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 teach and mentor CJ throughout grade school and eventually he joined the High School Marching Band in 8th grade as a bass drum player. He would eventually end up playing all three marching percussion instruments 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 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).
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!"
Pages: Please feel free to check out CJ's music on his Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Equipment
Drums
Acoustic:
Pearl - Masters Maple. Drum sizes left to right - 14x14" Floor tom, 8x7, 10x8, 12x9 rack toms, 16x16" floor tom, 22x18" kick
Electric:
Roland - TD27kvx (4 toms) KD140 Kick (Superior drummer 3 for sounds)
Sabian Cymbals
Crashes: 16” HHX Stage Crash, 17" AAX Xplosion Crash, 17” HHX Stage Crash, 16” HHXplosion Crash
Hi Hats: 14/15" HHX Evolution Hi Hats (Dave Weckl), Aux/X-13” AAX fusion Hi Hats
Ride: 20” AAX Metal Ride, 21" HHX Evo Ride
Aux: 10" HH Mike Portnoy Signature Max Stax, 10" AAX Splash
China: 19" Holy China/21" Holy China
Drum Heads
Evans - Snare: Heavyweight/Heavyweight Dry (batter) Snare side 500 (res), Toms: G2 Coated (top) G1 Clear (bot) Kick: Emad 2
Sticks
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
Mics
Snare: Shure - SM 57
Kick/16" Floor Tom: Shure Beta 52
Overheads: Shure SM81
Toms 1-4: Sennheiser - E604
In Ear Monitors
64 Audio - A6T 6 driver monitors
Behringer Powerplay 1 Headphone Amp
Other Items
Evans EQ Pods Control Gels
(***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!)