Curriclum Vitae
JIM ROBERTS
Cross-cultural Percussionist, Educator, Producer, Performer
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
jimdrum1@gmail.com
EDUCATION
Formal
School of Audio Engineering Institute of Technology
1999-2000
Audio Technology Diploma
Audio Engineering studies with Tony Cottrill
Northern Illinois University
1983-1984
Masters of Music in Percussion Performance
Percussion studies with Rich Holly and Robert Chappell
Composition studies with Jan Bach and Joseph Pinzarrone
World Music studies with Al O’Connor and Kuo-Huang Han
East Carolina University
1978-1981
Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Percussion studies with Harold Jones
Informal
1987-1992
West African studies with djembefola, Khalid Saleem, Durham, NC
1989-1995
Cuban, Brazilian studies with world music percussionist, Steve Bloom, Washington, DC
POSITION HELD
Elon University
August 2007-present
May 2021-present
Adjunct Representative, Academic Council
August 2008-present
Founder and Director, Elon World Music Ensemble
August 2007-present
Adjunct Lecturer
Courses Taught
● American Popular Music: From Slavery to Streaming, (New course, Spring, 2022)
● Private undergraduate percussion lessons
● Private undergraduate drum set lessons
● Private undergraduate hand drum lessons
● Direct World Percussion Ensemble
● Music Business
● Woodstock, Hippies and other Enduring Legacies: The Music of the 60s and 70s
● Beyond the Beatles: The Transcendent Music of Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones,
The Who, and Pink Floyd
● Percussion Techniques
August 1985-1987
Southern Nash High School
Director of Bands, Bailey, NC
High School Concert Band
High School Marching Band
Junior High School Chorus
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Percussive Arts Society, Current
North Carolina Music Educators Association, 1985-1987
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2007-present
Duart Studio, Owner, Chapel Hill, NC
Recording and Teaching Studio
Duties include Producer, Engineer, Educator, Private Teaching Studio, Session musician, Percussion and Drums, album projects, demos
2000-2006
Kalimba Studio, Owner, Nashville,TN
Recording and Teaching Studio
Duties include Producer, Engineer, Session musician, Private Teaching Studio, Percussion and Drums, album projects, demos
● October 16, 2021 Pick and Bow Workshop, Instructor/Performer, with Joe
Newberry, Alice Gerrard, Jim Watson, Jon Shain, Danny Gotham, Chapel Hill, NC
● October 2, 2021 premiere, OVERLAND, Percussionist for soundtrack, movie written and
directed by Elisabeth Haviland James and Revere La Noue, NC Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
● June 2021 Ocrafolk Festival, festival percussionist, Craicdown drummer, Ocracoke, NC
● September 2019 Beatles, Abbey Road Tribute Show, Drummer, Cats Cradle, Chapel Hill, NC
● August 2019, The Quadrivium Project with NC State faculty, Congas, Lincoln Theater, Raleigh, NC
● May 2019 Assisted workshops by Onye Onyemaechi, Nigerian Master Drummer, Saxapahaw, NC
● October 2018 The Tao of Time Solo CD project released, World Music, concept album, Chapel Hill, NC
● 2018 Tom Petty Tribute Show/Benefit, Drummer, Cat's Cradle, Carrboro, NC
● July 2018 Paul Messenger and the Suspect, Drummer/Percussionist, Tour 23 dates: Germany,
Netherland, Belgium tour
● October 2017, Northern Illinois University, Guest artist/lecturer, Department of Music, DeKalb, IL
● 2017 Office manager for visual artist Jane Filer, Chapel Hill, NC
● 2016 Founder NC Rhythm Project, Improvisatory percussion ensemble, Two performances, The
Station and Oasis at Carr Mall, Carrboro, NC
● 2016 Tom Petty Damn the Torpedoes album tribute (2 shows), Drummer, Raleigh, NC
● 2015-2016 Member Batala, International Samba Reggae Project, Durham, NC,
● 2014 Beatles 50th Anniversary on The Ed Sullivan Show, Drummer, Cats Cradle, Chapel Hill, NC
● 2013 Gram Parsons Tribute 40th Anniversary concert, Drummer, Chapel Hill, NC
● 2013 Elon faculty concert, Led Zeppelin Tribute, Drummer, Opening for Carmine and Vinny Appice,
Elon University, Elon, NC
● 2012-2019 Will the Circle Unbroken Tribute Shows, percussionist, Director, Danny Gotham, The Arts
Center, Carrboro, NC
● 2011 Composer, Commission, Soundtrack for the play Ajax, Elon University, Elon, NC
● 2010 Roads recording, Craicdown, Percussionist, Co-producer, engineer, Chapel Hill, NC
● June 2009 - 2019 Ocrafolk Festival, festival percussionist, Craicdown drummer, Ocracoke, NC
● 2008-2009 Beyond Evidence, Composer, NC Dance Festival, Lauren Kearns choreographer,
Commission
● 2007 Marisol (play), Composer, live performer, Elon University, Commission by Director, Kirby Wahl
● 2007 Music Faculty, American Dance Festival, Durham, NC
● 2006-present, DuArt Studio, Chapel Hill, NC. Owner, Teaching studio/ audio production room.
