Rodney attended the Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, and was selected as drummer for The Grammys in the Schools Foundation. After completing studies at Berklee, he received an Art Blakey Jazz Messengers Presidential Scholarship to the McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul. He’s been on stage with such jazz luminaries as Tia Fuller, Ralph Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Billy Childs, John Patitucci, Joe Lovano, Roy Hargrove, Wynton Marsalis, and Charles Lloyd. Locally, Rodney performed with the Solomon Parham-Steve Kenny Quintet at the 2016 Winter Jazz Festival, with the Steve Kenny Quartet on Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog, with Anthony Cox’s Free Range Quartet at the Black Dog, and has led his own ensembles at Jazz Central Studios, Reverie, the Black Dog and more. Most often he mans the trapset, but don’t be surprised if you see Rodney at the keyboard or on bass. His trio with Greg Byers and Javi Santiago recently returned from a Midwest-West Coast tour, and also released its first recording.
Ruckus Hip Hop Jazz includes Rodney Ruckus and Arthur “LA” Buckner on drums, Jacob Dodd and Rob Coleman and on keyboards, Yonathan Bekure on bass, and Excel as emcee.
LA Trois features Rob Coleman on keys, Jacob Dodd on piano, and Rodney Ruckus on bass and drums.
Ruckus is Rodney’s trio with Javi Santiago on piano, Greg Byers on cello, and Rodney on drums.