Meet Jon Otis
My Musical Journey
I've been playing Drums since my father Johnny Otis gave me a snare drum when I was 7. Up till then I had been beating on the 7 garbage cans behind the apartment. He finally gave me a complete set (a 1940's Slingerland Radio King) and I was on my way! When I was a teenager I developed an interest in African drumming and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. I got a Conga drum, eventually Timbales & Bongo and hand percussion and never looked back. Over the years I developed a style comprising all of the different drumming styles I love into what I call my BluBeatz Sound.
"BluBeatz, the beats be rockin',
Let the drums do the talkin', BluBeatz!
My BluBeatz Sound
What I call my BluBeatz Sound is an eclectic combination of all of the music styles I love. Jazz, Blues, RnB, Rock & Roll, Pop, Salsa, Latin Jazz, Brazilian, Afro-Caribbean, Folk, Classical, Afro, Middle Eastern & Eastern rhythms and some more!
Check out my band
Jon Otis & BluBeatz!
"The beats be rockin'
Let the drums do the talking', BluBeatz"
My Performances
I have performed in the smallest and the largest venues around the world. Radio City Music Hall, The Saloon in SF, The North Sea Jazz Festival, Ruthie's Inn in Oakland, The Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Le Baiser Sale' in Paris, The Vienna Jazz Fest, The Melkweg in Amsterdam, Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago, the Swiss Parliament, you get the idea. Now I'm working on a new project to take my original BluBeatz songs around the world!