Profile

A native of Sacramento, Tim Metz brings an impressive and wide-ranging professional résumé. He began studying drums at the age of seven and by eleven was already performing with the traditional jazz ensemble The New Traditionalists. After graduating from Rio Americano High School, Metz attended the prestigious William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, earning a B.A. in Jazz Performance in August 2001. During his time at WPU, he studied and performed with many leading figures in the international jazz community, including Rufus Reid, Conrad Herwig, Lynn Seaton, David Demsey, Steve Wilson, Horacee Arnold, and John Riley.

Metz returned to Sacramento in 2001 and has since maintained an active career as both educator and performer. Alongside a demanding teaching schedule of more than 40 drum students per week, he continues to perform regularly with world-class artists such as Jeff Clayton, Jacam Manricks, Joe Gilman, Donald Brown, Art Hirahara, Jim Martinez, Larry Koonse, Darek Oles, Todd Johnson, and the Santa Rosa Symphony Pops. In addition, Metz has reached a global audience as one of YouTube’s most popular jazz drum educators, with millions of views on his instructional channel.

Metz’s drumming reflects a deep lineage of jazz tradition, drawing influence from Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, Paul Motian, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, and Jimmy Cobb. By blending these influences with his own musical voice, he brings a thoughtful, dynamic, and highly musical approach to the drum set—one that is both rooted in tradition and vividly contemporary.