Keith Hall has established himself as a joyful performer and a passionate educator over the last 30 years, and is Professor of Jazz Drum Set at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. For 12 years, Keith spent much of his time touring worldwide and recording with singer Curtis Stigers. Hall has also worked with Betty Carter, Michael Dease, Wycliffe Gordon, Jimmy Greene, Sir Roland Hanna, Michael Phillip Mossman, New York Voices, Arturo O’Farrill, Janis Siegel, Luciana Souza, Terrell Stafford, Bobby Watson, Joe Wilder, and Steve Wilson, among others.
He has toured throughout the U.S., Europe, Africa, South America, Asia, and most of Europe performing in theaters, arenas, clubs, and jazz festivals. He has appeared on numerous television and radio shows worldwide, including an appearance on the CBS Early Show. Hall lived and worked in New York City for nine years, performing in a multitude of musical contexts. Although most of these were jazz, he was also a regular sub for Tommy Igoe on Broadway’s The Lion King for 3 years. Hall was a member of the Latin-jazz quartet, Grupo Yanqui, chosen by the United States State Department and Jazz at Lincoln Center to represent the U.S. in the American Music Abroad Program. Hall was also a member of the prestigious Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead in 1997.
His latest album, ‘Made in Kalamazoo–Trios and Duos’ features saxophonist Andrew Rathbun and Detroit bass legend Robert Hurst III. The album documents the drummer’s most accomplished and compelling playing and writing to date. He has also recorded five albums with his critically acclaimed trio TRI-FI (Matthew Fries, piano, and Phil Palombi, bass), and two albums with Paster, Ryan & Hall. He continues to tour and record with his Brazilian Jazz Trio, the Keith Hall Jazz Trio, and the Western Jazz Collective. Additionally, he has recorded with artists including Nathan Borton, Michael Dease, Matthew Fries, Chris Glassman, Jeff Haas, Grupo Yanqui, Nodes, Phil Palombi, Andrew Rathbun, and Libby York.
His recent sabbatical was highlighted by his pursuit of Brazilian music and samba drumming. Hall traveled to Brazil and studied with various Brazilian drum masters, including Edu Ribeiro, Celso de Almeida, Marcio Bahia, Andre Tandeta, Ramon Montagner, Lilian Carmona, Christiano Galvão, Fofo Black, Leo Rodrigues, and Douglas Alonso. He continues to study this rich tradition and will record an album of new compositions based on this journey.
Over the years, Keith has shared the stage with many artists including Jay Anderson, Marcus Belgrave, David Berkman, Dave Binney, Emily Braden, Randy Brecker, Bobby Broom, Deborah Brown, Frank Carlberg, Betty Carter, Xavier Davis, Michael Dease, Billy Drewes, Peter Eldridge, Jon Faddis, Nick Finzer, Joel Frahm, George Garzone, Jimmy Greene, Wycliffe Gordon, Tim Hagans, Sir Roland Hanna, Billy Hart, John Hebert, Fred Hersch, Dave Holland, Ed Howard, Randy Johnston, Sean Jones, Johnaye Kendrick , Dave Kikoski, Aubrey Logan, Joe Lovano, Wynton Marsalis, Elliot Mason, Jim McNeel, Andy Milne, Bob Mintzer, MOSS, Michael Philip Mossman, Mark Murphy, Randy Napoleon, Josh Nelson, Steve Nelson, New York Voices, Arturo O’Farrill, John Patitucci, Rich Perry, Bill Pierce, Chico Pinheiro, Chris Potter, Ellen Rowe, Michael Rodriguez, Diego Rivera, Claudio Roditi, Janis Siegel, Edward Simon, Emilio Solla, Luciana Souza, Ben Street, Helen Sung, Terrell Stafford, Mark Turner, Gary Versace, Vertical Voices, Bobby Watson, Kenny Werner, Jiggs Whigham, Rodney Whitaker, Joe Wilder, Sunny Wilkinson, Steve Wilson, Deanna Witkowski, Libby York, and Miguel Zenon.
Keith holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University and a Master of Arts in Jazz Studies from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College in New York.
Hall is the Artistic Director of the Keith Hall Summer Drum Intensive, a one-of-a-kind jazz drum camp that celebrated its 18th year. He is also the Executive Director of TUNED IN, a nonprofit organization that focuses on the power of music education to change lives. Hall is the author of two instructional jazz drum set books: Jazz Drums Now! Vol. 1 and Jazz Drums Now! Vol. 2. Hall is a clinician for Remo Drumheads, Yamaha Drums, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Zildjian Cymbals, and a proud endorser of Prologix Drum Pads, Big Fat Snare Drum, Rhythm Tech, Protection Racket Drum Cases, and Cympad.
