Lex Razon

Lex Razon Bio

Drummer Lex Razon was born in 1971 in San Francisco, California and raised in Tamalpais Valley, California. Lex is an only son to his beloved Filipino parents who immigrated to the United States in 1970. Lex has been playing drums since the age of 10. While in high school at Tamalpais High School, he developed his skills playing with friends such as Blue Note jazz guitarist Liberty Ellman and listening to his favorite records. Some of Lex's main influences growing up were John Bonham, Stewart Copeland, Steve Gadd, Louie Bellson, and Buddy Rich. It wasn't until college at Humbolt State University that he began studying percussion under Professor Eugene Novotney and later with legendary Jazz drummer Eddie Marshall. Around this time, he discovered Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Clyde Stubblefield, Jabo Starks, and Zigaboo Modeliste.

Lex Razon is a founding member of the band Vinyl, and one of the most respected musicians (drummers) in Marin. Currently, Lex is the drummer for Marin County's own Vinyl and the Tam Valley All Stars. Lex Razon's life as a musician can be summed up with his own personal mantra/motto: Gigs, sessions and lessons!


Drum Teacher

Lex Razon in one of the most in demand drum teachers in the Bay Area. Lex teaches drums (is a drum teacher at) A Drummers Tradition in San Rafael, California. A Drummer's Tradition owner Robert Bowler on Lex Razon, "He's a founding member of the band Vinyl, and one of the most respected musicians in Marin and an all-around great person."

As a a music educator, Lex Razon also teaches drums and percussion at the San Domenico Music Conservatory and Virtuoso Program in San Rafael, California. Famed jazz drummer, Gary Novak has been quoted as saying, "Lex Razon is one bad ass drummer!"

Bands: Vinyl (Latin, Reggae, Funk)

In 1996, Lex Razon became a founding member of Vinyl. Marin County's favorite funky sons, Vinyl, can alternately sound like the best live funk, Latin, reggae or dub band you've heard in ages -- and occasionally, all at the same time. Vinyl brings it with fierce musicianship and zesty abandon, proving you can have both substance and style. The infectious music of Vinyl blends old-school funk, Latin percussion, reggae and R&B into signature instrumental grooves.

Vinyl's live shows are notoriously high energy dance parties that unite fans of many musical styles. Originating in the San Francisco Bay Area over 20 years ago, Vinyl has become as tight a seven-piece ensemble as can be found in today's music scene. The players have a keen understanding of each other's musical expression resulting in a cohesive and adventurous sound that offers tasteful improvisation combined with a fortified, rhythmic backbone.

Vinyl has had the opportunity to record and perform with Les Claypool the bassist/singer in Primus and founding member of P-Funk Bernie Worrell. Vinyl has also had the opportunity to perform with Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, legendary folk singer Joan Baez and reggae legend Ernest Ranglin.

Since the band's incarnation, they have toured the United States, Mexico and Canada. Vinyl has played a multitude of festivals including main-stage slots at the High Sierra Music Festival, Reggae on the River, Oregon Country Fair, Mountain Aire, Jazz Aspen, Berkshire Mountain Music Festival, the All Good Festival and many others. For the last 12 years, Vinyl has played sold-out sunrise sets at New Orleans' legendary Maple Leaf during Jazz Fest.

Vinyl received a "Wammie" award for Best Intenational Band from San Francisco's SF weekly and was voted one of the top 25 bands in the country by a jambands.com nationwide poll.


Other Bands:

In 2008, Lex founded Calmodee. Lex is no stranger to collaborating with others to create music and the challenges that coincide. Razon believes that getting down to it and working together can sometimes be difficult.

Over the last decade, alongside Vinyl and Calmodee, he is involved in other bands such as the Razon Trio (Latin infused Jazz), Breakin' Bread (Funk), Audio Soul Syndicate (Neo Soul, R & B, Funk) and the Tam Valley All Stars (Rock, Blues) in Marin, San Francisco and the East Bay.

2015: This is what's going on in Lex Razon's career, and what's coming up next for him:

Currently, Lex is the drummer for Marin County's own Vinyl and the Tam Valley All Stars.

Currently, in 2015, Vinyl celebrates it's upcoming 20 year anniversary with a historic show in May 16, 2015 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, California. Reflecting on his upcoming 20 year anniversary with Vinyl, Razon compares being a band member to being in a marriage. You have to have dedication and be willing to make sacrifices. "Some people have to take their time and some people have to get it out. That's the dynamic of life and music is a microcosm of that," Razon said. Attracting fresh fans is a main reason the band keeps on playing after almost 20 years, according to drummer Lex Razon, and it is one of the best parts of performing night after night. "For us it's all about trying to bring new people in and show them our style," Razon said.

Currently, in 2015, Lex is the drummer in the Marin and San Francisco-based band the Tam Valley All Stars. The Tam Valley All Stars includes: guitarist/vocalist Heath De Fount-Haberlin, guitarist Liberty Ellman, drummer Lex Razon and bassist Kevin T. White. The musical stylings of Tam Valley All Stars include rock, blues, funk, and reggae. Most of the Tam Valley All Stars are local musicians that actually grew up in Tam Valley area and attended Tam High together.

Lex Razon is living the dream as a musician while living up to his own personal motto: Gigs, sessions and lessons!

Lex Razon continues on as a drum teacher at Drummer's Tradition in San Rafael, California and also teaches drums and percussion at San Domenico Music Conservatory and Virtuoso Program in San Rafael, California.

Lex Razon's website: lexrazon.com is giving his fans a call-to-action to contact him for more information, to check out his music, or to sign up to his mailing list. Lex recently completed a video shoot at Allegiant Records with guitarist Danny Uzilevsk and bassist Angeline Saris for his website: lexrazon.com. The video shoot will be featured in the video section of his website.

Lex Razon currently resides in Fairfax, California with his wife, Jessica, and his twins: Olivia and Jax.

Lex resides in Fairfax, California with his wife Jessica and their twin children: daughter, Olivia and, son, Jax.

EXTRA
the Marin-based/Bay Area Latin-Reggae-Funk band,
Lex Razon's extensive touring with Vinyl has brought him to all corners of the United States, Mexico and Canada.
In 2001, Vinyl teamed up with Phil Lesh for a jam-packed benefit concert in Petaluma, California with Vinyl performing as Phil's band.
In 2010, Lex had the opportunity to record and perform with one of his musical heroes reggae legend Ernest Ranglin. Ernest Ranglin and Vinyl performed at the Great Amreican Music Hall together.