About Rochelle


Drumset / Timbales / Minor percussions / Rhythm Section Leader / Congas (Doubler only)

EXPERT STYLES - Rock & Pop / Afro Cuban / Blues / Timba /
R & B / Gospel / Salsa / Latin Jazz
ADDITIONAL STYLES - Bossa Nova/ Classical/ Funk & Old School

Professional Goals :

"I have a valid passport and I am willing to travel."

Rochelle is available for Sessions and percussion arrangements.


Current Projects

Teachers

Rochelle’s passion for music is a family legacy.  She would spend many hours with her father listening to old school, r&b and the contemporary music of the time.  From early childhood Rochelle demonstrated a talent for percussion, tapping or beating anything she could find around the house. It was only natural for her to gravitate to formal training at the earliest opportunity when she joined the pep band at Pius X High School in Downey, CA., under the direction of Jim Drollinger. Rochelle played at every opportunity from freshman to senior year, mastering bass to snare drums, and then tri-toms (i.e all the football & basketball games as well as numerous recitals).

At Cerritos College in the Applied Music Program Rochelle learned drum set under the guidance of Dr. Theresa Dimond.  She also took two years in Jazz, Classical, and Rock disciplines during which she played for the community Jazz Band, Gospel Choir, and various ensembles.  While at Cerritos College Rochelle formed a rock band with five classmates and began professional performances outside of school at venues around Los Angeles.  Next Rochelle attended California State University, Dominguez Hills.  At the same time, she spent four years with the Anaesthetics, an alternative rock band, contributing to the arrangements for an all-original repertoire and performing at: The Whisky; the Alligator Lounge; and all over Hollywood.  She completed two tours to Texas and Oklahoma also performing at a music festival in Mexico featuring Coolio.  Soon after leaving the Anaesthetics Rochelle began playing in Gospel plays for a playwright named Donald Welch, completing engagements of four of Donald’s plays at the Los Angeles Wilshire Ebel Theater including:  “Let The Church Roll On” starring Marla Gibbs and Dorian Wilson, “Heaven Bound”, “Hallelujah Mahalia” & The First Lady of Zion.  She is still a regular with Mr. Welch’s projects.  

During this time Rochelle became very interested in Latin music and began to take Timbale lessons from world renowned drummer and percussionist, Tiki Pasillas, and also from Robertito Melendez, and has continued to take lessons and study the instrument ever since.  

Rochelle is currently involved with several projects: Suezenne Fordham Chamber Jazz Orchestra (Percussion), Sabbath In Black (Drums), a Black Sabbath Tribute Band. She also is a regular performer with Grupo Nicoya (Timbales), which plays folkloric Nicaraguan along with other styles of Latin music. Presently, Rochelle is working with Jug Or Nots, a jug band playing American music from the 1920s and '30s (washboard, cajon, and what ever else can be found). A quick study, she often subs, or steps in, for short-term gigs because of her ability to pick up or create arrangements for other bands. Rochelle continues to study Drums, Timbales, and Congas, listening to all styles of music.

Inspirations:

Sheila E., Phil Collins, John Bonham, Omar Hakim, Cindy Blackman, Terry Lyne Carrington, Dennis chambers, my friend and former drum instructor Alex Davis, John Fuentes (current drum instructor), Animal from The Muppet Show, Changuito, Tiki Passillas, Robertito melendez, Jimmy Branly, Raul Pineda.

Past Projects:

Sweet~Heat Latin Jazz (Drums/Timbales)
Senergy (Cover Band) (Drums)
The Anaesthetics (Drums) Original Music
HOLLYBOOTS (Drums) Original Music
The Sarah Maria Project (Drums) Origionals and covers
Los Puros (Timbales) Cuban Music
Master Latin Jazz Trumperter Dr. Bobby Rodriguez (Drums/Timbales). While playing with Dr. Rodriguez, Rochelle has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with legends such as joe Rotundi and Munyungo Jackson.