Curtis Byrd

Curtis Byrd is no stranger to drums and percussion, having picked up his first drumsticks at the age of two. He has since devoted his career to playing, teaching, and performing around the world.

Byrd has made a career with his craft, traveling internationally with various Hip Hop/Blues/Pop Artists, and performed overseas supporting our troops on the USO Tour. Curtis performs regularly with the world renowned Agape International Spiritual Center House Band as a Drummer and Percussionist.

Curtis Byrd shines on stage – his electric energy is felt in crowds large and small. Byrd has performed with notable artists such as Van Morrison, Stevie Wonder, Baby Bash, Aaron Nigel Smith, MC Magic, Frankie J, Ricky Byers, and Goapele.

He was cast as a drummer in Amazon Prime’s leading TV series, Bosch. Curtis is also the official drummer for Pound Fitness – a drumming based fitness movement.

Curtis rocks his stand-up drums and percussion kit alongside famed DJs including DJ E-Man, DJ Scotty Boy, and DJ Johnny Knight, spinning various styles at clubs, private parties, special events, and corporate functions.

Learn more about Curtis Byrd at www.curtisbyrddrums.com or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @curtisbyrddrums

Javier Cabanillas

GRAMMY®️ Award-Winning Percussionist, Composer and Band Leader, Javier Cabanillas is “one of the most busiest and most respected congueros of the San Francisco Bay Area.” - DRUM! Magazine.

With his recent international chart-climbing debut album INFRASONIC by Cabanijazz Project this last May 2018; of which all 10 tracks are composed by Cabanillas, received a 4 star rating in Downbeat Magazine for one of his tunes, “Esto Puede Ser eso” describing his bluesy-cha cha cha as “slinky.”

Cabanillas has performed with many artists including Poncho Sanchez, Arturo Sandoval, Tito Nieves, Sheila E., Tito Puente Jr., amongst other influential artists including the famed Pacific Mambo Orchestra.

Lance Comer

Originally from Minneapolis, Lance Comer was a member of The New Congress (awarded Best R&B Band in Minnesota), Dove Award-nominated artists Jason Gray and Sara Groves, and Minneapolis reggae icons Ipso Facto, Les Exodus, and Prince Jabba. 

Upon moving to New York City in 2006, Lance began working with many high-profile artists including Tony-nominated Kacie Sheik, 6-time Toronto Music Award winner Clara Lofaro, and Billboard-charting Cassandra Kubinski.

Lance is currently recording and touring with Billboard’s 2016 and 2017 Contemporary Jazz Artist of the Year, Lindsey Webster.

“We’re excited to have Lance as a member of the Doc Sweeney Drums family,” said Steve Stecher, founder of Doc Sweeney Drums. “We look forward to providing drums that will enhance the sound of his extraordinary playing skills. The man can play!!” 

Learn more about Lance Comer at www.lancecomerdrums.com and on Instagram @lancecomerdrums. 

Rick Dior

Rick Dior has an extensive background in percussion. He has served as the Professor of Percussion at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte since 2001. Rick is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with renowned timpanist Fred Hinger and jazz composer Bob Mintzer. He also studied extensively with famed jazz drummer Joe Morello.

Rick has performed as a percussionist with some of the greatest artists in the music industry, including James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Ray Charles, Bobby McFerrin, and Al Jarreau. He has added his jazz drum set talents to performances with many great jazz artists, including Marvin Stamm, Bill Watrous, Clark Terry, Red Rodney, Chris Potter, Russell Malone and Lionel Hampton. Some of these performances have taken place with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, which he has performed with since 1990 as principal percussionist, section percussionist and timpanist.

He is the author of several percussion books and DVD’s, including the acclaimed, “Advanced Coordination for Drum Set and Hand Percussion.” His compositions are published by Tapspace.

Jacobi Gunter

Jacobi Gunter is from Columbia, South Carolina. He began playing drums at the age of eighteen months and has continued playing ever since. Along the way, he won the Percussive Arts Society’s Larrie Londin Memorial Scholarship for five consecutive years and won the Zildjian Drummer Love contest for the Southeast region. In 2015, Jacobi was a Stellar Award nominee for featured drummer on a traditional gospel album. Currently an instructor at Freeway Music, Columbia’s premier music school, Jacobi continues to record and perfect his craft, releasing his first single in 2017 called DUI (Drumming Under the Influence).  In 2018, DUI was accepted by the Recording Academy for voting members to nominate for the GRAMMYs. Jacobi values giving back to his community and is driven by his faith in God and love of family. Nothing excites him more than creating and traveling his own path and we’re thrilled to have him as part of the Doc Sweeney Drums family of artists.

Jared Kneale

Australian-born Jared Kneale relocated to Nashville in 2010 and quickly became a highly sought after drummer.  Jared has performed and recorded with Grammy Award-winning artists: Kacey Musgraves, Rebecca St. James, and Audio Adrenalin; as well as critically acclaimed artists: Ben Rector, Mikky Ekko, Dave Barnes, Matt Wertz, Brett Eldredge, Paul Brandt (CAN), Sugar & the Hi-Lows, Gabe Dixon, Amy Stroup, Trent Dabbs, and Jessie Baylin.  Jared is currently touring worldwide with Grammy-nominated, Atlantic recording artist, Hunter Hayes. 

His creative explorations have resulted in a diverse range of productions, including performances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Ellen DeGeneres Show, Late Show with David Letterman, CMA Awards, and the Grammy’s.

“We’re excited to have Jared as a member of the Doc Sweeney Drums family,” said Steve Stecher, founder of Doc Sweeney Drums. “We look forward to providing drums that will enhance the sound of his extraordinary playing skills. The man has chops!” 

Learn more about Jared at www.jaredkneale.com.

Eric Swanson

The world of professional drumming has seen no more passionate a member than Chicago’s Eric P. Swanson, a.k.a. ESP Drums. Eric began his career in percussion at an early age; finding himself involved with multiple musical entities in his hometown of Clinton, Iowa. Originally a candidate to enter the seminary; Eric Saw the Light of rock & roll as his Savior instead, finding his passion in the grooves of 60’s and 70’s rock & roll. After many years of performing in a variety of bands in the Chicago area, Eric added instructor to his resume in 1999. His studio in western neighborhood of Chicago welcomes aspiring drummers of all levels.

Eric’s newest venture, Drum Impact LLC, features him in the role of Drum Circle Facilitator. The concept of the drum circles dates back millenia. In modern times, the ‘Circle” has found its way to modern organizations and businesses for the purposes of team building