Jose “Pepe” Jimenez has played drums professionally since the age of 16 and is known for his versatility in different musical styles. He’s product of the Escuela Libre De Musica (Puerto Rico Performing Arts School), Musicians Institute and the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music. Pepe has played with Lady Gaga, Santana, Giovanni Hidalgo, Jerry Gonzales, Mark Anthony, and The Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra to name a few. Recordings include Ricardo Arjona, Olga Tanon, Armando Manzanero, Elvis Crespo, Ilan Chester, and Glenn Monroig among others. Since movingh to Las Vegas in 2002, he has worked in various production shows and bands including Storm, Mamma Mia, Cirque du Soleil Zumanity, Criss Angel Believe, The Lion King, Latin Grammys, Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns, Pop Evolution Orchestra and his solo project The Groove Culture.  In this episode, Pepe talks about: Getting handpicked by Lady Gaga to be part of her Vegas orchestra, and what that show entails How to make the click your friend Playing with the Raiders Band - a different kind of stadium gig The developing scene for jazz, Latin, and independent music in Vegas Instilling good technical foundation in all his students Defining his drum identity not by genre or style of playing, but his respect and love for the role

Paul Eckberg has drummed for Owsley, Danielle Bradbery, Jana Kramer, Amy Grant, Jars of Clay, Whitney Duncan, Andrew Peterson, and many other Nashville-based artists. He spends most of his time recording in Nashville. In this episode, Paul talks about:    Growing up in Minneapolis MN    The realities of the music business    Human interaction, not “networking”    Skills to being a great sideman    Having a strong count-off game    Life decisions being informed by his faith

In this episode, Mark talks about: What he finds rewarding about musical theatre  Other Vegas-specific gigs he’s done over the years Touring heavily at age 55 and staying connected to home life  Using gear that suits you as a player but also fulfills the needs of the show you’re on  Staying engaged by being detail oriented  Having your boss’s trust The virtue of contentment 

Martin Lynds is a musician and editor who tours most often with Chuck Mead and His Grassy Knoll boys but has stayed busy performing and/or recording with many others, including Cheap Trick’s Tom Petersson, Kevin Gordon, Marah, Bobby Bare, Rodney Crowell and Marty Stuart. In this episode, Martin talks about:    Exploring styles outside your comfort zone    Finding your people without being concerned with the hustle    His experiences living in Washington D.C.    Finding a “clubhouse” to meet other musicians and create experiences    His gig with Chuck Mead    Backline nightmares    The hidden beauty of traditional country drumming

Danny is originally from the Boston area but has called Memphis home for the last decade, where his main gig is touring with Nicole Atkins. He has toured with John Paul Keith and John Nemeth, and is active in Memphis’s many recording studios. In this episode, Danny talks about: Being an opening act for major headliners How Memphis provides ample opportunities to record in proper studios, so Danny hasn't set up a home rig How he was able to keep gigging remotely during Covid Mentoring under Howard Grimes and his contribution to the Memphis sound His appearance on Letterman as an 11-year-old prodigy

Brian Tichy is one of the most in demand performers today. Brian studied music at, and has a degree from, the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Brian has performed and recorded with artists: Billy Idol, Foreigner, Whitesnake, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Ozzy Osbourne, WASP, Don Felder, B'Z, Lynch Mob, Vinnie Moore, Michael Schenker, Seether, Velvet Revolver, Zakk Wylde's Pride & Glory, The Dead Daisies, Glenn Hughes, Slash's Snakepit and is also the founder of the popular celebration events, Bonzo Bash and Randy Rhoads Remembered. In this episode, Brian talks about:    Drummers that connect with the people    Touring with the Dead Daisies    Being able to adapt on sessions    Different tours/sessions and managing it all    Playing with Don Felder    Recording the album Pride and Glory w/ Zakk Wylde    Great playing over good networking    Hand and feet exercise for desks and floors only : 0

Allison Miller is a New York-based drummer, bandleader, educator, and producer. She studied with Michael Carvin and Lenny White and went on to play with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Ani DiFanco, Brandi Carlisle, and many others. She's active as an educator in many capacities including at The New School in New York, and her new album, Rivers In Our Veins is out now. In this episode, Allison talks about: Getting started with big bands in DC, and studying classical percussion in college The role that traditional bepop vocabulary plays in developing a modern jazz drumming voice The importance of experiencing jazz in a live setting Her new record and raising awareness about the role and health of America's rivers How her jazz credentials and experience led to pop opportunities Playing with Dr. Lonnie Smith

David Garibaldi has became one of the most influential drummers of his generation and became known as an innovator in funk drumming. As a writer and performer David has worked with such artists as Patti Austin, Natalie Cole, Mickey Hart's Planet Drum, Boz Scaggs, The BBC Orchestra, Gino Vannelli, Talking Drums, The Buddy Rich Orchestra, Ray Obiedo, Wishful Thinking, and many others. David is once again performing and recording with the Tower of Power. David was Modern Drummer Magazine - readers Poll Winner "R&B/Funk" category six times. Five consecutive years from 1980-1985, and again in 2003. His name now permanently resides in that polls honor roll category for his lasting contributions to the percussive arts. David's first book, "Future Sounds", was rated one of the 10 greatest drum books by Modern Drummer Magazine (August 1993) In this episode, David talks about:    The importance of good overall health    The early days of recording with Tower of Power    Creating art and being yourself    Adjusting his approach over time    Getting hit by a train and the recovery    His latest book: DG’s Notebook

