Luis Espaillat is a multi-faceted bassist and musician whose career has spanned many genres and taken him around the world. His unique sound can be heard in all forms of media from shows on network television such as Smallville and King Of The Hill, major motion pictures including S.W.A.T. and American Wedding and even video games including Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 and Project Gotham Racing. In the studio, Luis has recorded with country legends like Michael Martin Murphey to the Billboard Top 20 hard rock sounds of Eve To Adam. His sense and respect for the art of the song itself has made him in demand for many songwriters and producers not only in Nashville, but also Los Angeles and New York City. On the stage, Luis has performed with country stars Trace Adkins, Jamie O’Neal, Jimmy Wayne, Lindsay Ell, Jake Owen, Terri Clark, Pam Tillis, James Otto, Tanya Tucker and Doc Walker, rockers such as Tantric and Bo Bice, progressive instrumentalist like Johnny Hiland, and even artists that defy normal convention such as country rapper Colt Ford, just to name a few. A graduate of Berklee College Of Music, Luis also conducts clinics and master classes on the world of studio recording, touring and of course, bass. Luis resides in Nashville, TN with his wife, three children and three dogs. In this episode, Luis talks about: Working with Trace Adkins and balancing touring with sessions Playing with a major label signed rock band The challenge of making life changing decisions The importance of real relationships The power of positivity on stage The roll he plays in the rhythm section Note length from the bass & it’s effect on the groove Connecting with drummers live and in the studio Advice for young drummers Advice for experienced drummers This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums

Ganesh Giri Jaya was born in New Orleans, moved to Atlanta at age 16, spent his early 20’s in L.A. and Portland, and ultimately returned to Atlanta where he has remained for the past 25 years. His career has usually found him drumming and/or singing in cover and tribute bands of various types. He was one of the original members of Yacht Rock Revue and for the past few years has been the singer, drummer, and leader of its overflow band, Yacht Rock Schooner. Those bands and a few others are under the umbrella of the entertainment company PleaseRock. In his mid 20s, he was introduced to yoga and soon delved deeper into it, beyond the physical practice most of us have done at least once, and into the spiritual, emotional and psychological lessons it has to offer. In this podcast, Ganesh talks about: The origins of Yacht Rock Revue and Yacht Rock Schooner The popularity of cover/tribute bands, and their market value vs. original artists Social media marketing strategies How over-preparing allows you to play through nerves His process for learning songs Our mutual admiration of Levon Helm His yoga practice Playing with bassist Khari Simmons This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums

