May 2nd 1977

People come to websites, reading bios, trying to figure out who someone else is. Said website owner makes a bio, tries to put impressive things there, drop names, list accomplishments. Then perhaps judgements are formed, opinons made and such by you, the reader.

Well, I don’t like those bios really…it has never sat right with me (I understand some may need to create such bios for various purposes…not slighting you all). And I could make it all up and you wouldn’t know the difference!

I am Curtis….a drummer.

But I am much more than that I suppose. I make music first and foremost, but that is just a means to try and figure “IT” out. Music as a career is second to music as a vehicle for growth and exploration. In my own creations and travels I try and gain more insight into who I am, what I am doing and try and to foster love, understanding, truth, wonder and excitement for being alive.
Hopefully, in the process I will keep the rumble in my stomach to a minimum and have some kind of roof over my head.

I was born on May 2, 1977.

My childhood was great. My family is amazing. I have an amazing wife and a daughter that I cherish every moment. If I am unhappy, I have only myself to look to for the reason.

I taught myself to play the drumset at 14 and now I travel the world, following my curiosity for rhythm, culture, spirit, what makes humans do what we do.

I’ve spent years studying the musical culture of Ghana and South India and count some of the best in those worlds as my mentors. Trichy Sankaran has been my mridangam guru since the beginning I can’t be thankful enough for that.

I compose my own music, I play mbira with one of Canada’s best mbira players, I co-lead a Ghanaian drum & dance ensemble, I lead my own Afro-Indian-World-Jazz group (that genre exists…I made it up), and collaborate with various Indian, African, jazz, and “other” musicians in Vancouver and beyond.

I’m born and raised in a small Newfoundland town called Carbonear, but now live in Vancouver, BC on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

There is a school in a Ghanaian village with my name on it. I like to help people with the power, potential and advantage that I have in my life and where I was born and what I was born into.

I’ve been to school…BFA from York U.
It was a good time, I met my guru. But it didn’t make me the musician I am today. No school can do that.

I also have a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of British Columbia.

Please take some time when you have it to see some pictures and read some of my experiences from around the world.

Listen to some of my own music as well if you please. I think I’ve said enough in this space.

Peace and Love,
Curtis