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J u m p  t o  s e e  j u s t  s o m e  o f  K i t ' s:

Repertoire of Instruments   



























Christopher “Kit” Chatham is currently the Drumset/Percussionist for Cirque du Soleil's touring show, Corteo, presently touring Canada and the US.  With a specialty in the fusing of multiple styles and cultures, Kit utilizes his background in classical, world, commercial and electronic percussion along with drumset to create a sound that is uniquely his own.  Kit's experience in many forms of percussion, including many unique ethnic percussion, orchestral percussion, and marching percussion makes him a highly sought after performer & clinician.  Kit is also currently working with the WGI group, Atlanta Quest Indoor Percussion. Kit is endorsed by Sabian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, and Alternate Mode/DrumKat Electronics. 

Kit has enjoyed performing on stage around world with some of the most exciting shows.  Before joining Cirque du Soleil, Kit finished an exciting run as the featured percussionist
and percussion manager for the critically acclaimed instrumental theatrical show, CYBERJAM, performing in London, England's West End. 

Just prior to joining the cast of CYBERJAM in 2003, Kit was the featured snare drum/percussion soloist with the Tony and Emmy Award winning Broadway show Blast!, touring all over the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan.  In 2001, Kit became the original US touring soloist and continued with Blast! up until joining CYBERJAM.

Here are just a few of the people/bands Kit has performed with:
Cirque du Soleil, CyberJam, Blast!, PdQ, John Scott Evans, Rick Pruitt, Randy Hoexter, David Ragsdale (of Kansas), Jerry Peek (of Steve Morse Band), John T David, Andy David, Sam Skelton, The U.S. Beat, Chip Lunsford, Tom Knight, Steve Dancz, Buddy Mohmed & American Bedouin, Gale Hess (of Cafe Noir), Eyal Ganor, Jamal Mohammad, Arvin Scott's Percussion Group, Guadalajara and Tropical Breeze with Thomas McCutchen, UGA Jazz 1 Ensemble, and many more . . .

Kit has been featured and received rave reviews in some of the most prestigious magazines including:  Classic Drummer Magazine, The LA Times, Time Out London, Get Out Magazine, Digital Journal Magazine, The London Theatre Guide, The Washington Post,  The Atlanta-Journal and Constitution, The Toronto Star, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Nashville Tennessean, Toronto's Eye Weekly, and many more . . .

Also for the 2005 and 2006 WGI Indoor Percussion Seasons, Kit was Chief Show Designer/Head of Percussion Performance/Artistic Director for the world finalist Odyssey Percussion Theatre.  He was with Odyssey from its inception and left the organization to pursue more involvement with Atlanta Quest.

When not performing with Cirque du Soleil and back in the Atlanta area, Kit also gives clinics and master classes on all types of percussion and plays world percussion with an Atlanta based Smooth Jazz group called PdQ

Kit finished a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Georgia in 2000 and also did freelance performing and teaching in the Atlanta/Athens area while in college. Kit studied percussion privately with Dr. Thomas W. McCutchen and drum set with Arvin Scott while attending the University of Georgia.  Kit has also instructed and arranged percussion music for the University of Georgia Redcoat Drum line and University of Georgia Indoor Marching Percussion Ensemble for three years and served as UGA Drum line section leader the two previous years.

In the summer of 2000, Kit toured the nation as a Drum line/Percussion Instructor with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corp based then out of Newark, Delaware.  While in college, Kit was a studio percussionist for multiple recording studios based outside the Atlanta area, as well as a percussionist for many local bands: Guadalajara, a Latin jazz group out of Athens; Tropical Breeze, a Caribbean steel drum band also from Athens; the John Scott Evans Band out of Columbus who in April 2000 released their first full length live CD; and many other appearances with bands from all over the nation.  In the summer of 1999, Kit performed world percussion with pianist/composer Steve Dancz at the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland, the Vienne Jazz Festival in Vienne, France, and other parts of Europe.

Along with these accomplishments, Kit has worked with many high school drum lines throughout Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama, as well as aiding the University of Tennessee Drum line.   While in college, Kit performed with many orchestral and concert ensembles including the Athens Symphony, Augusta Symphony, the University of Georgia Wind Symphony, the University of Georgia Orchestra, Redcoat Marching Band, UGA Salsa Band, UGA Percussion Ensemble, UGA Steel Band, UGA African Ensemble, and the University Studio Orchestra with world famous composer and arranger Sammy Nestico. Other educational accomplishments for Kit have been giving clinics in world, concert, and marching percussion at many schools conventions, and percussion seminars throughout the United States and Internationally.  Kit has also been featured and showcased on a CNN Music Education Special.


Repertoire of Instruments

  •  Contemporary and Orchestral Percussion Instruments
Marimba – Vibraphone – Glockenspiel (Bells) – Xylophone – Timpani – Concert Snare Drum – Bass Drum – Cymbals – Accessories
  •  Ethnic Percussion
Latin Percussion:  Congas – Timbales – Bongos – Bata – Cajon –
Tambora – Bombo – Botija – Hand Accessories
African Percussion:  Djembe – Sabar – Ashiko – Mbira – Djun –
Kenkeni – Sangba – Talking Drum – DunDun – Nigerian Clay Drum – Shekere – Gonkogwe – Apitual/Atoke 
Indian Percussion:  Tabla – Mirdungam – Ghatam
 
Middle Eastern:  Tar – Egyptian Riq – Muhzar – Dumbeck –
Darbaku
Brazilian Percussion:  Repinique – Pandeiro – Tambourim –
Surdo – Cuica – Caixa – Ganza – Caxix – Berimbau – Timbal – Apito – Pagode
Trinidad:  Steel Drums including Lead Pan – Double Seconds –
Triple Guitars
Japanese Percussion:  Taiko (Kumi-daiko style) Drumming;
Nagado-daiko; Hira-daiko; Shime-daiko; Chappa
Ireland:  Bohdran - Bones

Scotland:  Scottish Pipe Snare Drumming

Australia:  Didjeridoo – Bull Roar
  • Rudimental Marching Percussion
Contemporary Drum Corp Style, Ancient Styles, Irish, and Swiss Drumming
  •  Drum Set
Jazz – Rock – Latin – Afro Cuban - Funk – Brazilian
  • Electronic Percussion
Alternate Mode MalletKat Pro Midi Mallet Controller
Alternate Mode DrumKat Turbo Midi Percussion Controller
Alternate Mode TrapKat 3.0 Midi Percussion Controller
Roland TD-20 Pro V-drums
Roland HDP-15 HandSonic
Tascam GigaStudio 3 Software
Cakewalk Software and Reason 3.0 Software



©2007 www.KitChatham.com