Stockton Helbing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Since the fall of 2003, Stockton Helbing has been the drummer for legendary jazz trumpet player Maynard Ferguson. Stockton has served as Musical Director for Maynard since March of 2006. While working with Maynard, Stockton has toured and performed throughout the United States and in Germany, Thailand, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, and St. Lucia.
Throughout his tenure with Maynard, Stockton has shared the stage with many well know jazz artists including Joe Lovano, Arturo Sandoval, Dennis DiBlasio, Lew Soloff, Steve Weist, Diane Schurr, and Tim Ries.
In February 2005, Stockton released Lodestar (NohJoh Music), his debut album as a bandleader. Lodestar is an all original music project that also features Stockton's contemporaries Ken Edwards, Tom Luer, Noel Johnston, and Brian Mulholland. Lodestar was selected by Maynard Ferguson to be the newest album in his MF Presents series, making Stockton both the only drummer and the youngest musician to hold such honors.
When not touring with Maynard, Stockton is busy performing with many other artists. He is a member of the Tyler Summers Trio with whom he had toured and recorded. In 2005, Stockton recorded with bassist Brian Mulholland, for his debut album Deco (McKinley Records), and with guitarist Clay Ross, for his album The Random Puller (YalcMusic).
Stockton graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor's in Music in May 2003. He attended the highly esteemed jazz school from the fall of 1998 until the spring of 2003. While a student, Stockton was a member of the Grammy award winning One O'clock Lab Band, under the direction of Neil Slater. Stockton appears on two of the One O'clock Band's albums, LAB 2002 and Lab 2003. While at UNT, Stockton performed with many world renowned jazz musicians including Bob Brookmeyer, Chris Potter, Maria Schneider, Dick Oatts, Benny Green, Tom “Bones” Malone, Joe Beck, Leni Stern, Tim Ries, Russ Ferrante, John Abercrombie, and Scott Wendholt.
While completing his degree at UNT, Stockton worked as a free-lance musician in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. During that time he worked with many accomplished musicians including Noel Johnston, Stefan Karlsson, Dan Hearle, John Murphy, Shelly Carrol, Rodney Booth, and Fred Hamilton.
Stockton Thomas Helbing was born on August 29th, 1980 in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in Florence, South Carolina where he began studying the snare drum at the age of 10. At the age of 12 he began studying drum set and was involved in middle and high school band programs in marching band, jazz band, pep band, concert band, symphonic band, and orchestra. During this time, he studied privately with Kirk Chapman and Jim Hall. During these years, Stockton played in the South Carolina All-State Jazz Band and Concert Bands. After high school, Stockton was granted a scholarship to attend the University of North Texas where he studied for four years with the great drum set player and teacher Ed Soph.
