Chantina Crawford (born in Takoma Park, MD) is a multi-percussionist, drummer, keyboardist/pianist, singer, song writer, composer, music teacher/educator. She has an eclectic taste, mixing rhythms and sounds across genres, and cultures. Growing up in a musical family in Washington DC and Maryland that was involved in recording, and traveling; she began singing and playing instruments by ear at an early age. Her family, and local church was known for the unique incorporation of elements of jazz, classical, traditional & contemporary gospel music. Their music was recognized in the Gospel Music Encyclopedia “Uncloudy Days,” forwarded by Edwin Hawkins, with an introduction written by Mavis Staples; that celebrated Iconic gospel artists such as- Mahaliah Jackson, The Staple Singers, Shirley Caesar, Andre Crouch, Rev. James Cleveland, Edwin Hawkins and so many more. Early international influences began in her neighborhood and school, where she hung around friends from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama, and other places in South America/Caribbean singing and playing along with their bands and families.
Later, she was educated at Johnson C. Smith University- Choir, drums/percussion; Shenandoah University Conservatory of Music where she studied with jazz drummer Alphonso Young; The University of The District of Columbia- studied percussion with Tom Teasley (world percussionist/educator), Choir, small jazz ensembles, and the Calvin Jones Big Band under the direction of Gary Gillespie, Dough Pierce, and Allyn Johnson.
To date, Chantina has had the opportunity to play percussion, sing, or do studio recording sessions with gospel recording artists- Myrna Summers, O’Landa Draper, Bishop Rance Allen, Twinkie Clark, Karen Clark-Sheared, Judith McAllister, and Patrick Love, to name a few. She has performed on the same stage with others such as Shirley Caesar, Donald Lawrence, Tye Tribbett, Curt Carr, Debra Killings, 7 Sons of Soul, and others. In the Jazz genre, she has played drums and percussion with jazz artists such as- Trombonist, composer, and educator- Reginald Cyntje, New Orleans pianist/composer- Jon Batiste, N Tyme Jazz Ensemble (dir. “Fog” Michael Horton), the Greater U Street Jazz Ensemble of Washington D.C. and others. Other gospel/jazz/classical artists she has neared, studied with or performed with: Donaflyn Crawford Sr., Jaime Crawford, Virgil Crawford, Winona Lewis Jones, Earl Muschette (Nu Mobb), Aaron Spears, Warren Jones, Tony Robertson (Sax-A-Praise), Durrell Babbs (Tank), Kim Burrell, Haze Amaze, Hildred Roach, Leroy Barton Jr., Steve Novosel, Lyle Link, Glenn Douglass, Alejandro Lucini (Origem), Ralph Peterson, Roy Hanes, Joe Chambers, Maurice Lyles, Randy Weston, Eddie Baccus Jr., Thornton Hudson Jr., Darryl Jones, Eric Summers, Dave Marsh, Kim & Kayla Waters, and others.