This week we’re joined by Christina Albetta (Zack's wife), Liz Shadbolt (Matt's wife) and Kevin Leon, drummer for St. Paul & The Broken Bones and his wife Erin Johnson. Over the years Matt and Zack and many guests have talked about life partners and balancing relationships with our music careers, and we thought it was high time to hear from the other side of this equation about what it’s like to do life with a drummer. A long term committed relationship with a musician or any type of creative presents some unique challenges in terms of money, time, kids, trust, and so much more, and Christina, Liz and Erin offer some valuable perspective on all of it. In this episode, the couples talk about: How finances and other responsibilities in a relationship are never 50/50 Being willing to do whatever you have to do to support kids Creating your own traditions and celebrations on your own schedule How you can support your drummer without feeling obligated to come to every single gig Trusting your partner during time apart Normalizing therapy/counseling for individuals and couples

Danny Douchette is one of the rare Nashville Tennessee natives living and working in his home town as a musician. He has been working at Fork’s Drum Closet since 2005 and currently manages the legendary drum shop. Known as a skilled metal drummer, Danny can be seen around music city performing at one of the many community supported events like “Rare Hair”, “Industrial Night” and “The Rock and Roll Residency” just to name a few.  In this episode, Danny talks about:    Local events that connect musicians with each other    Growing up with a parent who was a professional musician    The underground nature of metal    Managing Forks Drum Closet in Nashville, TN    The challenges of maintaining an original band

Mike Dillon's decades-long career as a vibraphonist, percussionist, and drummer has included work with Ani DiFranco, Les Claypool, Stanton Moore, Rikki Lee Jones, and many others. He has also led bands in his own right, the latest of which is Punkadelick, with Brian Haas on keys and Nikki Glaspie on drums. Their new record is called Inflorescence. When not on the road, Mike splits his time between New Orleans and Kansas City. In this episode, Mike talks about: His new trio, Punkadelick with Brian Haas on kers and Nikki Glaspie on drums Finding his place at North Texas as a percussionist rather than a drumset player Committing to mastering the blues and jazz harmony in the improvisatory context The influence of Johnny Vidacovich as an improvisor How the scenes of Kansas City and New Orleans have shaped him How his wife, visual artist Peregrine Honig, has influenced his art and creative process

Originally from South East London and currently residing in Nashville, TN, Jonathan 'Ginger' Hamilton developed his love for music growing up in church. By age fourteen was holding it down for the UK's leading worship leaders and groups. A few years later, he made his Pop music debut and has gone on to work with artists like, Jessie J, Olly Murs, Lianne La Havas, N Dubz, JLS and Westlife. Since 2017, he has been the touring drummer for Sam Smith. *** Use code: JGHDRUMS15 for 10% off at hyperice.com In this episode, Jon talks about:    Managing drumming and repetitive stress injuries    Acclimating to Nashville, TN from London    Influence of Caribbean and African music in gospel music in the UK    Bringing positivity to every situation and gig    Preparing for the gig you want    Drumming for Sam Smith    The touring rig for the 21st century    Mentorship    His clothing line, Drum and Drummer

Tina Raymond is an accomplished drummer, composer, bandleader, and educator based in Los Angeles, CA. A unique voice in the contemporary improvised music scene, Raymond blends traditional jazz vocabulary with African polyrhythm and classical percussion technique. She is the Director of Jazz Studies at Cal State Northridge, and her new trio album Divinations will be released October 6th. In this episode, Tina talks about: Creating a jazz program where students don’t feel like they’re in competition with each other  Putting boundaries around her professional life, whether it’s as an educator or a performer How she tries to help her students become well rounded people, not just good jazz musicians  Her new record “Divinations” and its tarot theme  Building drum solos around accompaniment Making her record “drums forward” both in performance and mix

   Chris DiGirolamo has been the owner and operator of Two of the Show Media since 2006. Chris started studying drums at the age of five and still performs to this day. From his time at Berklee College of Music, to his tenure at the well known Systems Two Recording Studio in Brooklyn, NY, to engineering at the legendary Record Plant Recording Studio in California, music has always been number one. When Chris started Two for the Show Media, a private music publicity firm in Queens, NY, the mission was to provide hard work, honesty, trust, and guidance to the independent musicians of today. With two Grammy wins and over thirty nominations, Chris has fulfilled his goal times ten.    A fraction of the clients he has worked with include: Dafnis Prieto, Jamie Wollam, Cindy Blackman Santana, Simon Phillips, George Coleman Junior, JR Robinson, Bobby Sinabria, Steve Gadd and Manu Katche. In this episode, Chris talks about:    The benefits of technology with PR    Responsibilities of a publicist    Artist development    Carlos Santana and the thank you letter    Marketing instruments like A&F Drums    Meeting Bill Kreutzmann from The Grateful Dead as a kid    Diverse opportunities in the music industry

Lucy Ritter grew up in New Jersey with a good dose of NYC. She attended music school at Indiana University where Steve Houghton encouraged her to focus on drumset rather than classical percussion or music education. She left school to join the first national tour of the musical An Officer and a Gentleman, and followed that up with the first national tour of Jagged Little Pill. She recently decided to leave that tour and move to LA full time. In this episode, Lucy talks about Following through to make IG connections IRL Learning how to record audio and video for college during COVID How Steve Houghton encouraged her to focus on drumset rather than classical percussion and music education  How different types of music come with different lifestyles/subcultures  All the different ways professionalism has to be present in how you present yourself.  Seeking out female mentors 

