José is an undeniable pillar of the drum community. His passion for drums has helped establish an amazing community cherished around the world. As a working drummer, he has created beats and sounds with The Breeders, 1939 Ensemble, Modest Mouse, Ben Harper, Joey Ramone, Kim Deal (solo), She & Him, Donavon Frankenreiter, Rocco Deluca, Marisa Anderson, M. Ward, Chris Funk, Scout Niblett, CJ Ramone, Face to Face, 22 Jacks, Chris Shiflet (Foo Fighters), Steve Soto (Adolescents) and many others. Created sounds for HBO, TedX and Nike. He’s also released several drum-centric solo albums.

In 2009 eager to get off the road to be a more present husband and father, José opened Revival Drum Shop (Portland, OR.) with a single inspiration: create a place for drummers to find unique, inspiring pieces in a curated and inviting environment. Revival Drum Shop has inspired many boutique shops to follow this model.

José since then has gone to curate and host The Drummers Den series and Deep Happening, write and publish The Stoic Drummer, a collection of axioms and philosophy of stoicism relating to the practice and art of drumming, A Drummers Ethos, a book that celebrates the characteristic spirit of the drumming community and an collage art book celebrating drums and drummers of yesteryear Who Will Play My Drums When I’m Gone? Served as Vintage Drum Specialist for Fred Armisen’s Netflix Special Standup For Drummers, guest drummed on Late Night With Seth Meyers and recently co-produced Revival Drum Sample Library Vol. 1 (Snare Drums) and Vol. 2 (Bass Drums).

He is endorsed by Ludwig Drums, Vater Percussion and EarthQuaker Devices.

Also proudly uses Cymbal & Gong, Istanbul Agop, Upcycled Percussion, Roots EQ, Tackle Instruments and various Morfbeat, Gregg Keplinger, Pete Englehart metal pieces.

*Portions written by Uli Salazar

RECORDINGS

THE BREEDERS : Title TK - Drums

THE BREEDERS : Mountain Battles - Drums

THE BREEDERS : Fate to Fatal EP - Drums

THE BREEDERS : All Nerve - Drums “Waiting With A Killer”/“Wait In The Car”

KIM DEAL : Solo  7” Series - Drums

MODEST MOUSE : Strangers to Ourselves - Vibraphone

BEN HARPER : Both Sides of the Gun - Drums “The Way You Found Me”

SHE&HIM : Melt Away: A Tribute To Brian Wilson - Drums, Percussion

HBO : Q…INTO THE STORM - Drums

1939 ENSEMBLE : Howl & Bite - Drums, Vibraphone, Percussion, Noise

1939 ENSEMBLE : Live from the Banana Stand - Drums, Vibraphone, Noise

1939 ENSEMBLE : Black Diamond Pearl - Drums, Vibraphone, Percussion, Noise

1939 ENSEMBLE : Beats & Saints EP - Drums, Noise

1939 ENSEMBLE : New Cinema - Drums, Synth, Percussion, Noise

JOHN DAVIS : Spare Parts - Drums, Percussion

SCOUT NIBLETT : It’s Up To Emma - Drums

ROCCO DELUCA : I Trust You to Kill Me - Drums, Percussion

CJ RAMONE : Reconquista - Drums, Percussion

SECRET DRUM BAND : Dynamics - Vibraphone

22 JACKS : Overserved - Drums, Percussion

22 JACKS : Going North - Drums, Percussion

FACE TO FACE: Standards & Practices Vol.II - Drums “Tommy Gun”

JOSÉ MEDELES : The Art of Slowness - Electravibe

JOSÉ MEDELES : Railroad Cadences & Melancholic Anthems - Drums, Ambient Clatter

JOSÉ MEDELES : Tale of a Dysfunctional Drummer - Drums

JOSÉ MEDELES : Random Underdog Stories - Drums, Percussion

JOSÉ MEDELES : Reception - Electravibe

JOSÉ MEDELES : Cabin Tapes - Electravibe

STEVE SOTO : An Exercise in Blue - Drums, Percussion

REVIVAL DRUM SHOP : Sample Library Vol. 1 & 2 - Drums

THE HOLLOYS : Art Wars - Drums

IO PERRY : Greybay - Drums, Percussion

CUSTOM MADE SCARE : Greatest Show on Dirt - Drums 

NIKE : Questlove & Kylie Irving Commercial Demo - Drums

CURATION

NETFLIX “FRED ARMISEN STAND UP FOR DRUMMERS”- Vintage Drums Specialist/Curator/Tech

DEEP HAPPENING : Creator/Co-Curator

THE DRUMMERS DEN : Host/Curator

LIVE

*ANOTHER GLORY (2022)

*1939 ENSEMBLE (2010-2021)

*THE BREEDERS (2001-2010)

VARIOUS SOLO PERFORMANCES

LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS 8G SIT-IN (2021)

**SCOUT NIBLETT (2012)

**STEVE SOTO (2008)

**MIKE WATT & MONEY MARK (2006)

**CHRIS SHIFLETT/JACKSON UNITED (2006)

**ROCCO DELUCA (2004-2005)

**TITO & TARANTULA (2005)

**DONAVON FRANKENREITER (2003-2005)

**THE WHITE BUFFALO (2004)

**YELLOW #5 (2004)

**THE HOLLOYS (2002)

*22 JACKS (1997-2001)

**FACE TO FACE (1998)

**JOEY RAMONE (1997)

**LOS INFERNOS (1996)

*CUSTOM MADE SCARE (1995-1998)

**Hired Gun *Member

OTHER

AUXART “TO THE RIVER”: Performance (2022)

MARMOSET: Guest Speaker (2022)

ENTREPRENEURS ORGANIZATION: Guest Speaker & Solo Performance (2020)

DEEP HAPPENING: Solo Performance (2021)

SUTTLE LODGE ARTIST IN RESIDENCY: Solo Performance (2018)

LIVE WIRE #231: 1939 Ensemble (2015)

OPB MUSIC: 1939 Ensemble (2015)

TEDX BEND: 1939 Ensemble Live Original Score Performance- (2014)

PORTLAND ART MUSEUM: 1925 “Pleasure Garden”- 1939 Ensemble Live Original Score Performance (2014)

FILMUSIK: 1926 “Faust”- 1939 Ensemble Live Original Film Score Performance (2012)

TV

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER “HIM” with The Breeders

CONAN O’BRIEN with The Breeders

CARSON DALY with The Breeders

CRAIG KILBORN with The Breeders

JIMMY KIMMEL with Jack Johnson/G. Love/Donavon Frankenreiter

CARSON DALY with Donavon Frankenreiter

SETH MEYERS Guest Drummer

FRED ARMISEN “STAND UP FOR DRUMMERS” Door Guy