Photo by Austin Aubrey
“An American Original”
“Steve is quite simply a rare, unique voice in the world of contemporary drumming. His inventive, rhythm-provocative ideas; his perspective on disparate polyrhythms are at the forefront.”
“One of the most mindful and technical drummers of our time. As a drummer, Steve thinks as much as he feels. He bridges the gap between mathematics and spirituality.
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Steve Lyman – Drummer. Composer. Educator. Innovator.
Steve Lyman is recognized internationally as a leading voice in modern drumming and contemporary music. Known for his emotionally resonant playing, high-level technical fluency, and a boundary-defying approach to rhythm, Lyman has crafted a unique sound that draws from jazz, electronic, classical, and experimental traditions.
As a performer, Lyman seeks not just to support the music—but to explore it from within. His dynamic and nuanced approach to the drum kit allows him to shape sound like a composer and interact with music as a living, breathing architecture. This rare sensibility has made him a sought-after collaborator for artists including Machinedrum, Jimmy Chamberlin, José James, Gilad Hekselman, Jon Batiste, Donny McCaslin, BlankFor.ms, Ben Lukas Boysen, Joel Ross, Austin White, and members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, among many others.
In addition to his performance career, Lyman is a deeply respected educator. He has taught many of today’s rising and established drummers through a high-impact coaching program that emphasizes musical identity, advanced rhythmic language, and artistic self-direction. He has appeared twice on DRUMEO and was responsible for the platform’s jazz curriculum. His global retreats and masterclasses have reached students across continents.
At the heart of Lyman’s recent work is The Vector System—a groundbreaking rhythmic framework he developed that explores the intersection of multiple time points in real-time performance. His work continues to evolve through the integration of drums and live synthesizers, blurring the lines between acoustic and electronic sound.
Steve was named the No. 2 “Up & Coming” drummer in Modern Drummer’s 2020 Reader’s Poll and is endorsed by Craviotto Drums, Istanbul Agop Cymbals, Remo Drumheads, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Sunhouse, and Lowboy Beaters.
He holds a BFA in Performance and Composition from the New School (NYC) and an MM in Performance and Composition from the University of Utah.
Steve Lyman lives and creates in Brooklyn, NY.