Jody Stephens is a drummer based in Memphis, Tennessee, who has played in Big Star and is the last surviving original member. Along with his over three decades working at the historical Ardent Studios in Memphis, he continues to record and tour with groups like Golden Smog (with members of the Jayhawks and Wilco) and Those Pretty Wrongs with Luther Russell. In this episode, Jody talks about:    Meeting his hero, Ringo       Ardent Studios in Memphis and it’s rich history    The importance of building relationships in the industry    What he learned during the recording of the first Big Star record    His work with Golden Smog    Playing music for fun not money    His duo Those Pretty Wrongs

Petar Janjic is best known for playing with Cory Wong these days, but stays busy playing live and recording with many other Nashville artists. Petar's journey in music began with a solid educational foundation in his hometown of Kraljevo, Serbia . He pursued his passion by moving to the United States and earning both a Bachelor's and Masters degrees from McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul. He moved to Nashville in 2019. With his expertise and versatile skills, Petar Janjic continues to captivate audiences worldwide with his dynamic drumming and unwavering dedication to his craft. His contributions to the music industry and collaborations with esteemed artists have solidified his reputation as a true force to be reckoned with in the realm of percussion. In this episode, Petar talks about: How the old guard of Nashville studio drumming has influenced his approach How the Cory Wong gig has fun/goofy aspects, but also takes preparation and quality control very seriously The Minneapolis approach to time and groove that he and Cory both come from Releasing an online drum course with Cory, and his "overtone control" cymbal dampeners Playing with Victor Wooten Uncle Bronco, his trio project with organist Ty Bailie and guitarist Adam McPhail

At the Fine Tune Clinic, Dr. Charlie Kautz and Dr. Shayan Ghaffari are a licensed Chiropractors providing state-of-the-art techniques that directly treat specific muscles to relieve pain symptoms and improve range of motion. After years of observing and working with musicians, they provide a unique combination of advanced myofascial and Chiropractic techniques to address underlying causes of repetitive stress injurys. In this episode, Dr. Charlie Kautz & Dr. Shayan Ghaffari talk about:    Parallels between athletes and musicians    Matt’s personal work with Dr. Shayan    Dr. Charlie meeting John Densmore, drummer for the Doors    Active Release Technique (ART)    Problems with “drummers posture”    Using education to solve physical issues    Things that we do that sabotages our health and mobility    How supplements optimize recovery

Mike Malone is a performer and educator based out of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He attended University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire to study classical and jazz percussion. In 2013 Mike was invited to join The Glenn Miller Orchestra's national tour. After returning to UWEC to finish his degree in 2014, Mike began touring with groups including jazz vocalist, Ray Brown Jr, and vocal jazz group, Five By Design. As a recording musician Mike can be heard on dozens of albums as both a supporting musician and leader. His diverse skillset has allowed him to be featured musically across numerous styles and settings, and led him to be named "Drummer Of The Year" by the Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) Awards in 2021.  Mike currently maintains a regular performing schedule and manages a private teaching studio with students of all ages and experience levels. Mike is a performing artist for Bosphorus Cymbals. In this episode, Mike talks about Why he decided to make his home and career in Oshkosh How church gigs taught him to convey respect as a performer, which he takes into all performances Touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and the challenge of playing true old school big band style with no bebop How tech has changed how we prepare for gigs, for better or for worse The genesis and scope of his youtube channel Being able to anticipate what content might be popular, i.e. manufacturing a viral video Tech tips to improve the audio and video quality of your online presence

World-renowned, Grammy-winning musician John "J.R." Robinson is widely considered the most recorded drummer in history, playing on albums that have sold well over 500 million copies. He is the drummer on 20 number-one pop songs by artists such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie and Steve Winwood, and has been the drummer on more than 100 Grammy-winning tracks. Rolling Stone Magazine featured J.R. in their list of The Top 100 Drummers of All Time. J.R. is the drummer on many other Top-40 hits with artists such as Madonna, Lady Gaga, Diana Ross, Daft Punk, David Lee Roth, Rufus & Chaka Khan, The Pointer Sisters, Wilson Philips, Peter Cetera, George Benson, and Quincy Jones. In this episode, John talks about:    The down beat is WORD    Being able to groove without a click    His new trio SRT: Vanguards Of Groove    Working on his book that is coming out in 2024    Hi-Hat technique    Breaking down the session with Steve Winwood    Recording with Daft Punk

One of the most highly regarded jazz drummers on the scene today, Joe is known for his blazing speed, precision, musical, and melodic playing. Born in South Hadley, Massachusetts in 1968, Joe grew up in a musical family; his father was a music educator and he has four older brothers, two of whom became professional musicians. He studied with Alan Dawson and Arthur Taylor prior to attending and graduating from William Patterson College in New Jersey in 1994. Upon moving to New York City, he led the weekend jazz combos at Augie’s (now Smoke Jazz & Supper Club). He performed with Junior Cook, Cecil Payne, John Ore, Big John Patton, Harold Mabern, Eddie Henderson, John Jenkins and his brothers, John and James. Joseph’s career includes recording over 100 CD’s as leader and side-man, jazz festivals and world tours with Pharaoh Sanders, Horace Silver, Harold Mabern, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, Diana Krall, Benny Golson, George Coleman, Johnny Griffin, Lou Donaldson, Benny Green, Curtis Fuller to name a few. In this episode, Joe talks about: Studying with Alan Dawson How he arrived at his "just play time" identity as a jazz drummer the centrality of the ride cymbal in all jazz drumming The difference between playing with someone and playing for them Why he chooses to almost always perform in a suit and tie