● 2006 Epic Soul Music Library, Editor Nashville, TN Sonic Library in Los Angeles, CA.
● 1997-present Producer, Production for CD projects that include Irish/Celtic,
Singer/Songwriter, World/Ethnic, Country, Old-time/Bluegrass, and Pop/Rock
● 2005 Funkfest, Percussion for Futureman Wooten, Umphrey's McGee, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Victor
Wooten
● 2004 Theresa Andersson, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Main Stage), New Orleans, LA
● 2004 Larry Seibert, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Jazz Tent), New Orleans, LA
● 2004 Theresa Andersson, percussionist, Southern tour, multiple dates
● 2003 OJ Okamode, Percussionist, City Festival on the water, Mobile, AL,
● 2003 OJ Okamode, Percussionist, The Farm, Summertown, TN
● 2003 The Dead Set with Byron House, Nashville Club, Nashville, TN
● 2002 The Dead Set with Byron House, The Farm, Summertown, TN
● 2002 Cape Town Band, Metro Festival, Percussionist, Nashville, TN
● 2002 Cape Town Band, The Leaf Festival, Percussionist, Black Mountain, NC
● 2000 Opened Kalimba Studio, Audio recording studio, teaching studio, Oak Hill, Nashville, TN
● 1999-2000 Attended and Graduated from SAE Recording School, Nashville, TN
● 1999-2000 Percussionist for Victor Wooten, NAMM Show, Nashville, TN
● 1999-2001 Percussion, Multiple club dates, Atlanta GA area with Jeff Sipe, Count M’Butu, Ike
Stubberfield. Sat in, percussion, Colonel Bruce Hampton Band, Guitar audition with Jeff Sipe: Susan
Tedeschi Band
● 1998 Arts in the Heart of Augusta, Show/Opening Ceremony Performer with Count M’Butu, Nery
Arevalo, Augusta GA
● 1998 Hank Roberts, Drummer, GrassRoots Festival, Trumansboug, NY
● 1998 Percussion/Background Vocals, Duck Tape Music, Unknown artist, Producer, Johnny Sandlin,
Muscle Shoals, AL
● 1997 Donna the Buffalo, Drummer for Summer/Fall tours, East Coast
● 1997 The Hix, Drummer, GrassRoots Festival, Trumansboug, NY
● 1997 Jam on the Hill, Merlefest with Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Victor Wooten, Futureman Wooten, Stuart
Duncan, Wilkesboro, NC
● 1997 The Hix, Drummer, Merlefest, Wilkesboro, NC
● 1996 The Horse Flies, GrassRoots Festival, Trumansburg, NY In the Dance Tent performance/
recording
● 1996 Grand Ole Opry, Percussionist, Billy Dean, Artist, Nashville, TN
● 1996 Percussionist, Billy Dean, Open for Reba McEntire, North America Tour
● 1995 -1997 Percussionist, Wooten Brothers Band, Weekly at 3rd and Lindsey Club, Nashville, TN
● 1995 The Hix, open for Rusted Root, Joan Osborne, The Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA
● 1995 The Hix, open for Rusted Root, Harrisburg, PA
● 1995 The Hix, Percussion, 1st place, Non-Traditional Contest, Appalachian String Band Festival,
Clifftop, WVa
● 1995 Darlene Cain, Drummer, 4th place, Non-Traditional Contest,, Appalachian String Band Festival,
Clifftop, WVa
