Dave Baboian

Musical influences: Apparently most music has the capacity to influence me…whether I like it or not.  Ever walk out of an elevator involuntarily humming Musak for the rest of the day?  Me too...and often.  I learn much by listening to music and specifically identifying why I like or dislike the music/drum part...or why the music has followed me home in some cases.  Some of my favorites include Jazz/Fusion: Brandon Fields (sax), Diana Krall;  Soft Rock/accoustic: James Taylor, Sting; Hard Rock: Aerosmith, Cheap Trick; Metal & grunge: Motley Crue, Alice in Chains; and Miscellaneous: Charlie Brown piano theme song.

Drumming influences in order of influence: Joey Kramer (Aerosmith), Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick), John Bonham (Led Zeppelin), Neil Peart (Rush), Stewart Copeland (Police), Billy Cobham (independent), Steve Smith (Journey/Vital Information), Jeff Porcaro (Toto), Vinnie Colaiuta (everyone!), Omar Hakim (Sting, independent), Dave Weckl (Chick Corea, independent), Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews).

Music education: After destroying a multitude of toy drums received each Christmas, my parents decided perhaps age 10 was the time to enroll for private drum lessons.  Ed Montano (Waterbury, CT) and Gene Budesheim (York, PA) inspired me to secure the fundamentals of various styles.

Then came the leap of faith in 1985…moving out of my parents’ home for the first time…3,000 miles away to sunny Los Angeles, CA.  I attended Hollywood’s Percussion Institute of Technology (PIT).  Any drummers dream!  I had classes and lessons with the Los Angeles “A-team” of drumming: Joe Porcaro (studio), Jeff Porcaro (Toto), Ralph Humprey (Frank Zappa), Steve Houghton (Woody Herman), Maria Martinez (Latin author), Efrain Toro (Melissa Manchester).  Of course some of the most important lessons didn’t relate to music…e.g. how to live on store brand macaroni mixed with water instead of milk.     

Currently, I attend each year’s Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) just to stay in touch with the latest in drumming ideas and technology.  It’s also a great excuse to catch up with old friends and to meet my favorite drumming legends.

Gigs: From 1986-1988 I played full-time in the “Freeze” based out of Hollywood, California.  The band played Los Angeles, Orange County, San Fernando Valley, and Palm Springs gigs.  Since returning to Pennsylvania in 1992, I’ve played in various part-time cover bands including Green Street, 2 Gunn Hart, and the M-80’s.

Equipment: I play Tama drums & hardware, DW pedals & hardware, a combination of Zildjian/Sabian/Paiste/Wuhan cymbals, the unique Pan Man Fan (“boat propeller”) and Vic Firth sticks.  My favorite piece of equipment: Tama lighted metronome.