Michael Pinkham, Drums:

Michael began playing drums at age sixteen and started gigging shortly thereafter. Like many drummers, he was drawn towards the rhythms of Africa, Cuba, Brazil and India and in 1998-1999, Michael studied tabla at the Ali Akbar College with Tim Witter and Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri. The infectious driving rhythms of Brazil led Michael to join the traditional Samba batteria, Samba Do Corocao where he continues to grow and learn. Incorporating the Samba "swing" into his drumset playing, Michael began playing with Ubiquity recording artists, Superbacana, which mixes traditional Samba rhythms with funk and electronica. He has studied privately with some of the greatest drumset players in the Bay Area, including Colin Bailey, Alan Hall, Robert Kaufman and Atma Anur. Currently Michael plays and tours with Albino!, a fifteen piece afrobeat ensemble; Diego's Umbrella, an acoustic based pop-oriented fourpiece; Monkey Knife Fight, a jazz/funk/fusion quartet and I Am Spoonbender, a rock based project with a very theatrical stage show. Throughout his musical journey, Michael has always played and studied jazz, which remains at the forefront of his endeavors.