“It’s been a long time coming to connect with a drumstick company that gets me, my music and my aesthetic. A company that has the right stick, brush, mallet, and everything in between. At Vater, I don’t have to search anymore for the missing piece of gear because they have a complete inventory of whatever you need for any genre. Working with Chad Brandolini and the team has been so organic and beautiful. They are simply people that honor their word, and they show up for their artists – whether I was on Broadway or gearing up for a tour or recording session. On top of all that, Vater makes the most consistent product on the market.“ – Ulysses Owens Jr.
Ulysses is using the Vater Manhattan 7A in Nylon tip and the Vater Beantown Brush.
Ulysses is using the Vater Manhattan 7A in nylon tip and the newly released Beantown Brush. Speaking about the Beantown Brush, Ulysses says: “The Beantown Brush is a dream fulfilled! I have been searching for that brush that is a direct replica of my favorite model, which was the standard for jazz brushes. Vater knocked it out of the park with pure craftsmanship, creating a brush that feels and sounds good!”
Some highlights about Ulysses Owens Jr. :
- Three time GRAMMY™ Award-Winner
- Rolling Stone Magazine picked his album “Songs of Freedom,” as a “Top Ten Album for 2019”.
- His Big Band release, “Soul Conversations,” was voted the top album in May 2021 by JazzIz Magazine.
- The Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band was voted “Rising Star Big Band ” of 2022 by Downbeat Magazine.
- His album, “A New Beat” was voted one of “10 Albums You Need to Know in 2024;” by Jazziz Magazine. Downbeat Magazine voted the album one of the “Best Albums of 2024”, and the Music Top Ten blog voted the album “Top Best Jazz Albums of 2024.” and spent 8 weeks at #1 on the Jazz Week Radio Charts.
- Ulysses has published two books: “Jazz Brushes for the Modern Drummer: An Essential Guide to the Art of Keeping Time”, and “The Musicians Career Guide: Turning Your Talent into Sustained Success”. His third book, “Jazz Big Band for the Modern Drummer: The Essential Guide to the Large Ensemble” won the “Editor’s Pick” award for Musicians Inc Magazine at NAMM 2024 in Anaheim California.
- Small Ensemble Director at The Juilliard School for over seven years and served on the EDIB (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging) committee. He has also served on multiple panels, and taught various workshops within the Alan D. Marks Entrepreneurship division.
- Artistic Director for the non-profit organization, “Don’t Miss A Beat,” whose mission is to enlighten and activate kids through Musical Theatre and Civic Engagement at the DMAB Community Arts Center in Jacksonville Florida.
- Inaugural Jazz Drum Instructor for Drumeo, developing the curriculum for his interactive course, “30 Day Jazz Drummer”.
- Creator of multiple online jazz drum video courses: Jazz Drumming 101 (Mini-Course) for Drumeo; “Finding Your Beat,” “The Art of Swing” and “Jazz Drumming 101” for Open Studio.
- As a Cultural Entrepreneur, Ulysses has been awarded the “Difference Maker” Award from Beacon College, the “Robert Arleigh White Advocacy Award” from the Cultural Council of Northeast Florida; and has been multi-year recipient of the Individual Artist Grant from the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida. He was also honored with the 2023 Ann Baker McDonald Art Ventures award from the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida, selected as 40 Under 40 by Jacksonville Business Journal in 2022, and part of the 2023 Leadership Jacksonville class.
- Ulysses made his Broadway debut at the request of Grammy Award Winning Musician, Composer, and Orchestrator, Branford Marsalis and producer David Lai; as the Drummer for the award-winning musical, “A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical”.
- Selected “Jazz Drummer of 2024” by Modern Drummer Magazine Readers Poll and featured on the cover of their December Magazine issue.
- Won “Jazz Drummer of the Year” 2024 Drumeo Award.
- Inducted into the Jacksonville Music Hall of Fame.
- Named “Rising Star Jazz Drummer of the Year” in the 2025 Downbeat Reader’s Poll.
Ulysses remains consistently in demand for new projects, and consulting opportunities, remaining one of the most sought-after thought-leaders of his generation. Yet what matters to him consistently is giving back and continuing to be grateful for a new day to make a difference in the lives of others.
For more about Ulysses Owens Jr., please visit https://www.usojazzy.com/
