuster Wag The Dog. Knopfler would team up with Cromwell again in 2001 for his album Sailing To Philadelphia, 2003’s album The Ragpicker’s Dream, & 2004’s album Shangri-La.

Chad’s studio work would continue throughout 2004 and 2005, working with artists such as Sugarland, Gretchen Wilson, Trisha Yearwood, Marty Stewart, and Miranda Lambert.

Chad Cromwell’s career has seen him in the studio and on stage/TV/touring with an impressive list of major recording artists. In addition to those already mentioned, Chad’s versatility behind the drums has been showcased with multiple country and pop artists throughout the years. Chad Cromwell has executed a solid-feel behind many of today’s hit-making artists, including: Blake Shelton, John Michael Montgomery, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Jessica Simpson , Boz Scaggs, Wynonna, Bonnie Raitt, Peter Frampton, Donnie Osmond, Gary Allen, Radney Foster, Comedians Jeff Foxworthy & Bill Engvall, Kenny Chesney, Lee Ann Womack, Amy Grant, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Brooks & Dunn, and Keb’ Mo’.

The spring of 2005 brought a new project with Neil Young, called "Prairie Wind”. The spring of 2006 brought another recording called "Living with War”. Chad performed on Neil Young's “Heart of Gold” Movie, filmed and directed by Johnathan Demme, during the summer of 2005.

During 2006, Chad was hard at work in the studio with artists Livingston Taylor, Toby Keith, as well as recording tracks featured on a new box set release "These Days" by acclaimed country music star Vince Gill. Chad would continue throughout 2006 recording and touring with Neil Young and performing on CSNY's "Freedom of Speech Tour”.

Chad Cromwell is currently touring Europe with Neil Young. The tour is expected to run through mid-2009, and US dates will be announced in the coming months.

Check out Chad on tour with Neil Young!

Drummer, composer, bandleader, producer, author, educator and Palmetto recording artist Matt Wilson is considered one of the most creative, talented and entertaining spirits in jazz today. He recently won the Downbeat Critic’s Poll for Rising Star Drummer for the fifth year in a row and his band, Arts and Crafts, was voted Rising Star Small Group. In 2003, Wilson was voted Drummer of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association and has been voted one of the top jazz drummers of the year by Modern Drummer magazine readers for the past three years.

At home in a variety of settings, Wilson has appeared on over 170 recordings as a sideman and has performed throughout the world. He performs with a wide range of ensembles including bands led by Charlie Haden, Lee Konitz, Larry Goldings, Denny Zeitlin, Bill Mays, Jane Ira Bloom, Dena Derose, Ted Nash, Frank Kimbrough, Steve Cardenas, Mark Dresser and numerous others.  In addition, he has performed and or recorded with Wynton Marsalis, Dewey Redman, Pat Metheny, Kenny Barron, John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Andrew Hill, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Paul Bley, Buster Williams, Ray Anderson, Eddie Gomez, Michael Brecker, Curtis Stigers, John Medeski, Randy Brecker and Fred Hersch. Wilson has made seven critically acclaimed albums as a leader for Palmetto Records, a label he has been associated with for a decade. His most recent “The Scenic Route” was released in February of 2007 and is being recognized as one of the top jazz recordings of the year.

Wilson leads several of his own ensembles including Arts and Crafts, the Matt Wilson Quartet, the Carl Sandburg Project and Field Trip. His bands have toured throughout the U.S, Europe, Canada and Australia and have performed at Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Hall, the Newport Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, Melbourne, Australia Jazz Festival, and numerous other festivals, halls, colleges and high schools.

Wilson recently appeared on the Canadian Bravo network television show "Solos”. He improvised pieces on drum set and incorporated a juicer, children’s toys and electric drill into his solo adventures. A full length DVD of the show will be released in 2008. He is also one of the featured performers on the DVD of the 2003 Modern Drummer Festival released by Hudson Music.

Matt is a popular educator and has presented fun-filled workshops at schools, camps, festivals and conventions throughout the world. He contributes a column  "Improv Playhouse" for Modern Drummer magazine and is currently working on a book on improvisation for the drumset. In addition, Matt teaches at the Interplay Jazz Camp, Stanford Jazz Workshop and Sarah Lawrence College.

Wilson endorses Craviotto drums, Zildjian and sticks, Remo drumheads, Factory Metal percussion and Protechtor cases.

