IMEP Paris College of Music is pleased to welcome American drummer, composer, and teacher Jerry Kalaf for a special master class on October 13, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the school’s campus located at 7 rue Emile Dubois, 75014 Paris.

A well-known figure on the international jazz scene, Jerry Kalaf will lead a workshop focused on developing freedom of expression and musical creativity.

Aimed primarily at jazz drummers, this masterclass will explore a structured approach to developing greater flexibility both when accompanying a soloist and when performing solos.

Through various exercises and practical examples, participants will discover how to express their musical ideas more freely by overcoming the technical limitations of their instrument.

Although this method is designed for drummers, the concepts covered are relevant to all musicians and singers.

Drawing on parallels with harmony and improvisation, Jerry Kalaf will demonstrate how to develop a more refined ear, enrich one’s musical vocabulary, and achieve greater spontaneity in performance.

The master class will draw on instructional materials as well as demonstrations in musical contexts featuring students accompanied by Gerard Hagen and Peter Giron, faculty members at IMEP, providing a concrete illustration of the concepts presented.

Based in Los Angeles, Jerry Kalaf has enjoyed a rich and diverse career spanning several decades. He has performed alongside many renowned artists, including Eddie Harris, Gary Burton, Gary Foster, Bill Mays, and the Pointer Sisters. His career has taken him to stages across Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the United States, notably at Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater in New York, and the Playboy Jazz Festival in Los Angeles.

Very active in the studio world, he has contributed—as a performer and composer—to hundreds of recordings for film and television. A former professor at Berklee College of Music, Jerry Kalaf is now a member of the faculty at the Colburn School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles.

A unique opportunity to meet an artist whose experience, creativity, and dedication to teaching make him a role model for all musicians eager to deepen their practice of improvisation.