Home » Jazz Musicians » Kassa Overall

Kassa Overall

Kassa Overall, drummer, producer and recording artist, is a rising star on today’s music scene. Encompassing all styles and traditions of music, he works with artists ranging from jazz to hip-hop, indie-pop to avante-garde. As a drummer, Overall has been an integral part of Geri Allen’s Timeline band which has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe for the past three years. You can hear their latest work on Geri allen’s latest release entitled “Timeline Live.” Being an extremely versatile drummer that can shine in any situation, he has also been making an impact on the indie-pop scene touring with artists such as Francis and The Lights, Gordon Voidwell, TECLA and Mayer Hawthorne.

Utilizing the capabilities of laptops and samplers on stage is a key element to Overall’s signature sound. He has also toured extensively with his own band, fusing his jazz and instrumental training with his contemporary electronic passion. Overall received his Bachelor’s of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he studied under jazz drum legend Billy Hart. His mentors have also included the late Elvin Jones, Billy Higgins and Tutti Heath. Overall has also performed or recorded with Vijay Iyer, Das Racist, Francis and The Lights, Mayer Hawthorne and The County, Wallace Roney, Ravi Coltrane, Geri Allen, Billy Hart, Gary Bartz, Iron Solomon, Gordon Voidwell, TECLA and many more. Not only is he a versatile drummer and artist, but he is performing with some of the most respected and sought after artists of every genre he is involved in.

He is currently focused on his own projects as a producer, rapper and singer. His credits as a producer and rapper can be found on Das Racist’s (Sit Down, Man) (Shut Up, Dude), TECLA’s (Strangers in Masks), and Iron Solomon’s (Monster) project’s. With a passion for growth, development and persistence, Kassa Overall is definitely one to watch as the music evolves. Also be on the lookout for Kassa’s debut self-produced project entitled “Coffee and Cigarettes”, his collaboration album with KOOL AD of Das Racist, and for the fans who are waitnig patiently comes The Stargate Mixtape. A raw overnight mixtape made of entirely Stargate Production.

Tags

1
Album Review

Gary Bartz: Damage Control

Read "Damage Control" reviewed by Marco Iacoboni


"Ntu" in lingua bantu significa unità in ogni cosa. Tempo e spazio, vivi e morti, forze visibili e invisibili, fuse in un'unica visione filosofica e spirituale, profondamente legata alla cultura africana e afroamericana. Il progetto Ntu Troop di Gary Bartz si è evoluto naturalmente dallo spiritual jazz al movimento B.A.M. (Black American Music), fondendo elementi  soul, funk, folk africano, hard bop e jazz d'avanguardia. Una ricchezza di suoni e di atmosfere che non solo rendono la bellezza di questa musica ...

Radio & Podcasts

Final Four

Read "Final Four" reviewed by Patrick Burnette


It's too early for March Madness, but just in time for the bastards to wrap up their survey of the New York Times' Top Ten list of 2025 jazz albums. Some of the choices give the boys mixed emotions and some barely any emotions at all, but at the end of this journey we can all say one thing for certain-that sure was definitely ten albums of jazz. Pop matters stretches to include a discussion of a life-enhancing live set ...

5
Album Review

Gary Bartz & NTU: Damage Control

Read "Damage Control" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


After a 12-year break from the recording studio, legendary saxophonist Gary Bartz makes a powerful return with Damage Control. This deeply personal passion project honors and re-imagines the soul genre. The album showcases Bartz's unwavering curiosity and artistic evolution, transforming soulful classics into meditative, jazz-infused compositions that cross genre boundaries. At the heart of the album's unity is Bartz's core trio, featuring pianist Barney McAll and drummer Kassa Overall. This trio is often joined by a lineup of exceptional musicians ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

Ernie Andrews, Elvin Jones & Kassa Overall

Read "Ernie Andrews, Elvin Jones & Kassa Overall" reviewed by Joe Dimino


We start the 742nd Episode of Neon Jazz with a new force in jazz by the name of Kassa Overall with music from his album Go Get Ice Cream and Listen to Jazz. From there, we hear from his mentor in Elvin Jones. The remaining hour is a cascade of quality new jazz from the likes of Marta Sanchez, Antonio Adolfo and Samara Joy. Finally, we say good-bye to late singer Ernie Andrews. Dig this new hour of music, my ...

3
Album Review

Dan Waldman: Sources & Angles

Read "Sources & Angles" reviewed by Geno Thackara


After a couple decades as a busy working player, a fellow certainly should have plenty of angles to play, not to mention myriad sources to draw on in a milieu as exciting as the jazz-fusion tradition. This would explain why Dan Waldman's debut doesn't sound like a debut. He knows his stuff; he couldn't have lasted so long in his adopted home of jny: New York City otherwise. His quartet is likewise as solid as a leader could wish for, ...

1
Catching Up With

Kassa Overall: I Think I'm Good

Read "Kassa Overall: I Think I'm Good" reviewed by Serena Antinucci


We might never know what exactly happens in the creative mind of Brooklyn-based producer and drummer Kassa Overall. However, his latest album, I Think I'm Good (Brownswood Recordings), gives us an insight in his swirling imagination. The sophomore release by one of the brightest musicians of the New York jazz scene, I Think I'm Good reaches even deeper than his debut album Go Get Ice Cream and Listen to Jazz (2019). Overall breaks down barriers among genres, ...

3
Interview

Kassa Overall racconta il suo secondo album

Read "Kassa Overall racconta il suo secondo album" reviewed by Serena Antinucci


Quello che succede nella mente creativa del trentaseienne producer e batterista jazz Kassa Overall non lo sapremo mai. Siamo sicuri? In realtà, nel suo ultimo disco I Think I'm Good, uscito per la Brownswood Recordings a gennaio 2020, ci concede un giro nella sua immaginazione vorticosa. Il secondo album di uno dei migliori musicisti della scena jazz newyorchese, di base a Brooklyn, esprime qualcosa di ancor più personale e profondo rispetto al suo debutto Go Get Ice Cream ...

Read more articles

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Ones & Twos

Blue Note Records
2025

buy

Damage Control

OYO Records
2025

buy

Cream

Warp
2025

buy

Sources & Angles

Not on Label
2020

buy

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.

Install All About Jazz

iOS Instructions:

To install this app, follow these steps:

All About Jazz would like to send you notifications

Notifications include timely alerts to content of interest, such as events, articles, new features, and more. These can be configured in Settings.