Perry Senn

LONG Form Resume /Biography of Perry Senn

More History

Perry Senn

Growing up in a small town in northern Wisconsin, now a commuting suburb of St.Paul, MN.

With sticks probably from his father's band room... at a very early age, he was setting up a makeshift drum set- of coffee cans and playing along to the opening theme of "Hawaii 5-O"-(yeah, on TV)

At age 6, taking piano lessons. Changing instruments to upright Bass in the 5th-grade orchestra. Trying out for a chair in the percussion section the following year. **

In Jr. High, his father's band room (Dad, being Jr. High band director) was the cool afterschool hang. It was there Perry learned stickings, speed exercises, and cool drum stuff from the upperclassmen. "So, the older drummers became my benchmark- I was off!"

Influenced by a wide variety of songs and music; He remembers first being hooked by the old Soul records, some found in his parents' music collection that spanned Schumann, & Wagner, Al Hirt, S.Wonder, The Spinners, Bill Withers, to Como, & Streisand.

"I also remember the day my dad brought home my first jazz records, introducing me to drummers Joe Morello, Roy Burns, & Buddy Rich."

**In high school, Perry was in a 'regional band' (with kids from other schools that met through regional music competitions)- from an 80-mile radius because we wanted to play 'Chicago,' 'Earth, Wind & Fire,' 'Brothers Johnson,' 'BS&T' etc., - "we kinda had a real horn band!" **

After two years of studying classical percussion (mallets, timpani, etc.) Senn took a chance on a college exchange program at William Paterson University in New Jersey. Only a few miles to the NYC jazz scene, he went several times a week to witness the legendary drummers, rhythm sections, and band leaders firsthand.

Graduating with a degree in Jazz Studies and Performance from William Paterson University in New Jersey. After that, Senn moved and soon became a drummer to call in the Phoenix music scene. "I am grateful to the Phoenix music scene. I cut my teeth in many musical styles... and kept me working daily for years!"

In the spirit of improving himself for the music and those, he works with... Senn has continued to seek out and study firsthand with these fantastic drummers and musicians.

Peter Erskine, Jeff Hamilton, Joe LaBarbara, Bernie Dresel, Greg Bissonette, Michael Carvin,

Steve Bagby, David Garfield-(keys), Rufus Reid-(bass), Ari Hoenig, Dave Samuels-(vibes), Dom Moio, Danny Tomlinson, Kenny Aronoff, and Ricky Lawson.

He is enthusiastic about bringing these "Secrets" [Concepts, skills, and tricks that get gigs- And keep you as a drummer, getting called back!]

Next stop L.A. --"It just needed to happen," Senn said. "I felt that I was at the end of my development in Phoenix."

Moving anywhere as a sideman (I didn't know anyone or have a system or even a good plan), the phone didn't ring much right away, but somehow it rang enough to stay in L.A.

Right away, Perry sat in on whatever jam session he could find. And in the first couple of weeks, I got hired to play a weekly gig!

"My first gig was at Harvelle's in Santa Monica!" The drum chair in a pumpin' 11-piece horn band - 'Blowin' Smoke'! [The band did strictly funky, groovy Soul, R&B, & Blues, i.e., Ike & Tina Turner, Bobby (Blue) Bland, etc.]

He soon met players named on the credits of his C.D.s he had been listening to -so, there was a bit of shock from star-stuckness.

Senn ended up working with a lot of those players. Being very grateful and excited that he was subbing the drum chairs for long-established drummers. He even went with a Persian singer, 'Shakira,' to play shows in Canada, even the Concerthaus in Sweden. That's L.A.

**One of the most essential points from all that time was seeing how other pros 'practiced'! A few of us drummers rented a rehearsal space from a player big in the L.A. studios. Perry remembers - "Playing double drums with them, and hanging around and with drummers at clubs like 'The Baked Potato' ...Completely changed how I started to absorb what I was hearing, and how to work up new concepts and phrases to use in my own playing.**

Taking what was going to be a short fill-in for a summer tour. For a band that worked 270 shows a year and was on the bus much of that time. That band-(the DooWah Riders) played all across the country, even in Canada & France. He stayed for 4 years and left to work with Blues singer Janiva Magness on a cross-country summer run with international shows in Spain & Norway.

Senn has worked as a sideman with;

The legendary Chuck Berry_ Godfather of Rock& Roll - who wrote "Johnny B Goode," "Roll Over Beethoven," etc.) (See more...)

Alex Ligertwood (Lead vocalist for SANTANA for 12 albums);

(See more...)

Jack Sheldon_ Renowned Jazz trumpeter, Bandleader, Actor (T.V.& Film);

(see more...)

David Garfield _Keyboards, Producer, Composer & Arranger (George Benson-musical director, LA Sessions, etc). (See more...)

Rob Chiarelli _Multi-Grammy Award Winning Mix-engineer and producer- (Albums: See more...)

- [More, including; Arthur Adams, Roy Gaines, Janiva Magness, Shakila, The Coasters, etc]…

This led Senn to perform across the United States, several European countries, and Canada. Serving all kinds of music styles, artists, and stages, be it live or recording sessions, for about the past thirty years. While living in the midwest, Phoenix, AZ., Los Angeles, CA., and now the (Denver metro area).

You can find him working on recordings and playing in the Denver metro area when not doing video content to help other drummers-

"Showing other drummers the 'secrets' and shortcuts I learned (while I had my time around 'the Big Boys'). - "if it's helpful to you, it's enjoyable for me and keeps it fresh!!"