About Me

Hey, my name is Ethan Fossum and I’m a Los Angeles–based drummer, bandleader, and educator whose playing is rooted in jazz and shaped by a wide spectrum of musical influences. From the volume and intensity of rock and metal to the collective movement of pop music to the freedom and spiritual depth of jazz, my artistic presence and versatility blend with any musical situation. 

As a California native, I have performed across the state in a variety of musical settings ranging from vibrant jazz clubs and theatre productions to historic rock stages and studios; Venues like The Troubadour, Sam First, The Mint, and The Lobero Theatre. I hold an Associate of Arts in Music from Santa Barbara City College and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from California State University, Northridge, and I have studied with master musicians such as Michael Carvin, Jason Harnell, and Tina Raymond. 

As a lifelong musician, the instrument has become an extension of me. With my drums, I strive to provide audiences with palpable, joyous, and uniquely human musical experiences, no matter the genre. As a performer, I want to give back to listeners everything with which the drums have graced me. As an educator, my mission is to inspire the next generation of young drummers, passing down the knowledge that I have been given under the tutelage of master musicians. 

Join me on this journey! Through the drums, let’s make the world a little brighter, day by day.