● 1994 Havana Select, Percussionist, Cuban, Samba Group, Black Mountain Festival, Black Mountain,
NC
● 1993 The Trinity Drummers, Director, Black Mountain Festival, Black Mountain, NC
● 1993 J.J. Reneaux, National Storytelling Festival, Drummer, Jonesbourgh, TN
● 1992 J.J. Reneaux, Hungary Ear Live, WUGA Public Radio, Drummer, Athens, GA
● 1992 Mbonda Africa, Percussionist, Black Mountain Festival, Black Mountain, NC
● 1992-1993 The Trinity Drummers, Director, Eno River Festival, Durham, NC
● 1992 The Boomers, Percussion, opened for Junior Walker & the Allstars, Under the Street, Durham, NC
● 1990-1991 Mbonda Africa, Percussionist, Eno River Festival, Durham, NC
● 1990-1994 Chuck Davis African-American Ensemble, Djembe, Dun-dun, performer across the US and
regionally, North Carolina. Venues included festivals, theaters, schools, 50+ gigs
● 1989-present Studio Session Player, numerous bands and sessions
● 1989 Rhythms of Life concert performer, directed by Khalid Saleem, Durham Arts Center, Durham, NC
● 1987 Performer, North Carolina Symphony, Summer Series, Regional Shows, North Carolina
● 1986 Solo Marimba Recital, First Presbyterian Church, Smithfield, NC
● 1985 Solo Marimba Recital, Southern Nash Senior High School
Summary of major festivals and performances:
● New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, New Orleans, LA
● Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, TN
● The Augusta Heritage Festival, Elkins, West Virginia
● Merlefest, Wilkesboro, NC
● Duck Jazz Festival, Duck, NC
● Ocrafolk, Ocracoke, NC
● Grassroots Festival, Trumanburg, NY
● Black Mountain Festival, Black Mountain, NC
● The LEAF Festival, Black Mountain, NC
● Summer Lights Festival, Nashville, TN
● Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, Silk Hope, NC
● Eno River Festival, Durham, NC
Personal Album Recordings
Producer, Writer, Percussion, Engineer
● 2018 The Tao of Time
● 2009 Craicdown - Roads
● 2005 Footloose - Trip to the Moon
● 2002 CapeTown - Waka Waka
● 1999 Two Traditions - Balaphon, Banjo, Fiddle and Drum
● 1997 Ancient Hand - Tranze is the Danze
Selected Recording Discography
Includes Producer, Percussion, Engineer, Songwriting, Arranging
Addition Information All Music
● 2021 Lipbone Redding and Jim Roberts, “Frida Kahlo Riding Shotgun” (Pr, P, E)
● 2019 Karyn Oliver - A List of Names (P)
● 2018 Kid Pan Alley - With the Nashville Chamber Orchestra (P, E)
● 2018 Lipbone Redding - “Return of the Beautiful” (E)
● 2018 The Doug Prescott Band - One World: A Benefit for Kiribati (P)
● 2007 Beth Nielsen Chapman - Prism: The Human Family Songbook, “Yemaya” (Pr, P, S, A)
● 2004 Cady Finlayson - Harp and Shamrock (Pr, P, E)
● 2003 Shane Theriot - Grease Factor (P, E)
● 2002 Futureman - The Seamless Script (P, E)
● 2000 Shane Theriot - Highway 90 (Pr, P, S, A)
● 1999 Victor Wooten - Yin-Yang (P)
● 1999 Essra Mohawk, Essie Mae Hawk Meets the Killer Groove Band (P)
