Taking up music as a child, Zimmer became an adept drummer, studying percussion privately with James Sewrey at Carroll College in his home-town from the age of 10. During his high school years he developed a liking for jazz, and played with some local musicians. Among these was a guitarist named Dave Sullivan, whose son John, a bass player, became a long-term associate of Zimmer’s. Later, he attended Northern Illinois University where he studied Orchestral/World Percussion and jazz drumming. Late in 1998 he went to the New England Conservatory of Music where he concentrated on jazz drumming. Here, his teachers included Jerry Bergonzi, Bob Brookmeyer, George Garzone, Cecil McBee, and Danilo Perez. After obtaining a degree at NEC, he began gigging and in mid-2001 relocated to Astoria, New York, and quickly established a following in New York City. He has worked at venues such as Jordan Hall, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC as a member of the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program, and Boston’s Berklee Performing Arts Center. On his debut album as leader, 2004’s Common Man, Zimmer enlisted musicians Michael Rodriguez (trumpet), Joel Frahm (tenor saxophone), Toru Dodo and Rick Germanson (piano), and his old friend John Sullivan (bass). Schooled in the hard bop tradition, Zimmer’s musical leanings find him driving his group into powerfully swinging performances. In addition to his playing, Zimmer is also a skilled composer.