Ramsey Isaacs — Jazz Drummer
RI · 2026 · SIDE A
33 ⅓ RPM · STEREO

Ramsey
Isaacs

Jazz drummer. Built for the pocket.

BASED IN
Humboldt County, CA
PROJECTS
After Hours · Tapology · Sideman
scroll · track list below

The drummer
behind the kit.

Ramsey Isaacs has been playing drums since he was four — that’s thirteen years of practice behind a 17-year-old who already shares the stage with Berklee College of Music graduates and players who’ve performed at Lincoln Center and the Village Vanguard.

Based in Humboldt County, California, he leads the jazz trio After Hours and the drums-and-tap duo Tapology, plays sideman for trombonist James Zeller, and has studied with Stanton Moore and Adam Deitch.

R.I. — Humboldt County
Smalls Jazz Club, NYC Stanton Moore Drum Academy Adam Deitch Academy Former Eureka Symphony Section Leader 2× Nor-Cal Honors Jazz Band 3× All-County Jazz Band 2× All-County Symphonic Band James Zeller Ensemble After Hours · Tapology · Young and Lovely Smalls Jazz Club, NYC Stanton Moore Drum Academy Adam Deitch Academy Former Eureka Symphony Section Leader 2× Nor-Cal Honors Jazz Band 3× All-County Jazz Band 2× All-County Symphonic Band James Zeller Ensemble After Hours · Tapology · Young and Lovely

Three projects.
One kit.

I lead two groups and take sideman work. Different gigs ask for different things, and my job is to listen and give each one what it needs.

01SIDE A

After Hours

Trio · Piano, bass, drums

Piano, bass, and drums playing a mix of reshaped standards and underplayed gems. Whether you want the focus or the atmosphere, the trio fits the room.

Trio · Humboldt County
02SIDE A

Tapology

Duo · Drums + tap dancer

Ramsey on a stripped-down kit and Miles Schmidt tap dancing on top, all of it improvised. They started busking around Eureka and built a following by getting people to stop and watch.

Duo · Local
03SIDE B

Sideman · James Zeller

With the former Lincoln Center trombonist

Supporting James Zeller and his ensembles around Humboldt County — small groups, swing sets, whatever the chart asks for.

Sideman · 2023–2026

Pull up a chair.

Sideman dates, session recordings, After Hours for your venue, or Tapology for your event. Tell me the room and the vibe — I'll bring the kit.

BASED Humboldt County, California
TRAVEL Open to travel — wherever the gig is
NOTICE 2 weeks for full production · 48h for sit-ins
INQUIRY · FORM B-1 5 fields
01 · Your name
02 · Email
03 · Venue or event
04 · What do you need
05 · Date (or a window)
06 · Anything else

Upcoming dates.

SUN
WEEKLY
Northtown Coffee
Arcata, CA
Sunday jazz jam
5:30-9:00 PM
RESIDENCY
THU
MONTHLY
The Basement
Arcata, CA
Jazz series
8:00-11:00 PM
RESIDENCY
JUN 20
SAT
Fieldbrook Winery
Fieldbrook, CA
Young & Lovely
1:30-4:00 PM
LIVE
JUL 30
THU
The Basement
Arcata, CA
Claire Bent Quintet
8:00-11:00 PM
LIVE

Selected past shows.

2026
Duke Ellington Tribute
Arcata Playhouse
James Zeller Ensemble
2026
Nor-Cal Honor Jazz Band & All-County Jazz Band
Sonoma State University · Cal Poly Humboldt
Principal drummer (2nd year)
2025
The Music of Vince Guaraldi (sold out)
Arcata Playhouse
After Hours debut · first show as bandleader
2025
Homage to Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers
Arcata Playhouse
James Zeller Ensemble
2025
The Music of Billie Holiday
Arcata Playhouse
James Zeller Ensemble
2025
The Music of Antonio Carlos Jobim
Arcata Playhouse
James Zeller Ensemble
2025
The Music of Thelonious Monk
Arcata Playhouse
James Zeller Ensemble
2024
The Music of Chet Baker
Arcata Playhouse
James Zeller Ensemble
2024
The Music of Louis Armstrong
The Sanctuary, Arcata
James Zeller Ensemble
2024
The Music of Cole Porter
The Sanctuary, Arcata
James Zeller Ensemble
2024
The Music of Charlie Parker
The Sanctuary, Arcata
James Zeller Ensemble
2024
The Music of George Gershwin
The Sanctuary, Arcata
James Zeller Ensemble
2024
Stanton Moore Drum-set Performance Camp
New Orleans
Played with Joe Ashlar & Tony Dagradi
2023
Smalls Jazz Club Sit-In
New York City