Geneva Harrison is a freelance percussionist/drummer, producer/composer and multi-disciplined artist. She has toured extensively over the years with a number of artists such as Y La Bamba, her band Bells Atlas, WNYC’s radio program Snap Judgment, and the SF Bay Area’s Magik*Magik Orchestra supporting Pop-Up Magazine - the latter two for which she also contributed scoring and composition.

With over 20 years of professional experience, Geneva has collaborated, performed and recorded with numerous talents, from composers Terence Blanchard and Van Dyke Parks, to choreographer Sonya Tayeh, including artists Alfredo Rodriguez, Andrew Bird, Luz Elena Mendoza, The Bengsons, Shana Cleveland (of La Luz), Poolside, Mirah and Kishi Bashi. She has had the privilege of playing in esteemed and historic theaters and recording houses across the nation - echoing percussion under the roofs of Carnegie Hall, BAM, The Lincoln Theatre & more - as well as clamoring grungy rhythms beneath the drum chevron in the historic Studio B of United Recording Studios in Los Angeles, or contributing to numerous albums at legendary Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. She was also a regular session musician for local studio treasure Tiny Telephone in SF & Oakland throughout her 11 years living in California.

Geneva’s expertise ranges a number of styles and contexts that include indie Pop and R&B, Latin and Brazilian styles, Off-Broadway Theater and Dance accompaniment, Contemporary Classical ensemble playing and Avant-Garde/Experimental improv. In 2016, she served as Musical Director for a tribute to Björk’s Homogenic at The Independent in San Francisco, that included over 100 musicians covering the album, and later the following year filled the role of producer for a music video shot in the desert of the Eastern Sierras. You can also find some of her custom drum-kit exercises, and additionally an interview feature in issues of Tom Tom Magazine.

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Geneva cut her teeth in Miami, FL as a young musician playing in diverse contexts, namely Latin/Brazilian styles, and with indie bands/artists of varying genre. For several years, upon her second later stint living in the 305, she had the pleasure of serving as section leader (diretoria) for the bombastic and infectious Brazilian drumming ensemble Miamibloco, and regularly sharing the stage with the Nu Deco Ensemble, both cultural centerpieces of South Florida. You can currently find her having a blast on the road with the fiery and ardent chicanx group Y La Bamba, or, when not on tour, practicing lots of Brazilian roda de samba & pagode percussion, and recording/writing at home.

Upon moving to the SF Bay Area in 2010, Geneva began developing her own voice as a drummer and artist in large part due to an inspiring project with friends called Bells Atlas. The soundscape of Bells Atlas is a confluence of soul/hip-hop, polyrhythm rooted in West African & Latin grooves, post-punk indie guitars and experimental collaborative songwriting, all with the spark to organically meld and form something completely new from the 4 artists’ sonic spheres. In short, it is very Oakland, and without a doubt, this experience had indelible impacts on Geneva’s musicality and creative sensibilities. In her 11 years as a resident of the Bay, additional creative outlets were as a member of vibraphonist Mark Clifford’s The Dirty Snacks Ensemble and Jordan Glenn’s BEAK, both cornerstones of the Bay’s experimental music scenes. She also forged a career path as a drummer and percussionist in the alternative musical theater world. This is where she met The Bengsons and Sonya Tayeh, and began her work across coasts, supporting new theater works and dance theater productions in San Francisco, New England and New York City. The convergence of these wildly differing creative worlds culminated in the accompaniment and scoring work she eventually did with renowned storytelling programs Snap Judgment and Pop-Up Magazine.

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Geneva currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her inspiring, brilliant partner and sweet street dog turned delicate prince, Pino. She enjoys exploring the Southwest, its fascinating landscapes and cultures, and connecting to the roots from which much of her family comes.

Geneva has her BM in percussion performance from The University of Miami’s Frost School of Music

Passions include
•Latin / Brazilian / West-African rhythm
•Experimental-minded music, from Reich to Micachu to Georgia Anne Muldrow
•Pop + Dance music performance
•Connecting with people through art + meaningful experiences, onstage and off
•Touring

*Portrait by Michael Baca