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A drummer of many styles, Chris enjoys playing Progressive Metal, Heavy Metal, Rock, Classic Rock, and Fusion. Since joining the High Tops, Chris has been lucky enough to form strong new friendships with his band mates and play around much of Western Massachusetts and Connecticut.

 

CJ started drumming at three years old when his brother Ryan began learning drum set and drumming for his high school’s marching band. Ryan would go on to teach and mentor CJ throughout grade school and eventually CJ joined the High School Marching Band Drum Line in 8th grade playing bass 1. He would eventually end up playing all three marching percussion instruments (Snare, Tenors/Quads/Bass) and even became Co-Section Leader in his Senior year.  Outside of Marching Band season, Chris was a part of the Concert Band and Jazz Band playing Bass Trombone and was part of the Indoor Percussion Group.

 

After high school, Chris attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst and played with the award-winning UMass Minuteman Marching Band Drumline as a tenor player under the direction of Thom Hannum. After a year in the UMass Drumline, Chris realized that his true passion lay in playing drum set. He then began lessons with renowned artist and session drummer Thomas Giampietro (Jazz Drum Set Professor at UMass Amherst) and local drummer Ed Dupont (drummer for 80's cover band Aquanett). These marked CJ's first drum lessons outside of Ryan and marching band. If it weren't for Thom G. and Ed, CJ would never have been ready for the High Tops!

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Chris is now a full time "IT Guy" and also plays in two different groups, Moose and the High Tops, 7 Bridges Road. He survives both jobs with the love from his son and  wife. "She encourages me everyday to be the best person I can be both at my job and with my music. I cannot ask for a better life partner!"​

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Pages: Please feel free to check out CJ's music on his Facebook page and YouTube channel.

 

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Equipment

Drums

Pearl - Masters Maple. Drum sizes left to right - 14x14" Floor tom, 8x7, 10x8, 12x9 rack toms, 16x16" floor tom, 22x18" kick 

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Sabian Cymbals

Crashes: 16” HHX Stage Crash, 17" AAX Xplosion Crash, 17” HHX Stage Crash, 16” HHXplosion Crash

Hi Hats: 15" HHX Evolution Hi Hats (Dave Weckl), Aux/X-13” AAX fusion Hi Hats

Ride: 21" HHX Evo Ride, 22" Todd Sucherman Signature Ride

Aux: 10" HH Mike Portnoy Signature Max Stax, 10" AAX Splash

China: 19" Holy China/21" Holy China

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Drum Heads

Evans - Snare: Heavyweight/Heavyweight Dry (batter) Snare side 500 (res), Toms: G2 Coated (top) G1 Clear (bot) Kick: Emad 2

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Sticks

Vic Firth - X55AX5B, X55B

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Hardware

Rack: Pearl - Icon Rack DR513C (Clamps: PCX100, PCX200, PCL100)

Stands: Pearl - CH-1030B 1030 Series Gyro-Lock Cymbal Holder (long and short),

S1030 Snare Stand, 1030 Tom holders Long/Short

Hi Hat Stand: Tama - HH915D Speed Cobra Lever Glide

Bass Drum Pedals: Tama - HP910LWN Speed Cobra 910 with ACD Ultimate Drive Shaft

Throne: Porter and Davies BC2

Pearl Cowbell L Arm

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Mics

Snare: Shure - SM 57

Kick/16" Floor Tom: Shure Beta 52

Overheads: Shure SM81

Toms 1-4: Sennheiser - E604

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In Ear Monitors

64 Audio - A6T 6 driver monitors

Behringer Powerplay 1 Headphone Amp

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Other Items
Evans EQ Pods Control Gels

Pearl Tech Tool

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(***disclaimer: I do not endorse any of these companies. I use the gear that I think feels and sounds the best. I have been a Pearl, Sabian, and Vic Firth user since the age of 3. I used Evans heads in marching band during high school and college and ended up switching to Evans in 2018 for drum set! I am glad I did!)

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