● 1998 Blues: The Language of New Orleans Vol 3, “Blow Out”, Smoky Greenwall, Johnny Neal (P)
● 1998 Bass Extremes - Cookbook (P)
● 1997 Victor Wooten - What Did He Say (P)
● 1990 Mbonda Africa - Mbonda Africa (P)
Teaching Summary
Private Teaching Studio and Drum Classes
1987-1995 Durham, NC
1996-2006 Nashville, TN
2007-present Chapel Hill, NC
Drum Workshop highlights, Instructor, Performer
2002 Futurecamp, Drum Camp by Futureman, Nashville, TN
1998-1999 The Augusta Heritage Festival, Elkins, WV
1997-1998 Grassroots Festival, Tumansburg, NY
1996-1997 The Leaf Festival, Black Mountain, NC
1993-1994 The Black Mountain Festival, Black Mountain, NC
1992-1993 Eno River Festival with the Trinity Drummers
Instructional Materials
1992 Rhythms for Drum Circle, Audio cassette
1992 Hand Drum Techniques, Audio cassette
Drum Workshop Organizer
1993 Project Iroko, Afro-Cuban Folkloric/Religious Group featuring Lazaro Galarraga, Bill
Summers, Workshops/Performance, Under the Street, Durham, NC
1992 Steve Bloom, Afro-Cuban Percussion, The Palace International, Durham, NC
1992 Jesús Alfonso Miró, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Lead drummer for group, Trinity Drum
House, Durham, NC
1991 Mor Thiam, Master Djembefola, Two days workshops, evening performances, The Palace
International, Durham, NC
● 2009-2015 Elon World Percussion, Director, guests artists/clinicians include Bobby Sanabria
(Afro-Cuban 2015), Caique Vidal (Brazilian 2015), Quint Lange (West African-2009)
● 2009-2010 Cedar Ridge High School, Conductor, Percussion Ensemble, Private Teacher, Hillsborough,
NC
● 2001-2002, 2011, 2014 Instructor, Victor Wooten’s Bass and Nature Camp, Only, TN
● 1997-1998 Augusta Heritage Festival, Drum Workshop Instructor with Nery Arevalo
● 1996-1997 Grassroots Festival, Drum Workshop Instructor with Nery Arevalo
● 1992-1993 CAPS Artist, Creative Arts In Public and Private Schools, Durham Arts Council, Durham, NC
● 1991-1992 Black Mountain Festival, Workshop, Black Mountain, NC
● 1987-1989 Adjudicator, Clayton Band Classic, High School Marching competition
● 1987-1989 Adjudicator, Greene Central Band Day, High School Marching competition
● 1987 Adjudicator, Cary Band Day, High School Marching competition
● 1987-1989 Drumline Instructor, Greene Central High School, Snow Hill, NC
● 1987-1989 Drumline Instructor, West Craven High School, Vanceboro, NC
● 1987-1989 Drumline Instructor, Lee County High School, Sanford, NC
● 1987-1988 Barton College, Taught Private Percussion Lessons, Wilson, NC
● 1986-1987 Drumline Clinician, Clinton High School Marching Band, Clinton, NC
● 1984 Drumline Clinician, Northern Illinois Huskie Marching Band
● 1983-1985 Northern Illinois University, Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Duties included
accompanying modern dance classes, private percussion instruction, percussion techniques,
singing and ear training.
