For someone whose dad listened to country music and whose mom liked easy listening, Michael Berry finds it off track to be drawn to R&B, blues and jazz.

"I remember going to the circus with a friend at age 8, walking down the midway and hearing this great music," he said. "The tent opened up and a group was performing this amazing shuffle. I was mesmerized. It's the only thing I remember about my first outing to the circus."

Four years later, his parents bought him a set of drums, which he learned to play by watching and listening to older drummers, who also gave him ideas and pointers.

Although he has no extensive formal training, other than studying under Jerry Granelli -- a pupil of Joe Morello, Dave Brubeck's former drummer -- his skills on the skins now support him and his family.

Mr. Barry's talents will be on stage today when he will perform with a host of local jazz artists at the first annual Washington Jazz Society picnic from 1 to 9 p.m. at Canonsburg Town Park. Admission is free.

"I love playing, always did and never even considered an alternate career," said the native of Kingston, N.Y., and new resident of Washington.

As a drummer, Mr. Barry has backed up jazz vocalists Mark Murphy and Ernestine Anderson and saxophonist Eddie Harris. For more than seven years in the 1980s, he played drums with Rare Silk -- a jazz vocal quartet that, in its early days, opened for Benny Goodman and Bob Hope at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

He also toured nationally and internationally for 3¹/₂ years and went on to be nominated for two Grammy Awards in the late 1980s.

"I met Rare Silk through Jerry Granelli when they were just getting started in Boulder," he said. "Jerry played several gigs with them and recommended me for the drummer job, which I eventually got."

Another highlight of his career occurred when Mel Torme asked Rare Silk to open for him as part of the Kool Jazz Festival at New York's Carnegie Hall.

When Rare Silk began playing less frequently, Mr. Berry felt its evolution had come full circle and eventually left the group. In his slack time, when jobs were scarce, he waited tables and managed a restaurant in Denver. There, in 1995, he met his wife, Faun Doherty, who was then studying for her doctorate in mathematics. The couple married seven years later.

Two sons, Even, 5 and Jos, 2 came along soon afterward, and, to support his family, Mr. Berry taught drum lessons and performed all over Denver, including a. 3-year stint at John Elway's restaurant in Denver's chic suburb of Cherry Creek.

Recently, Mrs. Berry applied for a teaching position and was hired as a mathematics professor at Washington & Jefferson College. The family moved to Washington at the end of June.

"Faun and I now seem to have reversed roles," said Mr. Barry. "I'm a stay-at-home dad, while she teaches full time."

He hopes to start a career in the region both as a performer and a teacher.

"I'm excited about moving to an area with such a great jazz heritage and am hoping to become part of the local jazz scene," he said. "I love teaching and don't mind taking on beginners with no experience at all and watching them grow as drummers."

Although the couple have been in the area only seven weeks, Mr. Berry has already played at the Thursday evening jam session at the George Washington Hotel.

"Mike's a real smooth and tasty player, fits in really well and is an important addition to the local jazz scene," said Washington jazz vocalist, Patrick Arena, who's performed with him.