As a drummer, Mark Poiesz has performed in front of millions of people on five continents with artists including Tyler Farr, Lindsay Ell, Mitchell Tenpenny, Chuck Wicks, Jon Secada, Lita Ford and Ghost of Gloria. As an alumnus of the University of Miami's prestigious Frost School of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree in Studio Music and Jazz, Mark's career has spanned nearly every conceivable genre of music as he brings his signature energy to each moment. His current role as drummer, bandleader and programmer with multi-platinum country music artist Tyler Farr has involved nearly a decade of touring, major network television appearances and the Super Bowl LI pre-game show. As an ICF Professional Certified Coach, Mark holds the gold standard credential for coaching. He has built real-world experience not just with individuals in the entertainment industry, but also with leaders and high performers at companies such as AT&T, IBM, Boeing, Capital One, Warner Bros. Discovery, HelloFresh, The US Department of Defense and more. In this episode, Mark talks about:    Getting out of his comfort zone    The power of curiosity    His online program: The Big 3: Steps to the Big Stage    When you say no to something, you are saying yes to something else.    Having a clear objective when practicing

George Coleman Jr. was born into a musical family. As a drummer, producer, composer, filmmaker, and son of two musical jazz greats, saxophone legend George Coleman Sr. and organist, composer and vocalist, Gloria Coleman, he was seven when master drummer Max Roach gave him his first set of drums. George studied with master teachers including Sam Ulano, Michael Carvin and Billy Higgins. In 2019, George took on the role of film producer and released a documentary entitled “Another Kind of Soul: The Coleman Family Legacy”. The film chronicles his family’s personal and musical histories and includes concert footage as well as interviews with his family and other iconic jazz figures including Branford Marsalis. Another Kind of Soul is available on various streaming services including Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, and Tubi TV. He has also released a new record as a leader entitled Resurgence. In this episode, George talks about His dad's jazz legacy that began in Memphis The influence of his mother who was a bassist and organist Being surrounded by Latin music in his childhood neighborhood in the Upper West Side Making his album a culmination of all his mentors What he learned about music from his dad vs. his mom What he learned and continues to learn from Michael Carvin How music has served as a between him and his dad later in life

Andy Hull is a drummer and a seasoned veteran of the Nashville music scene. He has toured and recorded with many artists including Billy Dean, Ty Herndon, Jaimie O’Neal , Collin Raye, Lee greenwood and is currently on tour with country music super star Clint Black. In this episode, Andy talks about:     Dealing with last minute gigs and sessions     The psychology of working with others     Drumming for Clint Black     Relationship building in the session world     Be prepared to be uncomfortable on the gig or session    Home studio recording     Lessons and inspiration from his son

Nasheet Waits, drummer and music educator, is a New York native. His interest in playing the drums was encouraged by his father, legendary percussionist, Frederick Waits, who played with such legendary artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Sonny Rollins, Lee Morgan, Max Roach, Cecil Taylor, McCoy Tyner, and countless others. While attending Long Island University, Nasheet studied privately with renowned percussionist Michael Carvin. Carvin’s tutelage provided a vast foundation upon which Waits added influences from his father, as well as mentor Max Roach and percussionist Fred King. It was Max that first gave Nasheet’s formidable talent international spotlight, hiring him as a member of the famed percussion ensemble M’BOOM. One highlight of Nasheet’s tenure with M’BOOM was the live concert performance of M’BOOM with special guests Tony Williams and Ginger Baker.  Nasheet’s recording and performing discography is a veritable who’s who in Jazz. Waits has boasted stints with jazz notables Antonio Hart, Jackie McLean, Wadada Leo Smith, Dave Douglas, Mark Turner, Bunky Green, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Eddie Gomez, Steve Coleman, The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Greg Osby, Wallace Roney, Jacky Terrason, and The Mingus Big Band. Waits has recorded and toured extensively in Africa, Europe, Japan, Canada, South America and the United States. In this episode, Nasheet talks about: Learning from Christian McBride's "played with everybody" experience, and high level consistency as a performer The early influence of his father, musically and culturally How friends and colleague of his father like like Michael Carvin and Max Roach stepped in to mentor him after his father died Lessons from Carvin His experience attending an HBCU in Atlanta

Rich Redmond is an award-winning recording and touring drummer based in Nashville and Los Angeles. As an in-demand artist, Rich has recorded/toured/performed with: Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Ludacris, Kelly Clarkson, Bryan Adams, Bob Seger, Joe Perry, Garth Brooks, Chris Stapleton, Jewel, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Thompson Square, Eric Church, Deana Carter, Montgomery Gentry, Alabama, John Anderson, Trace Adkins, Keith Urban, Travis Tritt, Emily West, Chris Cornell, Kelsea Ballerini and many others. In this episode, Rich talks about:    News of the 8 years since our first interview in 2015    Its all relationships    Why aren’t there “cattle calls” anymore in 2023    Time management challenges when being self employed    Mitigating regret    His podcast: The Rich Redmond Show    New book: Making It In Country Music: An Insider’s Guide To The Industry

John began playing drums at the age of 5 in Oakland California. Oakland proved to be a perfect incubator for John as he thrived playing in many of the school, community, rock, jazz, and funk bands in the area. This experience gave John a diverse background that continues to serve him well today. Early in his career, John was playing in local bands opening for such diverse acts as George Benson, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Who (two North American tours), and many more. John’s reputation quickly grew and he found himself playing with San Francisco/Oakland bay area legends including Joshua Redman, Lenny Williams (Tower of Power), and Miles Davis band alumni Barry Finnerty, Garth Webber, and Benny Rietveld. John continued to cast his net as wide as possible. He began getting calls from New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, and New Orleans to audition with such artists as Pee Wee Ellis, Stephen Jenkins (Third Eye Blind), Cake, and many more. These experiences gave John national exposure which has led to local, touring, and/or studio dates with Josh Groban, Bonnie Raitt, Randy Newman, Pat Benatar, Steve Miller, Booker T., Pee Wee Ellis, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Oz Noy and many more. John has played multiple productions of Hamilton in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Puerto Rico and tours and records with Carl Verheyen. In this episode, John talks about: The resume he amassed in the Bay Area before moving to LA Thinking of different theatre shows as different “dialects” His experience of playing multiple productions of Hamilton Getting called out by his musical director for going on auto pilot The process of constant refinement over the course of a show The broader palate he gets to use with Carl Verheyen

