Drummer Keith Wald knows something about quantum leaps. Keith earned a Ph.D. in physics from UC Berkeley. His area of study? Experimental solid state physics of quantum-confined electronic structures. Keith makes quantum leaps daily, shifting gears from his job at Sun Microsystems, to his night time role as drummer of Bay Area Brazilian Music band Nossa Bossa.

The son of an engineer, Keith always liked science and mathematical things. So the patterns and rhythms of percussion naturally intrigued him, and he began drumming at around age 10. Keith's teachers have included Dick Carlo, Rob Carson (national snare drum champion), Steve Smith (Journey, Steps Ahead), and well-known bay area players Scott Morris and Glen Cronkite.

At 15, Keith got valuable training in the Santa Clara Vanguard, a drum and bugle corps with whom he recorded an album at the Concord Pavilion. He played in bands all four years of high school in Cupertino, California, then gigged with buddies Lyle Workman (who went on to play for Beck) and Myron Dove (Santana). He also played with Randy Jackson (Jean-Luc Ponty), and Tom Coster (Santana).

During the early 80s, Keith recorded with Joaquin Lievano (Jean-Luc Ponty) and Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey). He also recorded with award-winning guitarist James Blackthorne. As a special challenge, he performed Frank Zappa's "The Black Page #1" as a duet with high school classmate Bryan Mantia, who later found fame with Primus and Guns 'N Roses.

Keith eventually decided to go to college, briefly majoring in music, then switching to physics. This took him out of the music scene, but Keith maintained his interest through the work of his music heroes, including: Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Weather Report's Peter Erskine and Omar Hakim, Frank Zappa's Vinnie Colaiuta, and the grandmaster of modern drumming, Steve Gadd.

After finishing his schooling, he began playing again seriously. "I try to respect the spirit of whatever type of music I happen to play," says Keith, "while leaving strict authenticity to the experts." Brazilian music includes many rhythmic variations, and some of them, such as Bossa, Samba, and Baiao, form part of the curriculum for students of drumming. "Whereas many drummers only get to treat this stuff in a technical way, I get the extra kick of trying to use this training as part of Nossa Bossa."

You may email keith at: keith_wald@yahoo.com