Damian Graham
Biography
DAMIAN GRAHAM (drummer, pianist, flutist, singer) was born September 1, 1972 in New Plymouth, New Zealand and was raised on the west coast of Canada. He has performed all over North America and Europe, working with some of the finest musicians in this country and abroad including Michael Kaeshammer, The Paperboys, David Gogo, Paul Laine, Marc Atkinson, Paul Pigat, Tom Landa, MoBadass, Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, Pat Coleman, The Swinging Bachelors, Bob Murphy, Danger Danger, George Koller, Phil Dwyer, and Tyler Yarema.
Graham has shared stages with Joshua Redman, Albert Collins, Cecil McBee, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Holly Cole, The Shuffle Demons, Buddy Guy, Metalwood, The Paladins, Colin James, The Odds, Junkhouse, Jane Bunnett, Dave Bartholemew, and Joey DeFrancesco. He has performed in shows in Chicago, London, New York, San Francisco, Cologne (Germany), Stockholm (Sweden) and in festivals around the world: the Montreal International Jazz Festival, du Maurier Downtown Jazz in Toronto, Vancouver’s du Maurier International Jazz Festival, Beilefeld Jazz Festival (Germany), Hultsfred Festival (Sweden), High Sierra Music Festival (USA), and Tuno Festival (Denmark).
Graham is also an accomplished bandleader, composer, producer, recording engineer, and web designer who has managed his own Bagel Boy Records label since 1989. Recording highlights include his latest release as a band leader entitled Trios, a follow up to the well-received album Digs. As a composer, he has written a large body of material encompassing a wide variety of musical genres both on his own and in collaboration with other artists. Many of these compositions have been featured on radio and TV throughout Canada, Europe and the United States.
Damian Graham was the featured drummer with Michael Kaeshammer during the “Sound of Toronto Jazz” Concert Series at the Ontario Science Centre on November 2, 2002. He continues to maintain a busy live and studio schedule with his own ensemble and as an in-demand freelance musician.
AWARDS
2000 - co-wrote and performed with Michael Kaeshammer on Kaeshammer’s JUNO-nominated album No Strings Attached (Alma Records).