Matt lives in Baldwin, New York with his wife Felicia, daughter Audrey and  triplet sons, Max, Henry and Ethan. Have fun at www.mattwilsonjazz.com

Johnny Craviotto is the Soundmaster General (and a hipster!) by Matt Wilson

The artistry of Sir Johnny Craviotto, a true American craftsman, warrants him the title of the United States Soundmaster General in the invaluable division of the drum.

The love that is put into each and every Craviotto drum is evident as you play them. The immediate partnership of player and drum allows you to offer a wonderful sound to the music that you are playing. That is what I love about Johnny’s vibe. He knows that the instrument is meant to convey the wide spectrum of a player’s sonic imagination to the band.

That is what the drums are allowing me to do. They sing, growl, laugh, cry, align, collide, howl, whisper and shout. Whatever I feel the drums respond. They are loyal friends ready to convey the feeling. I feel connected to their vibrations!

Often, we are barraged with specs about an instrument and I appreciate that aspect of instrument construction. Though when you meet Johnny, he always first expresses the joy of knowing that his artistry is contributing to music. I love that about him.

Believe me when I say that I know something hip is happening when my fellow musicians are digging the Craviottos and how their sound inspires them.
That is remarkable!

Everyone also adores the beautiful finishes of the drums, especially the intricate wood inlay on my set. Hey, that is just further proof of the love put into the Craviotto drum!

The whole crew at Craviotto is dedicated to his philosophy of the love of music.
They know that their artistry and craftsmanship is being used to bring beauty to our planet through sound.

Hallejulah!!

Love,

Matt

Matt Wilson Itinerary

Dec. 19-20 Dena Derose Trio Kitano NYC

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Check out Matt's Stimulus Tour!

Cravitto Drums and the expansion of ones mind, body, and soul...

Music is something that I've always been drawn to, and according to my
mom, it was through drums starting at 1 and a half. So it's been a
long time I've been hitting things and making sounds. Over the years
I feel like I've played just about every trap set out there. Every
make and model. From the cardboard cut outs, to the super fine custom
drums. Loving music, it rarely made much of a difference in a way.
Yes, some drums made more impressions than others, but I was playing
music so it was cool. Drums is what I needed. Back in 1996 I was
playing at Kuumbwa Jazz Center and this guy comes up to me and gives
me many a compliment. He then tells me he's Johhny Craviotto, he makes
snare drums and he'd like me to check out his drums. I had heard of
Johnny and said sure. Send one up to me when you get a chance. Few
weeks later one of his makers shows up in San Francisco with a 6.5"
maple solid shell drum. I put it on the stand, play it and stop. I'm
blown away. I didn't even tune the thing and it was speaking volumes,
not volume, but volumes. Sounds, dynamics, textures, within a few
moments I could hear the difference. Needless to say, that drum was my
mainstay for years. I tried not to go anywhere without it. Any time I
played another snare drum, I missed my Craviotto.
Several years later I get a call from Johnny. He says he's making
full kits and he wants me to check them out. So I say to him 'you
tell me when to be there and I'll check them out'. I drive down to
his workshop in Wattsonville. He points me to the seat behind these
gorgeous drums. Just looking at them was almost enough. I start to
play them, but this time I don't want to stop. Once again, completely
blown away. Johnny's drums are an extension of musical ideas, of
sounds I hear in my head, of tones I WANT to hear from the drums. I
almost can't believe it. Again, I love drums, and have always loved
drums, but to play an instrument that can actually allow true
expression of ones art, TRUE expression, is rare in my opinion. These
drums kick my ass. I hear things now that I've never heard on
the drums. They tell the truth. I still can't believe it. Every time I
play Craviottos I feel complete as a musician, drummer, composer...
Johnny has brought art to the making of drums like no other. There are
so many possibilities with his drums. I've been using a 12"x 18" bass
drum. No one believes it's 12"x18". When I want bottom and volume, I
can get it. When I want soft and subtle, I can get it, out of any of
his drums. Even the 14"x16" I played at the NAMM show.
True expression is rare. Johnny and company have made it a
reality. I for one am grateful. THOSE FREAK'N DRUMS JOHNNY!! THOSE
FREAK'N DRUMS!!!

Scott Amendola

Check out Scott Amendola's website at scottamendola.com or check him out on myspace at  www.myspace.com/scottamendola

Listen To Scott Amendola Play Craviotto Drums Below:






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"The Craviotto drums are beautiful, a full sound... and made in America!"