Drummer, Producer, Recording Artist and Educator Bruce Becker has steadily made his mark in the world of Music. Founding member and Drummer behind the David Becker Tribune, Bruce has recorded and co-produced 10 critically acclaimed recordings. The DBT has performed at clubs and jazz festivals throughout the world for more than 3 decades. In 2015 “Message To Attila” was released on Enja records. Bruce was part of an all star cast to honor the music of Attila Zoller, featuring Ron Carter, Pat Metheny, Mike Stern and many others. Spanning more than 3 decades as an Educator, Bruce has drawn from his more than thirty year association with Drumming “guru” Freddie Gruber carrying on the torch of a unique approach in getting the student to understand the natural principles of the physical body’s interaction with the drum set. Bruce’s reputation has interested a vast array of drummers to seek his teachings. The list includes drummers such as, David Garibaldi, Mark Schulman, Daniel Glass, Glen Sobel and Clayton Cameron. Bruce has performed Master Classes and Workshops in Music Conservatories and Schools in the USA, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Latvia, Moscow, Argentina, Uruguay and Australia. Over the years Bruce has had the good fortune to work with an extremely diverse group of people: David Becker Tribune, Mike Stern, Ron Carter, Russell Ferrante, Barbara Dennerlein, John Abercrombie, Peter Bernstein, composer Chris Field, the San Francisco Symphony, producer Ken Caillat (Fleetwood Mac), Sunny Ledfurd, Mark Schulman, and Deborah Henson-Conant. Bruce continues to divide his time between International touring with the DBT, workshops, studio recordings, live dates and private teaching. In this episode, Bruce talks about:    Choreographing your movements    His passion for teaching    New book: The Ultimate Guide to Syncopation    Advice for teachers    Teaching and working with David Garibaldi

Best known for her work with Lenny Kravitz and her husband, Carlos Santana, Cindy's career has spanned over 30 years and involved many other artists from Pharoah Sanders to Joss Stone to Buckethead. In this episode, Cindy talks about: The Vegas residency serving as a "laboratory" How she and Carlos navigate being spouses and bandmates How Tony played the function of the drums first and foremost A drummer’s physical and spiritual connection to their sound How being promoted because of your gender can be just as toxic as being held back

Daru Jones is known for his work with Jack White as well as his list of collaborators that include, Bootsy Collins, Kanye West, Pete Rock, Gloria Gaynor, Slum Village, Jamie Lidell, Talib Kweli, Dwight Yoakam, Nas, Pee Wee Ellis, Lorenzo Jovanotti, Queen Latifah, Black Milk, Salaam Remi, Pharoahe Monch, Rance Allen, Black Violin, Ski Beatz & The Sensei’s, and Jon B just to name a few. Throughout the course of his career, Jones has received rave reviews from Rolling Stone Magazine, LA Weekly, Esquire.com, Fuse.tv, the Los Angeles Times, and USA Today (among countless others). He has also appeared on several national and international television programs: The David Letterman Show, Jools Holland (UK), The Colbert Report, Saturday Night Live, and on the iconic MTV. In this episode, Daru talks about:    His new PDP signature kit    Navigating the music scene as an introvert    How his faith has guided his life choices    How to stay grounded when touring    The power to inspire    Moving to Nashville and finding his musical family    New book: Daru Jones play the breaks - Live from Layman Deluxe edition

In this episode, Craig talks about Knowing and owning your preparation process/method How being good at reading can prevent you from listening in-depth, and how reading well doesn’t automatically mean you have good time, good feel, or good ears Approaching recording with a producer’s ears, thinking about not just the nuts and bolts of the drums, but the whole sound of the whole record Why he moved to Portland in 2017, and being careful about entering the scene in his new home Allowing yourself to take a break from the hustle when you have a consistent gig The option to build your career around your chosen community rather than a geographic community

Kyle May, is a working drummer, writer, and producer in Nashville, TN. He currently plays for Maddie & Tae and Billy Ray Cyrus. Additional touring credits include Lindsay Ell, Runaway June, Brandon Lay, and Carter Faith. He’s cut for artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jimmie Allen, Matt Stell, Clay Walker, Levi Hummon, Willie Jones, Walker Hayes, to name a few. The best part about recording from his home studio is chasing sounds, parts, and more for producers and artists from Nashville to everywhere else in the world. In this episode, Kyle talks about:    His early interest in remote tracking    The creative freedom that comes from tracking from home    How he delivers his tracks (raw or processed)    Building upon your strengths and interests    Posting high quality content and it’s benefits    Tips to instantly level up your sounds    Creating sample packs    Creating helpful and educational content

Craig McIntyre has had a long tenure as the drummer for the Goo Goo Dolls and has also performed with Josh Groban, Vertical Horizon, Idina Menzel, Deana Carter, Seal, and many others along the way. After building a very LA-centric career, Craig now lives in Portland Oregon.  In this episode, Craig talks about: The combination of festival and theatre work that comprises the Goo Goo Dolls’ yearly schedule The challenge of being present in the music with your fellow musicians, and how different situations can make it difficult in different ways How to exit a gig in a way that leaves future possibilities open, and not take personnel changes personally How the gig you’re doing can be a status symbol or platform, apart from whatever the actual music is  The musical cross-pollination that happened among the various members of Josh Groban’s band The counterintuitive aspects of what the Groban gig required of the drummer 

Bobby Sanabria is an eight time Grammy-nominee as a leader. Known as a drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, conductor, documentary film producer, educator, activist, and bandleader, his versatility as both a drummer and percussionist, from small group to big band, has become legendary. A native son of the South Bronx born to Puerto Rican parents, he has performed and recorded with every major figure in the world of Latin jazz and salsa, from the founder of the Afro-Cuban/Latin jazz movement Mario Bauzá, to Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaría, Dizzy Gillespie, Chico O’Farrill, Ray Barretto, Candido, to Larry Harlow, Ruben Blades, Celia Cruz, and jazz luminaries as diverse as Henry Threadgill, Charles McPherson, Randy Brecker, Joe Chambers, Jean Lucien, The Mills Brothers, and others. DRUM! Magazine named him Percussionist of the Year (2005); he was named Percussionist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2011 and 2013. In 2006, he was inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame. He was a recipient of the 2018 Jazz Education Network (JEN) LeJENS of Jazz Lifetime Achievement Award for his work as a musician and educator. In 2008 Congressman Dennis Kucinich honored his work as a musician and educator by reading his name into the Congressional Record and in 2018 the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus honored him as a musician, educator. Every single one of his big band recordings, seven in total, have been nominated for Grammys. His 2018 recording, ‘West Side Story Reimagined,' reached #1 on the national Jazz Week radio charts, was nominated for a 2018 Grammy, and won the prestigious 2019 Record of The Year Award from the Jazz Journalists Association. Partial proceeds from sales of this double CD went to the Jazz Foundation of America’s Puerto Rico Relief Fund for musicians. He is the Co-Artistic Director of the Bronx Music Heritage Center and the forthcoming Bronx Music Hall. His lifetime dedication to spreading the history, culture, of jazz and Latin jazz to the general public as a performer, as well as educating a new generation of players, composers, arrangers, has no parallel. A member of Max Roach’s legendary M’BOOM percussion ensemble, he is on the faculty of the New School (his 26th year) and was on the faculty of NYU, his alma mater Berklee, and was on the faculty of the Manhattan School fo Music for 20 years where he conducted/taught the Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra receiving two Grammy nominations for recordings he did with directing his students. Sanabria is also the on air host of the Latin Jazz Cruise on WBGO FM and wbgo.org, the number one jazz station in the nation. Lehman College in NYC has recently awarded Maestro Sanabria an Honorary Doctorate. His new double CD, which will be released on May 12 2023, is a double CD with his Multiverse Big Band entitled VOX HUMANA. Recorded live at Dizzy's Club-Cola in NYC, it features three of jazz's finest contemporary vocalists - Janis Siegel from the Manhattan Transfer, blues and jazz Queen Antoinette Montague, and multi-lingual powerhouse Jennifer Jade Ledesna. In this episode, Bobby talks about:    His MULTIVERSE Big Band    Seeing Tito Puente perform at 12 years old    The new record - VOX HUMANA    Inspiring the next generation    The history of music as related to the history of America    Afro-cuban rhythms and their origins

Joe LaBarbera has spent his life in jazz, first based in New York, then in LA, and has performed with Bill Evans, Tony Bennet, Chuck Mangione, and many more. He also spent 28 years on the faculty at Cal Arts teaching drumset, jazz small groups, and jazz history. His new book, Times Remembered, recounts his time with the Bill Evans Trio during the last two years of Evans' life. In this episode, Joe talks about: His motivation for writing a book about his time with Bill Evans The musical and personal dynamic he had with Bill during their time together Going from playing with Bill Evans, a very heavy jazz gig, to Tony Bennett, which he doesn't consider to be a jazz gig The overarching concept he drew from Bill - commitment How he viewed his role as a mentor to many different types of students during his 28 years at Cal Arts

Brady L. Blade, Jr. is one of the most in-demand session drummers in the world, and has played on several critically acclaimed albums, including records by Solomon Burke, Daniel Lanois, Emmylou Harris, Dave Matthews, Buddy Miller, Indigo Girls, Steve Earle, and Shawn Amos. He is also an accomplished producer and composer. He enjoys working with new talent, developing their songwriting and, ultimately, producing and recording alongside them. He has had a number of major successes, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, where his work has topped their national charts, producing the debut records of Brooke Fraser (7x Platinum in New Zealand), Annabel Fay, and Annah Mac. Brady can be heard on over 70 records to date. Brady’s brother is jazz drummer Brian Blade. Brady currently plays with Bayou Punks, Rev. Shawn Amos and the Brotherhood and Indigo Girls In this episode, Brady talks about:    Being the “Floating Artist” on the Americana cruise Cayamo    Why he lives in Stockholm, Sweden    Preparing to tour with The Indigo Girls    Working with Emmylou Harris    Utilizing technology to survive in the industry in the 21st century    Growing up with a musical and supportive family    Producing, writing, and staying productive

Mike Musberger has spent his life and career in Seattle, where he has played in a long list of bands and projects. In the 90s, he enjoyed some big label/world touring success as the drummer for The Posies. More recently, he was part of Paul Allen's traveling "on call" band, and is part of Ringo's live production crew. He also records in his own studio, housed in Seattle's most famous rehearsal space, The Institution. In this episode, Mike talks about: Growing up and starting his career in Seattle, with a front row seat to its musical revolution in the 80s and 90s The the most useful holdover concept from the analogue recording era Touring as part of Ringo's live production crew Relying on the side hustle of contracting when he had to The changing landscape of how to make a touring band financially sustainable Some ways the Seattle music scene has improved as a result of the tech boom

Chris Marquart is the touring drummer with multi-platinum country superstar Cole Swindell. Originally from a small town in Illinois, Chris attended The Berkley college of music before his eventual move to Nashville, TN. Chris has created a career in the music industry on his own terms all while staying focused on the big picture and things that are most important to him. Chris navigated his way through the Nashville scene playing clubs in the Lower Broadway scene to working with signed artists like Craig Campbell and Cole Swindel. In this episode, Chris talks about:    Things he learned while at the Berklee College of Music    From Lower Broadway in Nashville to touring with Cole Swindel    How Chris manages his mix and technology on the Cole gig    Playing musically with a click and tracks    The benefits of transcribing    Staying healthy on the road, mentally and physically    Planning the next stage of work life outside of music

Victor Indrizzo has long been one of the most in-demand drummers in LA and can be heard on countless records and movie soundtracks. He has recorded with Beck, Sheryl Crow, Queens of the Stone Age, and many, many others. He has also served as Alanis Morissette's touring drummer for over a decade. His recent work includes Lizzo's "About Damn Time," newly crowned with a grammy for record of the year, and a sample pack through Yurt Rock. In this episode, Victor talks about: Being a young dad and saying yes to everything Connecting with his pure love of drumming when he's feeling bogged down in the “work” aspect Having a dialogue and partnership with sound engineers to shape drum sounds together Finding ways to make acoustic recorded sounds similar to programmed sounds Using stacking and overdubbing to highlight choruses instead of moving to the ride or opening the hihat His approach to creating a sample pack How the most important aspects of working don’t require you to be extroverted 

Dan Ainspan is the co-host of the podcast Nashville Drummers Podcast with colleague Nathan Sletner. The podcast gives a voice to Nashville’s next generation of players — the up-and-coming drummers that you may haven’t heard of yet. Dan is also currently the Jr. Marketing Manager, Band & Orchestra Products for Pearl Corporation, based in Nashville, TN. A Slingerlands, NY native, Dan attended the State University of New York College at Oneonta where he received a B.A. in Music Industry with Double Minors in Percussion Performance and Audio Production. At Oneonta, Dan studied percussion with Dr. Julie Licata and drum set with The Mars Volta drummer Blake Fleming. After graduating in 2015, Dan relocated to Indianapolis, IN to pursue an internship with the Percussive Arts Society before his eventual move to Nashville, TN. In this episode, Dan talks about:    His job at Pearl drums    Dan’s journey from college to NY to Indianapolis to Nashville    Interning at PAS    Studying with original The Mars Volta drummer Blake Fleming    Leaning into his digital and social media skills    Hosting the Nashville Drummers podcast w/Nathan Sletner The value of a personal website in 2023

Jay Bellerose is a Los Angeles-based touring and studio veteran with an approach and aesthetic all his own. His passion for all things old and gritty has resulted in a personality behind the drums that has become sought after by artists and producers including Robert Plant & Allison Krauss, T-Bone Burnett, Bonnie Raitt, Ray LeMontagne, In this episode, Jay talks about: The Slingerland "Rolling Bomber" set he plays on the Plant/Krauss tour, and how the sound is captured Having to find and fight for his aesthetic amidst the LA scene How singers move, and how drummers can recognize and respond to that How the Plant/Krauss project is separate and distinct from Robert or Allison's individual history or work Playing in Molly Miller's trio with his wife, Jennifer Condos on bass The deceptive challenge of simple instrumental music Keeping his schedule intentionally sparse when he's home in LA

Jamie Wollam has toured with some of the most talented musicians on earth including, Tears for Fears, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Tommy Shaw (Styx), Fee Waybil (The Tubes) and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello’s solo project, The Nightwatchman. He has recorded with Michael Sweet (Stryper), Guardian, Zache Brooke, The Brave, John Elefante (Kansas), Venice, Jay Nash, Mindy Gledhill, Michael Jackson, Kyle Vincent, Hillary Duff, Eric Hutchinson, Avion, Steve Bertrand, Drake Bell, G.E.M and, Tears for Fears. In this episode, Jaime talks about:    His move from L.A. to Canada and getting sober    Working through these struggles while working with Tears for Fears    Drumming with Tears for Fears and the support they gave him    Being the drummer for Tears for Fears and working a “regular job”    Drumming for Tears for Fears and the new record    Losing his deal with DW    Dialing in his sound with A&F drums

 Matt Starr is a 20-year veteran of the LA scene and recently landed in Sarah McLachlan's drum chair. Over his career, he has divided his time playing live and recording in the pop/rock world and has also been producing music in his own studio. Matt began formal study of drums in his hometown of Toronto with Vito Rezza, and went on to study with Joe Morello, Jim Chapin, and Bernard Purdie. In addition to the Sarah gig, he has also performed with Buffy Sainte-Marie, Chris Shiflett (from the Foo Fighters), Christopher Cross, Lisa Loeb (with whom he recorded a grammy winning album in 2018), Deana Carter, Glen Ballard, Alphonso Johnson, Lucy Hale, Kiki Ebsen, Kevyn Lettau and Inbar Starr. In this podcast, Matt talks about: Learning to get the most out of your existing gear before buying more How drummers now have the expertise to be in conversation and partnership with audio engineers How his relationship with Victor Indrizzo led to the Sarah McLachlan gig Being an LA drummer without the LA extroversion/ambition How you can define "community" by just a couple of relationships

400! We’ve celebrated milestones in different ways over the years and this time around we wanted to make you the listener the special guest. Over the last few months we’ve been collecting messages from y’all about where you are in your drumming journey and where the podcast has fit into that. Matt and Zack also reflect on where they are in their drumming journeys (two very different places) and the role the podcast is playing for in that, professionally and personally. We want to thank everyone for calling and writing in, it’s been really rewarding to hear from old friends and new, some close to home, some halfway around the world about how what we do here is valued. And thanks also to everyone who has listened, donated, told a friend about us, followed us on social media, there have been so many ways y’all have supported us over the years and that support is the reason we’ve reached this milestone. Thank you.

Drummer, singer, and songwriter Jerry Gaskill founded the progressive metal band Kings X in 1983. A native of Bridgeton, New Jersey, Gaskill began playing at a young age, forming a band with his father and brother and playing his first gig at the age of seven. After playing in bands throughout high school, he became heavily involved in the Christian faith and enrolled at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. Not long after arriving in Springfield, he befriended bassist dUg Pinnick and the two formed a sturdy rhythm section, backing up artists like future Petra singer Greg X. Volz and guitarist Phil Keaggy. After trying out various combos of their own, Gaskill and Pinnick were joined by guitarist Ty Tabor and the trio, then called Sneak Preview, relocated to Houston, Texas. Changing their name to Kings X in 1987, they eventually signed with metal label Megaforce and released their debut, Out of the Silent Planet, a year later. A prog trio with a strong melodic bent and elaborate three-part harmonies, Kings X have enjoyed a successful career with stints on Atlantic, Metal Blade, and InsideOut Music. Gaskill's contributions as drummer, writer, and occasional lead singer are an integral part of Kings X's sound. In 2004, he released his solo debut, Come Somewhere, which was recorded and produced by bandmate Ty Tabor. In addition to his work with Kings X, Gaskill has contributed to side projects by his two bandmates as well as albums by blues guitarist Jay Hooks and New Jersey songwriter Bob Burger. After suffering a heart attack in early 2012, Gaskill's home was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy later that same year. Waylaid by a second heart attack in 2014, he rallied to release his second solo LP, Love & Scars. The album was released in October 2015 and featured guest spots from Billy Sheehan, Phil Keaggy, Earl Slick, and others. In this episode, Jerry talks about:    Kings X new album - Three Sides of One    Insight to Jerry’s time feel    Surviving two heart attacks    Wedges over in-ear monitors    The popularity of Kings X among the musician community    Moving away from the Christian music industry in the early days    The profound inspiration that John Bonham had on his playing    Performing with Bruce Springsteen

Based in Boston, MA, Tim is an international touring musician, session drummer, educator, and published author with both Alfred Music and Hudson Music. Tim currently records and tours extensively with GA-20, a three-time Billboard #1 blues trio signed to Karma Chief/Colemine records. He also leads two of his own projects: Tim Carman & The Street 45s—a world-groove inspired funk band—and the Tim Carman Trio—a vintage organ jazz trio (à la Jimmy Smith) nominated for “Jazz Act of the Year (2022)” by the Boston Music Awards. Along with performing, Tim is a dedicated educator who has released four drum books: Haynes-ISM (2022 via Hudson Music), Groove Systems (2021 via Hudson Music), Shape Beats: Drum Notation Simplified (2020), and Shape Beats for Kids (2017 via Alfred Music).  In this episode, Tim talks about The easy decision to commit full time to GA-20 in 2018 His experience at Berklee  Learning to make experimentation part of practicing Versing himself in Chicago blues, and the shuffles of Fred Below, Ted Harvey, and others The more jazz-based projects he leads, and playing with B3 organ

Kris Mazzarisi is the founder and owner of innovative drum company Big Fat Snare Drum. Big Fat Snare Drum has become a standard must have piece of gear that is used by the majority of drummers around the world. When he isn’t running his business or inventing new products to add to the BFSD legacy, Kris tours with his brother in the band Winnetka Bowling League. Kris leans into his years experiences in the music industry as an intuitive guide in the running and growth of Big Fat Snare Drum.  In this episode, Kris talks about:    Creating a balance between touring and running a business    Road managing    Touring with his brother in the band Winnetka Bowling League    Teaching himself to be a professional tech    His company: Big Fat Snare Drum and it’s beginnings    The inspiration for The Drum Click Network

Mona Tavakoli is a Los Angeles-based drummer, singer and performer bets known for recording and touring with Jason Mraz. While Mona is equally comfortable performing as a drummer and a percussionist, she is especially known for adapting the cajón to unexpected genres such as rock and pop. Mona and Mraz have been collaborating for nearly a decade. She toured worldwide on Mraz’s 2012 album, Love is a Four Letter Word, and they performed together as a duo on programs such as The Today Show, The David Letterman Show, Ellen, Dancing with the Stars, and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. She is a co-founder and co-director of the Rock n’ Roll Camp For Girls Los Angeles, a nonprofit that encourages girls to find their voices through music during an intensive, weeklong summer day camp. Mona also promotes music education by hosting rhythm workshops at elementary schools and colleges around the country. Mona has been featured in DRUM!, Tom Tom Magazine, judged and hosted the Hit Like A Girl drum contest and awards show and is the recipient of the 2016 She Rocks awards “Inspire Award” for her work with the Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls. In this episode, Mona talks about: The new album she recently tracked with Jason and Raining Jane Her hybrid setup and her history with the Cajon Her unlikely combination of influences from Neil Peart to Jay Belerose Her background in economics and how that informs her music career Her #1 piece of financial advice for musicians Her role with the Rock n' Roll Camp for Girls