James Dreier is a drum set-Latin percussion specialist, educator, clinician, and performer. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) and a Master of Arts degree in music theory from the University of Iowa. He has studied with such master drummers as, Michael Spiro, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Jose Eladio Amat, Bobby Sanabria, Giovani Hildalgo, Daniel Alphonso, Pascoal Meirelles, Joe Hunt, and Alan Dawson.

In the pursuit of jazz, James has performed with such notables as George Garzone, Phil Wilson, Jimmy Mosher, John Carlson, Tim Haggens, Steve Swallow, Carla Bley, Bobby Shew, Victor Mendoza, Anthony Cox, Willie Pickens, Robin Eubanks, Benny Wallace, Kenny Wheeler, Ray Anderson, Ben Allison and Felipe Salles.

Since hearing his first Santana record in 1968, Dreier has had a passion and strong interest in Latin music. His life-long road of discovery started in earnest at Berklee College of Music when he studied with NYC Latin percussionist Ritchie (Pablo) Laundrum. Later as a graduate student at the University of Iowa, he performed and traveled with Brazilian pianist Rafael Dos Santos, including a residency at the Conservatorio Pernambucano de Musica in Refice, Brazil. Since then Dreier has traveled numerous times to Cuba where he studied with the legendary Rumba group Los Munequitos de Matanzas and master drummer Jesus Alphonso, Daniel Alphonso and others.

Mr. Dreier was a founding member of the Iowa based-Latin/jazz group Orquesta Alto Maiz. He now leads his own Latin jazz group Ritmocano. His album "Familia, A Latin Jazz Journey" with this group and others was released in the spring of 2014 on Realtown Records. 

Mr. Dreier also performs with the Bearker Brothers and the UI Faculty Jazz Group among others. Recording credits include "A fungus Among Us," "Odds and Ends" and "Lost Art Cafe" with the group Odd Bar Trio, John Rapson's "Water and Blood, The Billy Higgens' Improvisations" (9Winds, Beverly Hills, CA) and "Mafficked Simularcrum" (MoMu Records, Iowa City, IA). Dreier also appeared on Tim O'Dell's "Before My Life" and Dreams of Pangea (Southport Records, Chicago, IL).

In October of 2015, Dreier published the book, “Latin Jazz Guide, A Path To Authentic Percussion and Ensemble Performance” (Hal Leonard) along with the companion website: www.latinjazzguide.com

A lecturer in jazz studies at the University of Iowa, Mr. Dreier teaches Jazz Improvisation for Drum Set, Jazz Rhythms and Phrasing, Jazz Cultures in America and Abroad, directs the Latin Jazz Ensemble and the Hawkeye Big Band. 

Dreier is an educational artist for Sabian Cymbals.