November 15th @ 8pm – Pete Sweeney Trio

Pete Sweeney is a full-time musician, teacher and author. He began playing drums at the age of five, and studied with the great Dave Calarco as a teenager. He later studied with the legendary Joe Morello, with whom he collaborated with on the Alfred book series “The Complete Drumset Method”. He attended the Drummer’s Collective in New York City where he received instruction from Mike Clark and Kim Plainfield.

Over the years Pete has performed with many great artists in concert as well as on recordings. Some these include performing with Duke Robillard, Ronnie Earl, Johnny “Clyde” Copeland, Larry Coryell, Murali Coryell, John Abercrombie, Mick Goodrick, Frank Gambale, Steve Bailey, Robben Ford, Nick Brignola, Pete Levin, Andy Summers (The Police), Dan Toler (The Allman Brothers), Laurel Masse (The Manhattan Transfer), Lorne Lofsky, Ed Mann (Frank Zappa), Jay Traynor (Jay and the Americans), Rick Emmitt (Triumph), Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen, Joe Bouchard (Blue Oyster Cult), Vinnie Moore, Carey DeNigris, and Irish Legend Tony Kenny. He was recently a featured guest artist with the Glens Falls Symphony under conductor Charles Peltz. He has toured and recorded with the Joey Thomas Big Band, Dan Toler, Matt Smith, and many others. He currently leads a jazz trio with guitarist Mark Dzuiba and organist Pete Levin, as well as performing with the Latin/Jazz group Sensemaya.

Education is something that is important to Pete. He has been a faculty member of the National Guitar Workshop since 1993, as well as the Berkshire Music School since 1999. He also maintains a private teaching practice for many years. Pete has taught clinics and seminars at Union College, Applebee College in Canada, Humber College in Toronto, and the Berkshire Community College. He has written fourteen instructional books for the Alfred publishing company, produced three dvds, and has performed many lessons at www.workshoplive.com. Pete has also performed on many other instructional cds and dvds from great musicians such as Tom Dempsey, Matthew Liston, Raleigh Green, Kirby Kelley, and Joe Bouchard. He is also a member of the Vic Firth Education program.

Pete Sweeney has performed on dozens of recordings in all styles of music. Some of the highlights include playing on two Grammy nominated cds with Jay Traynor, performing on the soundtrack of the Mirimax film “The Castle”, and winning the Tanqueray national songwriting contest with Matt Smith in 1991.

Pete endorses Mapex drums and hardware, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Aquarian drumheads.