About
Jeff has integrated his performing career with his passion for writing about music and the arts
Performer
Jeff Potter grew up in Rhode Island. After graduating from Colby College, he moved to Boston where he studied with legendary drummer Alan Dawson and circulated in the New England music scene playing with original bands and freelancing.
In those early '80s Boston years, Jeff co-led the jazz-rock unit, Bellvista. Touring the Northeast, they opened for headliners including Al DiMeola, The Average White Band, The Brubeck Brothers, Janis Ian, The Paul Winter Consort and Southside Johnny. Allmusic.com said of their LP, The Painter, "Exquisite musicianship...extraordinary from top to bottom."
Jeff moved to New York City, circulating with singer/songwriter, rock, jazz and cabaret acts. He eventually became active in the city's musical theater circuit and enjoyed a career with national tours, seasonal shows at Radio City Music Hall (featuring The Rockettes) and on Broadway, most notably as drummer for the entire 12-year-plus run of the ground-breaking rock opera, Rent. He can be heard on the show's Grammy-nominated, double-platinum cast recording. In addition, he has also appeared on television and in film.
Jeff was profiled in the Modern Drummer magazine feature, "Jeff Potter and Rising Rent" and the DRUM magazine piece, "New York Drumming Scene: Bashing The Big Apple."
(More details on "Drummer" page)
Jeff Potter grew up in Rhode Island. After graduating from Colby College, he moved to Boston where he studied with legendary drummer Alan Dawson and circulated in the New England music scene playing with original bands and freelancing.
In those early '80s Boston years, Jeff co-led the jazz-rock unit, Bellvista. Touring the Northeast, they opened for headliners including Al DiMeola, The Average White Band, The Brubeck Brothers, Janis Ian, The Paul Winter Consort and Southside Johnny. Allmusic.com said of their LP, The Painter, "Exquisite musicianship...extraordinary from top to bottom."
Jeff moved to New York City, circulating with singer/songwriter, rock, jazz and cabaret acts. He eventually became active in the city's musical theater circuit and enjoyed a career with national tours, seasonal shows at Radio City Music Hall (featuring The Rockettes) and on Broadway, most notably as drummer for the entire 12-year-plus run of the ground-breaking rock opera, Rent. He can be heard on the show's Grammy-nominated, double-platinum cast recording. In addition, he has also appeared on television and in film.
Jeff was profiled in the Modern Drummer magazine feature, "Jeff Potter and Rising Rent" and the DRUM magazine piece, "New York Drumming Scene: Bashing The Big Apple."
(More details on "Drummer" page)
Journalist
Jeff has published over 500 pieces, including cover stories, features, interviews, CD/DVD reviews and biographical articles. Music periodicals he has contributed to include DownBeat, Modern Drummer, JazzTimes and International Musician.
In addition, he has written theater articles for TDF Stages, The Manhattan Times and Marquee as well as liner notes for CBS Records and King Records (Japan). He also wrote biographical/historical pieces for the books, The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz and The Drummer: 100 Years of Rhythmic Power and Invention.
(More details on "Arts Journalist" page)
Jeff has published over 500 pieces, including cover stories, features, interviews, CD/DVD reviews and biographical articles. Music periodicals he has contributed to include DownBeat, Modern Drummer, JazzTimes and International Musician.
In addition, he has written theater articles for TDF Stages, The Manhattan Times and Marquee as well as liner notes for CBS Records and King Records (Japan). He also wrote biographical/historical pieces for the books, The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz and The Drummer: 100 Years of Rhythmic Power and Invention.
(More details on "Arts Journalist" page)