Tom started playing drums at the age of 14, having previously spent 10 years studying the violin. Inspired by his first drum teacher to delve in to Jazz and Latin music, he began his professional career in the burgeoning London Acid Jazz scene. After a few years of touring and recording, Tom began to explore different genres and new approaches to playing, which lead him to work with Jamie Hince in the band, Fiji, touring his debut record and recording the second record. From there, Tom was asked to tour with Sony recording artist, Rosalie Deighton, in support of her debut record, Truth Drug. Going deeper in to the Alternative scene, Tom then toured and recorded with the rock band Apes, Pigs and Spacemen. This resulted in their fourth record, ‘Free Pawn’.

After a couple of years with AP&S, Tom moved back in to Pop music, recording with Spice Girl Emma Bunton for her Latin inflected number 1 club hit, ‘Crickets Sing For Ana Maria’, and the resulting EP. Tom then began a long tenure with Universal recording artist, Lucie Silvas, touring extensively throughout the UK and Europe in support of her platinum selling debut album ‘Breathe In’. Tom and the band then joined Lucie in the studio to record her follow up album, ‘The Same Side’, with Coldplay producer Danton Supple. In the same year, Tom also started working with the Universal-signed group Girls Aloud, on their debut arena tour and subsequently appearing on the live DVD of the show – ‘Girls Aloud-Greatest Hits Live’. He also performed with them at their UK festival debut, V2006, and at the inaugural Vodafone Live Music Awards.At the end of 2006, alongside continued work with Lucie Silvas and Girls Aloud, Tom also started working EMI recording artist, Jamelia, promoting her ‘Walk With Me’ album in the UK and Europe.

Since 2007, Tom has been touring the world with Grammy and Brit award winning artist Duffy, in support of her 6.5 million selling debut album, ‘Rockferry’. For tour dates, television appearances and updates, check out www.iamduffy.com or www.myspace.com/duffymyspace.

Carl Lemar Carter
~ NOW ON TOUR WITH RAPHAEL SAADIQ!!! ~

Carl Lemar Carter has played with a variety of well-known artists throughout the last decade, many in the Christian and R&B genres. After spending the last two+ years on the road with Carrie Underwood & Joss Stone, Carl Lemar Carter is now touring with Grammy nominated artist, RAPHAEL SAADIQ.

In 2007, as Carrie Underwood's tour was in the final stages, Joss Stone recruited Carl Lemar Carter to hold down the groove for her upcoming tour. After more than a year on the road with the UK sensation, Carl Lemar Carter is now touring with contemporary soul singer Raphael Saadiq.

Raphael Saadiq's music holds a soulful tone, that reflects his deep love for 1960s rhythm and blues. Carl Lemar Carter provides the backbone for the retro-groove R&B sound, that is Raphael Saadiq.

Craviotto Drum Company is proud to have Carl Lemar Carter play our fine instruments.

For more information & tour dates on Raphael Saadiq, please visit: www.raphaelsaadiq.com

His drumming resume doubles as a who’s who laundry list of early 2000’s pioneer Hardcore and Punk rock, and as a blueprint of a young, prolific career, packed tightly with studio drumming and exhaustive touring with Death by Stereo, A Static Lullaby, The Vandals, among many others.

His professional drumming credits began in 1999, when he played on Death by Stereo’s debut album, If Looks Could Kill, I’d Watch You Die, followed by Give Up the Ghost’s debut album, Background Music in 2001, and afterward segued into a European summer tour as drummer for The Vandals. Between 2002 and 2003, he recorded drum tracks for The Hope Conspiracy’s End Note, Throwdown’s Haymaker, The Bars’ Introducing, and The Suicide File’s Things Fall Apart (as well as touring with the band). And in the years that followed, recorded albums and toured with A Static Lullaby, When Tigers Fight and Mean Season.

Jarrod has an almost obsessive, connoisseur-like knowledge, love and collection of drums, as well as a set of influencers that include Mitch Mitchell, Dave Grohl, Bill Stevenson and Matt Cameron. The inception, and evolution, of his style started when he was young; “I wanted to play the drums when I was sitting at my Uncle’s 1970’s Rogers set, at an age so young my feet wouldn’t touch the pedals. I was fascinated by all of the different sounds that each piece of the drum set made…and knew I had to be a drummer.”

