Conor Meehan is a versatile drummer currently based in the Berkshires, MA. As an in demand sideman, Conor has appeared on over 50 recordings and has toured extensively throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Japan and Brazil. Since 2005, he has held the position "Artist Associate of Jazz Drums" at Williams College and has also served as a clinician at numerous summer institutes including Jazz in July at UMass and Interplay Jazz Workshop.

Performed and/or recorded with:

Dr. John, Charles Neville (Neville Bros), The Boston Pops, HONEYHONEY, Gary Clark Jr., John Medeski & Chris Wood (Medeski Martin & Wood), Brian McKnight, Ted Rosenthal Trio, Tommy Shannon (Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble), Eric Krasno (Soulive), The Midtown Men, Erik Lawrence (Levon Helm Band), Don Braden (Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra), Armen Donelion, Reggie Workman (jazz legend), Todd Reynolds, Norma Miller - Swing Dance Pioneer, Sonya Kitchell, Albert Cummings, Revtor, Max Creek, HuDost, The Bengsons, Graham Issaacson, Samirah Evans, Andy Suzuki & the Method, Heiruspecs, Catfish Blue, Matt Kanelos, as well as producers Malcom Burn (Bob Dylan/Daniel Lanois), John Siket (Dave Matthews Band/Phish), Dave O'Donnel (John Mayer/ James Taylor), Steve Addabo (Susan Vega) Tom Billar, Robbie Baier, Dominic Fallacaro and many others.

Shared the stage with:

B.B. King, Sheryl Crowe, Buddy Guy, Lifehouse, Susan Tedeschi, Tedeschi/Trucks Band, Trampled by Turtles, Rusted Root, Matt Nathanson, Marc Broussard, Feist, John Hyatt, Robben Ford, Natalie Merchant, James Cotton, Johnny Winter, Pinetop Perkins, Amos Lee, Josh Raden, Medeski Martin & Wood, John Scofield, McCoy Tyner, Jamie Cullum, Martin Sexton, Lettuce, Soulive, Delbert McClinton, Guy Davis, Duke Robilliard, Roomful of Blues, Carribean Jazz Project, Jon Newman, Charlie Musslewhite, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Marshall Tucker Band, Fifth Harmony, Kaki King, Gregory Porter, Tommy Castro, Brandie Carlyse, David Grey, Rosanne Cash, among others.

Background

Conor grew up in western Massachusetts to the sounds of his parents’ music, a steady mix of the Beatles, blues, classic rock and oldies on the radio. He was always drawn to music and inclined to bang on things. After wearing out his first “Diamond” brand drum set, and a small amount of cookware, Conor received an acoustic guitar as a gift from his grandmother. It was at guitar lessons in the band room after school each week where Conor started playing drums.

For the next few years, Conor stayed actively involved in school music programs as well as jamming with friends outside of school. This led to the formation of his first band GRIN in 7th grade, whose demo of original music was chosen as the winner of the Berkshire Eagle’s “best demo in the Berkshire’s” competition. The prize was a gig at a local bar and a recording session at a professional recording studio resulting in his first recording “The Blind Dog EP”

By high school, Conor had gained regional recognition as the drummer of his blues band, Catfish Blue, and became a mainstay in the local music scene, his ever-supportive parents often driving and accompanying him to gigs at local bars before he could drive himself. Through playing with older musicians, Conor’s musical interests expanded beyond Blues and Rock and he started listening to Jazz and other music, improvising and developing skills like reading and writing music. His eagerness to play and learn led to many valuable musical experiences while still in high school. He auditioned for and won the drum chair for the Massachusetts Western District and All-State Jazz Ensembles leading to a performance at Symphony Hall in Boston when he was 18. He was also invited by Artist in Residence Andy Jaffe to perform with the Williams College Jazz Ensemble. Conor amassed a lot of professional experience too, getting called for jazz gigs, theaters, orchestras, recording sessions and club dates.

In 2000, Conor headed south to study music at Purchase College. There, he was fortunate to study with John Riley, Richie Morales, and Kim Plainfield. He also studied jazz harmony, arranging, music history and began playing more challenging music as well as tapping into the New York City music scene. Conor earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from Purchase College in 2004.

It was during this time that Conor started touring regularly. Conor joined blues guitarist Albert Cummings’ trio in 2001 and began touring around the US including a recurring opening spot on the B.B. King Blues Festival tour, opening for Mr. King himself along with Buddy Guy, Sheryl Crowe and many other notable artists. In the summer of 2002, Conor hit the road with “Heiruspecs,” a live hip-hop band from the Twin Cities of Minnesota to support their sophomore release “Small Steps.”

In 2003, Conor began playing with Sonya Kitchell, a talented young jazz singer and budding songwriter. Over the next few years, the band played regularly and recorded the album, “My Words Came Back to Me,” which was released by Starbucks “Hear Music” label in early 2006 and distributed all over the U.S. For the next year and a half, the band toured all over North America, Europe, and Japan including performances at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, The North Sea Jazz Festival and an appearance on “Late Night with David Letterman.”