Instruments: Drums and Percussion

Musical Influences: Many and diverse, from the Swing Bands of the 40's, the many straight ahead jazz greats, Lee Ritenour and the smooth jazz artists, to the classic rock/pure pop sounds of the 70's - 90's. While straight ahead jazz is my absolute favorite style of music, I listen to and enjoy most all musical styles. As far as strict drumming influences, I have probably been most influenced by my father, Jimmie Stavris, Sr., who clearly was the "Master Teacher", my uncle Nick Forte whose mastery of the jazz idiom and deep understanding of the art of musical drumming still both inspire and overwhelm me, and the great drummers of all time from Buddy Rich (whose talent will never be duplicated) to Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd, Vinnie Coliuta and so many others. I truly believe my "style" is a work in progress and I'm not sure it will ever be what I hope it to be...

Best Songs: Brian Wilson(?), That song we're adding with the killer drum solo J (we just don't know who exactly is gonna play the solo...) I also have to say that my favorite original is Anywhere when the feel is just right...

Worst Songs: Galileo - some day I'm gonna nail that groove…yeah, right!!

Favorite Animal & Why: Anything that's not a cat, because I can't handle an animal with attitude!

Favorite Soup: Don't I strike you as the chicken noodle type??

Favorite Cheese: Toe, but that's another whole discussion...

Best Practice Quotes: "To me, it's not so much the words but the occasional icy stares and eerie silence that just stick with you..."

Intellectual Quotes: "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."

Favorite Line/Lyric from one of our original songs: (Bill, sorry if I don't get this exactly right, its tough to hear the vocals back where I sit) - "Left our best on the cutting room floor" (Late Night Movie)

Part-Time Job(s): Bet you could guess that I'm an accountant, couldn't ya??

Best Way to Beat Bill: Let him play the drum tracks on the originals before I play them!!

Most Memorable Band-Related Happenstance: For me it was the first audition, because in two hours of playing, the only song I'd even heard before was Love Shack...

Most Bizarre Initial Impression of Another Band Member: I hate to even bring this up, but also during that first audition, my rhythm section soul-mate Ivan never actually looked in my direction while we were playing...

Liquid Sustenance While Playing: Since I'm the designated "driver" of the band (well at least in the rhythmical sense), I limit my intake to water or soda...

Favorite Past Life: Whatever it was I know that it included a stint behind the drums on stage playing in front of about 70,000 screaming fans and having the greatest chops known to man...

Best "Spellbinding" Activity: For me, there's just nothing better than making good music with good people... I'm grateful to each of my fellow "Spellbinders" for allowing me the privilege to do just that!!