Beginning at age 10 with trumpet lessons, drummer, percussionist, composer and arranger Bret Mann became serious about drums at age 12. Private lessons ensued and a long stint with Colorado’s GreenEarth Percussion Ensemble enabled him to hone his chops on every imaginable percussion instrument  with the help from drum store owner, esteemed teacher and GreenEarth director Gary Curry. “Gary not only owned the drum store but he created /directed and put his heart and soul into the percussion ensemble allowing me to venture into  musical directions I could not have imagined”. The G.E.P.E.  toured and performed with many percussionists including Roy Burns.  During this time Bret also performed in High School jazz bands, marching bands the All-State orchestra as well as numerous drum set and percussion studio sessions and live ensemble work all the while performing with longtime friend Dean Peer in early rock and fusion bands.

 

Recent projects include recording and touring internationally with Dean. Mann says; “Working with Dean brings out the subtle and sometimes not-so subtle use of the percussion voice. Blending it into his harmonic tonal fields and frequencies requires interaction not just rhythmically but involves the fusing of percussion to the dense wall of texture he creates”.

 

Influences include, Max Roch, Jim Keltner, Marc Erbetta,

Dave Weckl, Adem Deitch, Wally Ingram, Vinnie Colaiuta, Billy Cobham, Bun E. Carlos, Rod Morgenstein, Taylor Hawkins, Antonio Sanchez, Zakir Hussein, Ty Burhoe.

Bret resides in Colorado.

Current work includes new material with Dean Peer and Chris Hansen.

He uses Vic Firth and Vater sticks and percussion accessories as well as Sabian , 1Tone, Gibraltar, Gonbops,  LP,  Behringer, Apple, Steinberg and  Yamaha.