Biography

Hans has been playing drums professionally since the age of 13. Mature and with a musical sensibility beyond his years, Hans worked as a teenager with such seminal figures of Canadian jazz as Donnie Clark, Patrick Coleman, John Forrest, Ross Taggart, Ken Lister, and Paul Landsberg.

In Toronto, Hans attended Humber College, playing alongside and working with Brandi Disterheft, Laila Biali, and Nathan Hiltz, and studying extensively with Don Thompson and Bob McLaren. In Montreal, he delved deeply into jazz drums with the great Chris McCann at McGill University and performed regularly with many others.

In British Columbia since 2012, Hans added classical percussion to his palette and earned a graduate degree from the University of Victoria with percussionist, conductor, and educator William Linwood. Hans was a member of the faculty of music at Vancouver Island University from 2012 – 2025, and during that time he performed and recorded with a who’s who of Canadian jazz legends, including Don Thompson, PJ Perry, Oliver Gannon, Neil Swainson, Phil Dwyer, Brad Turner, Christine Jensen, and many more.

Current Projects

Hans is currently performing and teaching throughout Canada’s west coast and is leading two unique projects: The Deadly Nightshades are a funk/neo-soul/R’n’B/fusion/groove band, and Quartet! featuring Ken Lister, Nick Peck, and the great Mike Allen on tenor and soprano saxophones.

My Philosophy

As a musician and artist, creativity is at the heart of everything I do. I value growth and self-improvement, and I focus on providing a welcoming, supportive environment for others. My goal is to empower others through music, believing in substance over style and forming genuine connections both online and in person. Through my company, I aim to foster hope and sustainable success for artists and businesses alike.