I've been hitting the skins for over 25 years. This adventure has taken me all over the U.S., has given me the chance to meet some really incredible people, and learn from some of the best musicians. What started as a fun thing to do with friends quickly became a passion after hearing Elvin Jones on John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme".  That was over 25 years ago and I am still learning! 

I have studied music in a variety of ways. I ended up with a B.A. in International Studies from Portland State University (PSU) and an M.A. in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago. However, I did get a minor in Jazz Studies from PSU. Ear training and theory certainly made me a much better drummer, but I learned the most from all the great teachers and experiences I had over the years. 

With International Studies, I was able to learn about how music (and art) has been used as a means of cultural preservation, promoting awareness, combatting oppression, and the fight for social justice. My focus area was Latin America, but I spent much of my time studying Brazilian culture and music. I studied samba drumming while in Portland and later, taught it in an after-school program in Chicago. 

All of the songs on this page were written and recorded by me at my house with a modest studio set up. I use Ableton Live 10, Shure SM57s/58, 8-Channel Scarlett Interface, and Rode NT5s. I have had my DW maple kit for about 20 years and use Iron Cobra hardware and pedals. Good stuff!

You can check out some of my old school drumming with the bands I have played with over the years on my other soundcloud page /bob-elchert.

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