He characterizes his own style as coming from a teenage desire to “play fast” and “throw in as many rudimental marching band licks as possible”, and later loving “choking splashes and cranking my snare to wake the dead, and standing up on my throne and jumping off in the breaks of songs.”—which ended up with him driving himself to the emergency room after wrecking his ankle. The evolution continued after meeting AFI’s Adam Carson, whose sound prompted Jarrod to “zoom in” on drum tuning and “let the songs breathe”. With a combination of insane natural ability, and a heart-breaking amount of work, Jarrod’s honed his craft to exactly where he wants it, defined by “the finesse, the speed and craziness” that’s the control aspect of his percussion, as well as “the Neanderthal face-smashing” that is always impressively powerful, sometimes awesomely so, to be in the same room with.

Listen To Jarrod Alexander Play Craviotto Drums Below:

Paul is also an extremely successful jazz educator. He was Head of Percussion at the Musician’s Institute in London and a visiting lecturer in music education at the Australian National University in Canberra, 2003. He has taught extensively in the US and UK, at the Music Conservatory of Westchester, NY, The Westchester School of Music in Mamaronek, NY and at Westminster School in London. He enjoys a thriving private teaching practice in both drums and piano, and currently teaches at Richmond College, London and Saint Lawrence College, Ramsgate.

Paul’s work as a composer has been featured on BBC television, Jazz FM, on the last three albums by the David Gordon Trio and now on his own CD, Francisco’s Rhumba by the Paul Cavaciuti Quartet.

Click here to listen to "Drummer Boy"
and here to listen to "Rain"

Check out Paul on these dates:

Bart Vergoossen comes from the south of Holland. Born in the town of Echt, he started playing the local drum-band when he was 12 years old. When he was 15 he started a band with his brother Joost, who is an accomplished guitar player…
Bart studied at the conservatory of Maastricht and graduated “cum laude”. During his study, Bart and his brother continued with their band, became quite successful, and gained a lot of experience playing all over Holland.
In 1998, Bart was asked to join Ilse DeLange’s band, who had just released her debut album. Ilse has had a very successful career ever since. She has won several Dutch Grammy Awards, and her latest album “Incredible” (2008 / Universal Music) has already achieved a double platinum status. DeLange’s album has topped all of the music charts, and has remained in the top 10 since it’s debut. Besides the fact that Ilse and Bart are a couple, Bart has always been the drummer in her live band.
This summer, Ilse will play multiple major festivals throughout Holland, as well as a club-tour later this year.
Bart has played Craviotto drums since 2008. “These are by far the best sounding and best looking drums I have ever played. Every time I play them I can’t help but smile. Thanx Johnny, and the rest of the Craviotto family, for making these incredible drums!” - Bart Vergoossen

For more info:
www.ilsedelange.com
www.twitter.com/ilsedelange
www.myspace.com/ilsedelange
www.youtube.com/ilsedelangemusic
www.facebook.com/ilsedelange

Janet escaped Los Angeles at 17, attending college at San Francisco University. She became very interested in local bands like Donner Party, Camper Van Beethoven, Blue Movie, The Catheads. She connected with their irreverent, DIY, rebellious attitude, and the intimacy of the small clubs in which they regularly played. At the ripe old age of 22, after one drum lesson on a practice pad, Janet joined the sloppy rock trio The Furies. Without any training, Janet learned the drums by watching drummers at a million shows, and by studying John Bonham, Mick Avery, Mitch Mitchell, Topper Headon, Melanie Clarin, Elvin Jones, and countless others.

In 1989 she moved to Portland, Oregon where she’s resided ever since. She’s played mostly in two bands for more than a decade, Quasi and Sleater-Kinney. Each made 7 records, and toured the world, allowing her to support herself with her music. Her drumming, which became more outspoken and personal, was honed against the Indie Rock backdrop of the 1990’s. Janet loves long tom fills, and a snare drum with a giant crack. She first heard the Craviotto snare drum she calls her “snare mate” while engineering a local band. They borrowed it from a shop in town. She tracked it down and offered her first child for it. But it’s lucky owner said it was only available on a borrow basis. She played it, a refurbished Radio King, whenever she could, until she found a maple Craviotto of her own.

Listen To Janet Weiss Play Craviotto Drums Below: