TOM HIPSKIND

Tom Hipskind has been playing drums for well over 30 years.  He received his undergraduate degree in jazz performance at Northern Illinois University, where he played with the NIU Jazz Ensemble and accompanied many jazz legends for three years, before doing graduate work at DePaul University and taking residence in the Chicago area.  He has performed, recorded and toured extensively with many artists, such as Howard Levy, Kenny Werner, Patricia Barber, Fred Simon, Kimo Williams’ Kimotion, Gary Sinise’s Lt. Dan Band, and many others.  Currently, he’s a member of the Chicago-based jazz/fusion group Kick The Cat, and is on the band’s latest CD, “Scramble”.  Tom is a highly-regarded studio musician, having recorded on dozens of TV and radio commercials, film soundtracks and record dates.  He’s also found a home in Broadway-style pit orchestras, performing on Chicago-based productions of “The Lion King”, “Shrek” and “Dirty Dancing”.  Since 2004, Tom has been adjunct faculty in the music department at Columbia College Chicago, teaching private lessons and classes.