Soh Wenming, Drums
Wenming began his journey into music, like many other children, with classical piano lessons. By the time he was twelve, however, he found that he had a greater affinity with the drums and decided to make the switch. He spent a three year stint with noted Singaporean drum instructor Anthony Fong and later engaged the late, great Edmond Branson Jr as a teacher and mentor. He has also studied briefly with other drummers such as Blair Sherrill and Jimmy Lee.
Wenming has worked with many people in the Singapore jazz scene. His approach to jazz drumming, influenced by drummers such as Jeff Tain Watts, Tony Williams, Bill Stewart, Elvin Jones and Jimmy Cobb, is aggressive, propulsive and probing. Apart from the extensive work he has done as a permanent member of WIRED he has also worked and performed with many of Singapore’s jazz luminaries such as Claressa Monteiro, Christy Smith, Rick Smith, Andrew Lim, Teo Boon Chye, Aya Sekine, Mario Serio, Eddie Jansen and Michael Stanton.
Wenming can also be found performing other styles of music. He has performed and recorded with local pop/rock group “Parousia” – winners of the 2002 JamX finals. With local band EIC he has opened for bands such as Go West, INXS and Level 42. He also performs with local R&B band “Fuse” and played for the Parking Lot Pimp’s album launch held at Velvet. Recently, he performed with singer/songwriter Corrinne May as part of her backing band at the Esplanade.
In 2006, Wenming will be leaving for his studies at the Berklee College of Music. He is attending the school on a scholarship from the college awarded to him during its World Scholarship Tour and is also a recipient of the Singapore National Arts Council’s Overseas Arts Bursary.
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