About Gabe
Gabriel Staznik is a freelance percussionist, educator and arranger residing in the Washington, D.C. area. He is currently the drummer in Max Impact, the premier rock band of the United States Air Force, where he is also the non-commissioned officer in charge of Max Impact Operations.
Gabriel has performed and recorded with Grammy, Emmy, and Tony award-winning artists. He tours nationally and abroad with the legendary Chubby Checker (The Twist!) and has performed on-stage with artists including Kristen Chenoweth (Broadway/Film), Chris Janson, Kellie Pickler, Drake White, Mike Ryan, Jessie James Decker, James Torme, NBC's The Voice contestants James Wolpert and Cole Vosbury, and ABC's American Idol contestants Nalani Quintello and Jax. Gabe was the house drummer/percussionist in over 1,300 performances at the prestigious American Music Theatre (Lancaster, PA) and has performed as a local hire for off-Broadway national tours. He has extensive theater experience, performing with PRiMA Theatre, Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, Allenberry Playhouse, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts and in Allan Albert Productions' Internationally Award-Winning (IAAPA) production of Trash Time. While on the road he has had the privilege to open and headline for artists including Jerry Lee Lewis, Martha Reeves, Mary Wilson, Bobby Rydell, Frankie Avalon, Billy Joe Royal, The Vogues, The Spaniels, The Spinners, The Skyliners, Eddie Money, Lou Gramm, War, John Kay & Steppenwolf, Starship featuring Mickey Thomas, Gretchen Wilson, and Hank Williams Jr.
Gabe has worked as a music director and arranger for Windish Music & Productions. His works are published by HoneyRock Publishing and STRAJK Publications and have been performed by the IAAPA Award-Winning Cocoa Rhythm Factory (Hershey, PA), HersheyPark, Cedar Point Park, Canobie Lake Park (Salem, NH), Morey's Piers (Wildwood, NJ), the touring drum group Junk Rock and by scholastic percussion ensembles nation-wide. While serving as the Adjunct Professor of Percussion, he developed the Total Percussion Seminar at Lancaster Bible College (Lancaster, PA) to offer students a high-quality percussion education involving world-renowned percussion clinicians. In 2017, he co-authored "The Total Percussionist: A Quick Access Guide to Performance Techniques" to present fundamental technique information in a clear, concise way for both students and teachers.
Gabriel has recorded with Def Jam Records’ Platinum and Grammy artist LL Cool J, NFL Films, Sports Music Emmy-Awarded Hedden Music, the United States Air Force Band and select American Music Theatre's Cast Album Recordings. Gabriel's individual projects include albums “One By One” and his holiday percussion ensemble CD “The Nutcracker Suite”. He has performed on the Hallmark Channel, Maryland Public Television, Ovation and Reelz.
Gabriel holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education with an emphasis on percussion from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, National Association of Rudimental Drummers and the American Federation of Musicians (Local 21). He is a proud endorser of Vic Firth Sticks & Mallets, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Drumheads, Cympad and Beato Bags.
Gabe on PolyNome
I use PolyNome for daily metronome practice, click shifting grooves, polyrhythms, and programming performance set lists.
https://youtu.be/i5B0mF82vmk
