© 2011 Gabriel Kocevar
Gabriel began developing his resume at age
thirteen where in rural Westmoreland County,
middle school keyboard percussionists who
could read music proficiently were rare. From
the very beginning of his drumming studies
Gabriel was heavily influenced by drum corp.
And he eventually went on to participate in the
highly competitive musical sport of
Drum Corps Internationals Music Games.
“The best and most frequent compliment that I
receive is that I don’t allow my drum corps
chops to hinder my Feel.” Gabriel credits this
to the time he spent with Dr. Olmstead at the
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he
learned from this esteemed master of percussion
to transcend technique, get inside the music,
and bring it to life.
When asked the question:
Who are your drumming influences? The list
reads as a who’s who of compelling
performers such as Art Blakey, Elvin Jones,
John Bonham, Manu Katche, and Vinnie Colaiuta.
It’s been said that this young artist has a
precise touch on the instrument combined with a
vicious groove. Although rock drumming is his
forte, Gabriel has used his skill as a drummer
to create tasteful time feels in the style of
R&B, Funk, Latin, Jazz, as well as Pop, and
Country.
With all of this experience under his
belt, Gabriel now looks forward to a future
of capturing the imagination of today’s artists,
and driving their projects to the next level.