Most notably, Jake was the drummer for Sugar Hill: The Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker, delivering the world premiere dance adaptation of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's 1961 Nutcracker Suite at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago in December of 2023. This innovative performance, conducted by pianist Harold O'Neal, featured a world-class 16-piece big band and showcased the arrangements of John Clayton and Larry Blank. He has since performed as a pit musician on various national tours, including Mrs. Doubtfire and Beetlejuice.
With a rich and diverse musical background, Jake is a seasoned drummer whose journey encompasses a variety of collaborations and performances. An alumnus of The Ohio State University School of Music, Jake studied jazz performance with Jim Rupp (Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, Glenn Miller, Tony Bennet, Ray Charles) and has performed under the direction of various distinguished bandleaders such as Andy Farber, Michael Davis, and Charles Starling. Beyond an abundance of festival, theatre, production, and touring experience, Jake is also an enthusiastic teacher, having worked with nearly 100 students in the Northeast.
