Born in Buffalo, NY, Carmen developed an early interest in music and began playing drums at age five. A graduate of the Institute for Jazz Studies at The Juilliard School, he has already performed and recorded with numerous musicians such as George Benson, Larry Coryell, Wynton Marsalis, Joey DeFrancesco, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Eric Alexander, Richie Cole, Joe Locke, Barbara Morrison, Ira Sullivan, George Coleman, Lew Tabackin, Bobby Watson, and many others. He and his quartet recently won the ITA Generations Competition and will be Artists in Residence at San Francisco State University. This recognition is shared with jazz legends such as Jimmy Cobb, Marcus Belgrave, and Ray Drummond. Currently, Carmen performs with trumpeter Dominick Farinacci, vocalist Hilary Kole, vibraphonist Joe Locke, and organist Pat Bianchi. Carmen also continues performing with Joey DeFrancesco and had the pleasure of performing with him alongside Dr. Lonnie Smith on the PBS show titled "Legends of Jazz," hosted by Ramsey Lewis. Carmen has traveled throughout the world and has played many notable venues and festivals such as the Blue Note (New York), Blue Note (Milano), Cotton Club (Tokyo), Birdland, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Blues Alley, Yoshi's, the Detroit International Jazz Festival, and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival. Carmen was also featured in a live performance at the Kennedy Center for NPR’s JazzSet, hosted by Dee Dee Bridgewater. Always eager to uncover the latest information about music and drumming and share that information with others, Carmen has begun to conduct master classes and clinics for students at various levels of their music education. Each clinic is designed for the specific needs of the student(s). He has had the opportunity to conduct clinics throughout the United States, Italy, Japan, Thailand, and Columbia. At this time, Carmen has endorsements with DW Drums and Hardware, Calato/Regal Tip Drumsticks & Brushes, and Bosphorus Cymbals.