Photograph by Jeff Elkins.

Instrument: Tabla, an Indian-style pair of drums.

His learning process: “If I hear something often enough, I can play it.”

Tip for tabla mastery: “You play with your hands, so you have to have skillful fingers.”

Influences: Indian tabla maestros Zakir Hussain and Alla Rakha.

Where he plays now: “I have a tabla set and a drum kit at home, so I definitely keep the neighbors up.”

What he listens to in the kitchen: Pop, rock, Bollywood tunes, Hindi music.

Photograph by Jeff Elkins.

Instrument: Violin.

First restaurant job: Playing violin during Sunday brunch at the Gandy Dancer in Ann Arbor as a teenager.

Pay at the time: $100 an hour.

Training: At McCloud’s peak, he was practicing up to ten hours a day and spending summers at Michigan’s Interlochen Center.

How performing informed his cooking philosophy: “A lot of chefs have this idea that they cook for themselves. If guests like it, that’s great; if not, screw ’em. I’m the opposite because I cook for other people.”

Career high: Taking a class with violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman.

Photograph by Jeff Elkins.

Instrument: Guitar.

Why he started strumming: “The first time I heard Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction, I knew I wanted to make noise like that.”

Band: Spoiled Rotten (1990-92).

Band’s look: “Leather pants and cowboy boots with chains. I looked like Ian Astbury.”

Sample song title: “Choking on Glass.”

Career high: “We headlined the Fairfax High battle of the bands, and Dave Grohl introduced us.”

Photograph by Jeff Elkins.

Instrument: Drums.

Band: The Borderless Puzzle (2001-07).

Style: “We did a lot of genre-hopping, but there were jam-band elements.”

Career high: “From parties in hotel rooms to super-late nights to X-rated activities, it was the life of the rock star.”

Opened for: Parliament Funkadelic and rapper Matisyahu.

Where to hear the band: “You can download a few concerts on Archive.org.”

What he listens to in the kitchen: When prepping food, he listens to Wu-Tang Clan.