Jeffrey James Franca born August 27 1984, is a lifer in music and a prime example of how adaptation and diversity within an expansive career can bring success. Beginning on guitar at the age of 6 was very formative in directing Jeffrey towards a path of songwriting and production. While pivoting to drums and percussion a few years later Jeffrey began to develop as a multi-instrumentalist with heavy focus on classical percussion and drum-set playing. Winning the chair of Principal Percussionist for the Virginia Youth Symphony, and American Youth Philharmonic throughout high school, brought Jeffrey to a level of professionalism at an early age that was undeniable. Finding himself on the stages of Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center before graduating high school sent Jeff on a trajectory that he still maintains today. He continued on to Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music where he earned degrees in Classical Percussion Performance and Jazz Studies in Percussion. His main teachers there were David Baker, Steve Houghton, Anthony Cirone and Gerald Carlyss. He was awarded the rare Performers Certificate along with his classical degree and nominated for his Jazz Degree as well. Jeff's journey in composition really starts there, having written most of the music for his 3 mandatory recitals for graduation. 

Jumping into the scene after college, back home in Washington D.C. , catapulted Jeffrey towards his career defining gig as the Drummer and Musical Director for D.C. based internationally renowned band, Thievery Corporation. While accompanying African, Afro-Cuban and Modern dance classes at George Mason University, Jeffrey developed a curriculum for the sophomore level Dance Majors. and taught them a class called Rhythmic Analysis. Working at G.M.U. by day, and gigging in D.C. by night, Jeff met and played with so many legends in the area. Eventually his studio and production skills were in demand at the Adams Morgan based studio of his current band Thievery Corporation and their label ESL Music. Jeffrey has been recording since 2010 and touring since 2011 with Thievery. This journey has brought him all over the world performing for sold out crowds in over 40 countries. The band's collaborations with David Byrne, Anoushka Shankar, Seu Jorge and Wayne Coyne (to name a few) are indicative of the diverse sound and approach that fits Jeffrey's musical depth so perfectly. 

Over the years Jeffrey has had the opportunity to record and perform with this likes of Alex Acuña, Peter Erskine, Ray Baretto, Bill Kreutzman, Adam Deitch, Robert "Sput" Searight, Nate Werth, Steven Perkins, Nikki Glaspie, Mike Dillon, Weedie Braihma, Chuck Brown, Perry Farrel, Phil Lesh, George Porter Jr., Oteil Burbridge, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Lucinda Williams, Phil Collen, Seu Jorge, Adrian Quesada, Doc Severenson, The New Mastersounds, Thievery Corporation, Hiss Golden Messenger, Poi Dog Pondering, Bobby McFerrin, Abe Laboriel Jr., Robert Walters, Cheick Hamala Diabate, Skerik, Warren Haynes, Vince Mendoza, Dave Grusin, Patrick Williams and countless others within his illustrious career. 

Jeffrey's compositional side has always been a huge part of his work over the years, having released music under the monikers ETHNO and Congo Sanchez. He also leads his own ever morphing jazz group called "The Shape of Jazz." Jeff has also contributed as a drummer and multi-instrumentalist to many albums and collaborations with other producers. Jeff himself has been DJing since 2011 and has toured many countries as a solo DJ/producer playing extensive all original sets bending the minds of audience members displaying his wide range of composition and production skills while ripping Congas/Percussion and the Pearl malletSTATION keyboard live with his tracks. 

"Branching out from behind the kit, learning production skills as well as other instruments, INCLUDING being well versed on drums AND percussion has allowed me to remain busy, all while blazing my own trail of art and creativity and staying true to what the universe is channeling through me musically. I look forward to what's to come, especially from my own compositional output." - Jeffrey James Franca