Jeff Salem started out performing with several local rock, jazz, latin, country and tribute acts throughout the Toronto area. This eventually led him to performing and recording with well known rock bands such as Fist (A&M), Sword (Aquarius), Saints & Sinners (Savage/BMG), Lee Aaron (Attic), Randy Bachman, Robben Ford, Kalan Porter (Canadian Idol Winner 2004) as well as Blues artist Coop De Ville.
He has also freelanced with many other artists throughout the U.S. Aside from the various recording artists, Jeff has performed on many cruise ships as a player in the orchestra as well as a band leader. Jeff is known to be a versatile drummer, performing and reading all styles of music.
Jeff had the opportunity to perform on a millennium cruise to Antarctica working with various artists including The Chieftains, Diana Krall, Natalie McMaster, Art Garfunkel and with the actor Dan Akroyd.
Jeff is currently involved in the Educational Seminars in Percussion program (ESP) sponsored by Vic Firth, Sabian, L.P.(Latin Percussion) and Yamaha drums.
It involves going into local schools and performing drum clinics for the percussion and other music students. During this time Jeff has become a great public speaker for percussion and music arts motivating music students where ever he goes.
The program is designed to support music directors by motivating the students to either start or further their percussive studies. Jeff has performed at over 500 schoolsin the past 15 years.
Jeff is involved with the program P.L.A.S.P. (Peel Lunch & After School Program) He offers his hand drumming clinic performance “A Little Drumming In Everyone” to this program. It caters to youths between the ages 6-12.
Jeff is also on the clinic roster for Sabian which you’ll see him performing throughout the year at various music stores. He has performed these types of clinics in over 30 countries.
In his clinics Jeff promotes his own educational series “TIPS” (Total Integrated Percussion Studies) with three popular videos: Groove a Diddles, Drumology Presents, and Double Bass Vocabulary-Volume One.
Jeff has performed at many music trade shows including the NAMM show both in Anaheim, CA and Nashville, TN., the Musicmesse in Frankfurt, Germany, Music West in Vancouver, BC, Cape Breton International Drumfest in Sydney Nova Scotia Guitar Workshop Plus in Oakville, ON and Canadian Music Week in Toronto, ON.
Jeff Salem is a freelance writer for the magazines Canadian Musician and Modern Drummer. He also maintains a large roster of students for private instruction at his teaching studio in Brampton, ON at J.S Music Studio. Jeff Salem is endorsed by Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth drum sticks, Evans Drumheads, L.P. (Latin Percussion(, Mountain Rythym and HQ Percussion (Real Feel Pads).
Check out these titles featuring Jeff: