Frank Parker

Born in Harvey, Illinois, Frank Parker began playing the drums at the age of five. In 1991, Frank was selected as the top drummer for the Illinois Music Educators Association jazz program. He received a scholarship to attend Western Illinois University in 1991 and graduated in 1995 with a degree in music business. In 1999, Frank joined the Kurt Elling Quartet with whom he performed internationally for five years and recorded the Grammy nominated cd, Man In the Air. He has performed with ensembles which featured Benny Carter, Freddie Hubbard, Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Andy Bey, Mark Murphy, Joe Lovano, Bobby Watson, John Patitucci, Kevin Mohogany, Karl Denson, Jon Hendricks, Martin Short, Arturo Sandoval, and Chris Potter. Frank has also worked as a music educator teaching drums, percussion, and music business courses at Benedictine University and Columbia College. Currently, he is performing with Michal Urbaniak , Marcin Pospieszalski, Mike Parker’s Trio Theory, Free Cooperation, Tie Break, and the Maciej Fortuna Trio. He also leads his own ensembles which features music from the jazz, funk, dance, pop, Afro, Latin, dance, and electronic music styles.