Todd Strait has emerged as a jazz musician of national and international stature.
He is one of the most in-demand jazz drummers in America. His credits range from
the Marian McPartland Trio to Woody Herman's Thundering Herd and many in between.
.A native of Topeka, KS now residing in Portland, OR, Strait spent many years in Kansas City, MO, one of the nation’s jazz hot beds. Among his most significant Kansas City associations are singers Karrin Allyson and Kevin Mahogany, and the young rising piano star, Eldar Djangirov.
In the last decade and a half, Strait has traveled the globe with Karrin Allyson, Eldar and Kevin Mahogany. He has been heard live and on radio and television throughout the United States, Canada, Brazil, Europe and Asia. When not on the road or taking a well deserved break, Strait spends considerable time in recording studios and has over 65 albums to his credit. (See Discography.) His most noted recordings are with Karrin Allyson and Eldar. With each, he appears on a Grammy Nominated CD: Eldar's 2007 recording, "Re-Imagination" and Allyson's 2006 recording, "Footprints" which was also the most played album on jazz radio in 2006.
Todd's role as a jazz educator and clinician is very much rooted in the fact that he, too, has been a dedicated student. His teachers have included such respected drummers as Ed Soph, Gary Chester, Joe Morello, John Riley.
Todd has been a featured clinician at the Missouri Music Educators Association's annual convention, the University of Kansas Summer Jazz Camp, Great Plains Jazz Camp in Emporia, KS, the University of Missouri - Kansas City (UMKC) Jazz Camp, and many more. (See details on his Teaching page.)
While in Kansas City he held an adjunct instructor position and currently holds an adjunct instructor position at Mt. Hood Community College in Portland, OR.
All Rights Reserved