● 1983 Drumline Instructor, Solo composer, East Carolina Pirate Marching Band
● 1982 Drumline Instructor, Les Eclipse Drum & Bugle Corps, Drum Corps International, Montreal,
Canada
Related Experiences
● July 2017 Afro-cuban study trip, singing and percussion with Yoruba and Rumba. Principle teachers,
Ernesto Gatell, Yudisleidy Valdesm, Maximino Duquesne, members of Conjunto Folklórico
Nacional, master drummers from Havana. Havana, Cuba
● 2016-2017 Sad Magazine, drummer, Band, Durham, NC
● 2013-present, Lipbone Redding, percussionist, drummer
● 2013-2016, Mahalo Jazz, drummer, traditional jazz
● 2013-2018, Ivory Boys, drummer, contra dance band
● 2009-2010 Tambor Vivo, Folkloric Afro-Cuban, Musical Director, Beverly Botsford, Mosaic Wine Bar,
Monthly, Raleigh, NC
● 2007-present, Craicdown, Performer, percussionist, drummer, composer
● 2002 Capetown, City Festival, percussion featuring Wayne Jackson, trumpet, Nashville, TN
● 2002 Future Camp Performed with Bernard Purdie, Futureman, Joe Craven, Nashville, TN
● 2003-2004 Brazil Camp, Studied folkloric, samba bateria, pagode, tamborim, surdos,
agogo, Teachers included Michael Spiro, Jorge Alabê, Brian Davs, Cazadero, CA
● 2000-2001 Music City Samba, Drummer, Dann Sherrell, Director, Nashville, TN
● 1995-1996 Sponsorship, Pearl Drums percussion division, Nashville, TN
● 1994 Attended Afrocubanismo, 12 day event, Studied with The Munequitos de Matanzas, Miguel
“Anga” Diaz, Jose Luis Quintana Changuito, Banff Center for the Arts and Creativity, Banff, Canada.
● 1993-1995, 2005 Attended numerous workshops and private study with Michael Spiro, Chapel Hill and
Durham, NC
● 1991 Study trip, Senegal and The Gambia, West Africa with Mor Thiam, Mohamed DaCosta, various
master drummers, Studied Djembe, Dunun, Balaphon. Studies located in and near Dakar, Senegal,
and Serekunda, Gambia
● 1990-2019, Helped establish percussion as mainstay in Contra Dance music with bands Footloose,
Ivory Boys and the Tribal Tune Twisters
● 1990-2019, Footloose, percussionist, drummer, Contra Dance Band, Regional and toured nationally
From Maine to California. Tours and weekend dances in include California: San Diego, Bay Area
Country Dance Society, Santa Cruz, American Week, Family Week, Houston, Texas, Michigan,
Atlanta, Ga, Charleston, SC, Tennessee: Nashville, Chattanooga, Florida, Washington, DC, Glen Echo,
Spanish Ballroom, Philadelphia, PA, Boston, MA, Portland, ME, Eugene, OR, Durham, NC, Chapel
Hill, NC, Bi-montly dances at the Century Center 13 years, Carrboro, NC
● 1989-1992 Member, percussion, Mbonda Afrika, Zairian Soukous Band, Performed for Eno River
Festival, Durham
Center Fest, Duke University, Black Mountain Festival, Asheville, NC and local gigs, Durham, NC
● 1987 NC Symphony, percussionist, Summer Series, Conductor, Gerhardt Zimmermann, Regionally and
Raleigh, NC
● 1983-1990 Adjudicator for Marching and Concert Band Competitions, NC and Illinois
● 1984 World Premiere orchestral composition contest winner, Amalgam, Northern Illinois University
Orchestra, directed by Carl Roskott, DeKalb, IL
● 1983-1985 Member Steel Band, Northern Illinois University, Director, Al O’Connor, Director, DeKalb, IL
● 1984-1985 Music Director, Emergence Dance Theater, Artistic Director, Sandra Schramel, DeKalb, IL
● 1980 Drum Corps International Finals Participant, Crossman Drum and Bugle Corps, Birmingham, AL
● 1979-1980 Member, Mallet Keyboard, Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, Toured extensively US, 40
competitive shows each summer, DCI East, DCI Midwest, DCI West, Philadelphia, PA
● 1978-1980 East Carolina Marching Pirates,Member, Director Tom Goolsby, East Carolina University,
Greenville, NC
● 1973-1977 Phoenix, rock band trio, Drummer, Clinton, NC
● 1976-1977 Studied piano, Mrs. Martha Vann, Clinton, NC
● 1970-1977 Clinton Band program, Junior High Band, High School Marching band, Concert Band,
Member, Percussion, Director, Ed Taylor, Clinton, NC
● 1969-1970 Studied piano, Mrs. Mary Britt, Clinton, NC
Website
http://jimrobertspercussion.com