Andrew Drury - Educator whose work focuses on rhythm, space, and melody

Andrew Drury stands as one of contemporary music's most innovative and generous spirits—a drummer, improviser, composer, and bandleader whose work transcends conventional boundaries while remaining deeply rooted in the rich soil of Jazz and African-diasporic creativity. Originally from Seattle and now based in Brooklyn, New York, Drury has spent decades expanding the vocabulary of percussion through extended techniques, collaborative exploration, and an unwavering commitment to community engagement that has touched lives across six continents.

Drury's artistic foundation was built during a formative mentorship with legendary drummer Ed Blackwell that spanned nearly a decade, from 1983 to 1992. This relationship, which began in Drury's youth, provided him with direct transmission from one of Jazz's master practitioners—a lineage that would inform his approach to rhythm, improvisation, and musical conversation for years to come. He further developed his craft at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, an institution known for its progressive approach to world music and experimental sound.

As a performer, Drury's reach is extraordinary. He has brought his singular vision to audiences in 30 countries and appears on nearly 80 recordings, performing both as a compelling soloist and as a collaborative ensemble member. He leads the acclaimed quartet Content Provider, featuring saxophonists Ingrid Laubrock and Briggan Krauss alongside guitarist Brandon Seabrook. The group's eponymous album earned recognition as a "Top Ten CD of 2015" by NYC Jazz Record, testament to Drury's compositional vision and his ability to create spaces where improvisation and structure engage in dynamic dialogue. He is also a member of The Forest, a cooperative percussion ensemble that brings together five artists in collective exploration of rhythm and texture.

Beyond the stage and studio, Drury has distinguished himself as an educator and cultural organizer of remarkable dedication. He has led over 1,500 percussion workshops in settings as diverse as they are meaningful: universities and conservatories, public schools and prisons, homeless shelters and remote villages in Nicaragua and Guatemala, museums and Indian reservations. His masterclasses have enriched students at UC San Diego, University of Virginia, Rutgers, CUNY Hunter, Columbia, and conservatories in Tallinn and Sarajevo, sharing not just technique but philosophy—an approach to music-making that embraces infinite possibility over fixed limitation.

In Brooklyn, Drury transformed his own home into a cultural hub through Soup & Sound, a concert series that has presented over 150 performances featuring musicians from around the world. This intimate setting embodies his belief in music as communion, breaking down the barriers between artist and audience. He co-founded and runs Continuum Culture & Arts, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to presenting live performances, educational programming, and international cultural exchange. In recognition of his profound impact on New York's creative music scene, the Jazz Journalists Association named him a "Brooklyn Jazz Hero" in 2023.

Drury's collaborative spirit has led to partnerships with visionary artists including Jason Kao Hwang, Alan Braufman, Robert Dick, Carol Liebowitz, and JD Parran, among many others. His solo recording "The Drum" was praised as "an ingenious work that highlights Drury's fertile imagination," capturing the essence of an artist whose work refuses conformity and continually explores the infinite possibilities within rhythm, sound, and human connection.

1. How did your nearly decade-long mentorship with Ed Blackwell shape your understanding of rhythm and improvisation?

Drury's mentorship with legendary drummer Ed Blackwell from 1983 to 1992 provided him with direct transmission from one of Jazz's master practitioners during his formative years. This relationship established a foundational lineage that continues to inform his approach to rhythm, improvisation, and musical conversation. The mentorship instilled in Drury an understanding of the drummer's role that transcends technical execution to embrace the deeper philosophical dimensions of ensemble playing and creative dialogue.

2. What is the vision behind your Soup & Sound concert series, and how does it reflect your approach to community building?

Soup & Sound transformed Drury's Brooklyn home into a cultural hub that has presented over 150 performances featuring musicians from around the world. This intimate setting embodies his belief in music as communion, deliberately breaking down the traditional barriers between artist and audience. The series represents an alternative performance model that prioritizes genuine connection and cultural exchange over conventional concert formats, creating a space where music functions as a shared experience rather than a spectacle.

3. How does your educational outreach work with underserved communities inform your artistic practice?

Drury has led over 1,500 percussion workshops in extraordinarily diverse settings including public schools, prisons, homeless shelters, and remote villages in Nicaragua and Guatemala, as well as Indian reservations. His approach shares not just technique but philosophy—a way of music-making that embraces infinite possibility over fixed limitation. These experiences across six continents have deepened his commitment to making creative music accessible and meaningful to communities often excluded from traditional arts programming, while enriching his own understanding of rhythm's universal language.

4. What distinguishes your musical projects like Content Provider and The Forest in terms of artistic vision?

Content Provider, Drury's acclaimed quartet featuring saxophonists Ingrid Laubrock and Briggan Krauss alongside guitarist Brandon Seabrook, creates dynamic spaces where improvisation and structure engage in dialogue, earning recognition including a "Top Ten CD of 2015" designation from NYC Jazz Record. The Forest represents a different approach as a cooperative percussion ensemble bringing together five artists in collective exploration of rhythm and texture. Both projects reflect Drury's commitment to work that transcends conventional boundaries while remaining rooted in Jazz and African-diasporic creativity, refusing conformity and continually exploring infinite sonic possibilities.

5. What role does Continuum Culture & Arts play in your broader vision as an artist and cultural organizer?

As co-founder and leader of Continuum Culture & Arts, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Drury has created an institutional framework dedicated to presenting live performances, educational programming, and international cultural exchange. This organization extends his commitment to community engagement beyond individual projects, providing sustainable infrastructure for the values that animate his work. His dedication to New York's creative music scene through this and other initiatives earned him recognition as a "Brooklyn Jazz Hero" by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2023.