Funk Drumming

Labeled the "Buddy Rich or Billy Cobham of funk drumming" by Jazz Times Magazine, Jim Payne has a long career as a drummer, educator, producer, and collaborator with the best musicians in jazz and funk.

Currently, he is a member of the online faculty at Berklee College of Music where he teaches R&B/Funk drumming to students from the US and all over the world.

An established teacher in New York City, Jim taught at Drummers Collective for ten years, gave classes at Drummers World and the Modern Drum Shop, was an adjunct faculty member of SUNY Purchase College, and substitute teacher at the Manhattan School of Music.

Jim has been teaching both Funk and Jazz for many years. His School of Jazz is primarily a subscription course which costs $29.95/ month. Students work at their own pace and according to their own schedules and can cancel at any time. There is some one-on-one with Jim. Check the site for details, sample lesson, etc.

Jim has performed with Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, Slickaphonics, the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, and The Jim Payne Band, among many others. His performance venues have included major European and U.S. jazz and blues festivals, including Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, and Paris Jazz Festival.

At King Snake Records in Orlando, Florida, he spent 3 years as studio musician and producer, working with such stellar musicians as James Taylor, Edgar Winter and Lucky Peterson.