ADAM IDELL

Drummer / Music Director

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Born and raised in San Pedro, CA and still living there today I’ve been performing music of many styles including rock, jazz, world and orchestral music for 24 years.  I started playing at the age of twelve and began my formal studying at the age of eighteen.  After high school I went to Harbor College where I was introduced to Jeanette Kangas the Director of Percussion at the music school.  There I studied Jazz, Big Band and Percussion Music.  She really focused on attaining many of my musical goals like reading multiple drum styles, music theory, technique, and sight-reading.  

        From there I transferred to Cal Arts where I studied Orchestral and World Music with John Bergamo, David Johnson, Randy Gloss and Kobla Ladzepko. Studying at this institution helped me define myself as a musician.  While attending Cal Arts I studied with the late Dan Morris on drum set.  He was instrumental in pushing me to develop my vision of what I wanted out of myself as a performer and a musician. [Read more]

        When I graduated from college Chuck Alvarez was looking for a drummer in town and contacted me.  A tremendous guitar player, musician and bandleader Chuck has pushed and challenge me to be a better player in so many ways.  I wouldn’t be who I am today without his guidance.  We share a great friendship as band mates and have continued to do so to date.

         In 2004 I was asked to join the Golden State Pops Orchestra where I played multi percussion and drum set.  I’ve had the privilege of premiering many works with the orchestra.  The biggest being the North American Premier of the final piece written for  Star Wars, “Revenge of the Sith.”  2008 and 2009 has been a busy time in my life performing abroad in Europe with Soul Sacrifice (Santana Tribute Band) for the US troops and playing with Jazz Flute Player Tim Weisberg. 

         To date I continue to play and perform with the above ensembles and have been included in a new one with Cal Arts Alumni Chris Garcia.  The ensemble called Influx is a percussion group that performs many styles including world, orchestral and oral music to name a few.

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1998-2001 California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA

                  Bachelors in Fine Art (Multi-Percussion)

1994-1998  Harbor College, Wilmington, CA

• 2000-2001 Wasserman Scholarship for Music

• 2000-2001 Cal Arts Scholarship for Music

• 1999-2000 Cal Arts Scholarship for Music

• 1998-1999 Robert Hall Apodaoca Memorial Scholarship for Music

• 1998 LAHC Outstanding Contribution to Music Department Recipient

• 1996-1997 Hazel A. Borden and Larry Wong Scholarship for Music

​Discography:    

2008     Chuck Alvarez Band “Endangered Species”

2004      Michael Ryther – Michael Ryther (made one of the top one hundred on CD Baby.com)

2004     Favorites – Songs by Heimgartner and Alvarez

2004     Dokken – Hell to Pay

2004     Responsibility – A New Musical

2017      Chuck Alvarez – New Album

2017      Satellite Voodoo -  New Album

2017      Slow Burning Car – Deception

    Current Projects:   

                                     Chuck Alvarez Band

                                     Satellite Voodoo 

                                     Soul Sacrifice (Santana Tribute Band)

                                     Influx Ensemble

                                     The Idellix

Honorable Mentions: - North America Premier of the new Star Wars Music “Revenge of the Sith” in May of 2005 with the Golden State Pops Orchestra.  Performing Jesus Christ Superstar with the Golden State Pops Orchestra and JR Richards of the multi-platinum rock band Dishwalla as Jesus in April of 2006.  

Performed for the US military on bases in Europe, Middle East, Africa and United States.  Landing by plane on the Air Craft Carriers, USS Stennis and USS Eisenhower performing for their crew also performing aboard the USS Nimitz for family and crew in San Diego, CA.

Performed or worked with the Chuck Alvarez Band – “Grammy Nominated Artist Chuck Alvarez”, JR Richards of Dishwalla, Barnaby Finch, Chris North, Vince Denim, Danny Timmes, Paul Carmen, Albert Wing, Bob Glob, “Grammy Award Winning Producer Dave Swanson”, Bob Gross, Chris Smith, Geryl Thompson, “Grammy Nominated Artist Lisa Haley” and Joe Viegas.

Performed or worked with – Tim Weisberg, John Bergamo, David Johnson, John Fumo, Jeanette Kangas, Chris Garcia, Chris Smith, Dan Morris, Brad Dutz, Byron Smith, David Schaffer, Ellen Burr, Dianne Lindsey, Lynn  Keller, Barnaby Finch, Bob Fernandez, “Grammy Nominated Artists Lisa Haley and the Zydacats,” Brian Daughtery, Joe Vegas Band, Sean Lane, Influx Ensemble, Ron George’s “American Gamelan”, Cal Arts Percussion Ensemble, Cal Arts African Ensemble and The Auricle Ensemble Dance Company.