Ray Luzier was raised in West Newton, Pennsylvania, a small town an hour outside of Pittsburgh. He began playing drums at age five, and although basically self-taught, he participated in high school jazz, concert, and marching bands. After graduating in 1988, Luzier moved to Hollywood, California to pursue an education at the renowned Musicians Institute. He graduated in 1989 with a degree from MI’s Percussion Institute of Technology. Luzier later returned as an instructor at Musicians Institute (1992–2001), where he taught rock-style drumming classes and gave private lessons. Luzier is well known for his work with David Lee Roth, whom he played drums for from 1997-2005. Luzier has also played with The Hideous Sun Demons, a progressive-rock/fusion trio formed with DLR bandmembers Toshi Hiketa (guitar) and James LoMenzo (bass). In 2004, Luzier released an instructional DVD. It features a wide variety of lessons, including double-bass technique, drum fills, motion exercises, and warm-ups. It was released through Hal Leonard Publishing Co. In January 2006, Luzier appeared at the NAMM in Anaheim, California with Billy Sheehan and Toshi Hiketa. Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots appeared at the same NAMM venue as part of an impromptu band put together by Steve Ferrone. After seeing Luzier’s performance, the DeLeo brothers invited Luzier to join Army of Anyone, the band they were putting together with vocalist Richard Patrick of the band Filter. In 2007, after original drummer David Silveria had left (in 2006), Korn hired many touring drummers including Joey Jordison of Slipknot. Jordison left due to preparation for the recording of Slipknot’s new album All Hope Is Gone. Consequently, Korn was then looking for a new drummer; and Luzier reportedly flew to Seattle to audition for Korn with Munky and Fieldy. When told to learn only five of their songs, Luzier learned 30. After an amazing audition, Ray was immediately invited to join Korn. Luzier played his first show with Korn on January 13, 2008 in Dublin, Ireland and played with the band throughout 2008. Korn recorded their ninth studio album together with Ray and their original producer Ross Robinson. Korn frontman Jonathan Davis revealed that Luzier is now an official member of the band. Ray made “UltimateRockGods” Artist Of The Month for July. Luzier also played live with Stone Temple Pilots for a couple of the band’s shows on their reunion tour in October filling in for drummer Eric Kretz, who took time off due to the death of his father. In November 2010, Ray played drums for the immensely popular Japanese band, Kat-Tun on their song ‘Change UR World’. It was Kat-Tun’s 13th number 1 single on the Oricon charts. In 2013, the band KXM was formed with Ray and King’s X bassist/vocalist dUg Pinnick and Lynch Mob/ex-Dokken guitarist George Lynch. Their second record Scatterbrain came out in 2017. In this episode, Ray talks about: Moving from the Pittsburg area to L.A. to study at P.I.T. Helping to create a rock curriculum at P.I.T. and teaching The importance of “The Hang” in the studio and on the road Working with David Lee Roth Having a back up for the back up Working and recording with Billy Sheehan His audition for Korn

Jake Reed was born and raised in Kansas City and went on to study drumset under two of the great educators of our time: John Von Ohlen at University of Cincinnati and Peter Erskine at USC. While in grad school at USC, Jake gradually worked his way into the LA scene doing live dates and recording sessions with colleagues and mentors alike. He has performed or recorded with Bill Bolman, Johnny Mandel, Lisa Loeb, Bob Mintzer, and many others. His most active current project is drumming in TrioKait, led by his wife, pianist and composer Kait Dunton. The group has just recorded their second record. Jake has also just released his first book, “Jazz Drumset Etudes, Vol. I,” which takes a new approach to developing jazz vocabulary. In this podcast, Jake talks about: His early years in Kansas City The differences in the teaching styles of Von Ohlen and Erskine Learning to “pay attention” when listening and playing to absorb and convey more information quicker A couple of the more unique projects he’s been part of, including Cow Bop and The Vibrometers His new book, and how its approach differs from other jazz method books Using melodies, not rudiments, to develop your drum language Being married to a fellow musician who is also his boss His relationship with TrioKait bassist Cooper Appelt Jake Reed endorses Gretsch Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, and Remo Drumheads.

Evan Hutchings grew up in Ft. Smith, AR and is the son of a preacher. He started playing drums at age 2 and got his first drum set at age 8. It was through hours of watching other drummers play in church that he learned how to play for a song and try to convey a sense of emotion through the drums. After high school, Evan moved to Nashville to attend Middle Tennessee State University and studied with Lalo Davila and Tom Giampietro. Since leaving school in 2009, Evan has been touring extensively throughout the USA and abroad with various artists including Katie Herzig, Sugar and the Hi-Lows, Griffin House, Andy Gibson, Erin McCarley, and others. Evan is currently an in-demand session drummer in Nashville and has worked in the studio with Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift), Jamie Kenney (Erin McCarley, Marc Broussard), Neilson Hubbard (Kim Richey), and many others like Danielle Bradbery, Rascal Flatts and Kelsea Ballerini. In this episode, Evan talks about: Different drummers style to playing, soloing, clinics Tuning drums live v.s. studio Trends in style and tone in the studio Developing his abilities The idea of complex drumming (ie metric-modulation) as a way to reinforce a solid time feel Our mutual crush on Steve Jordan Playing other instruments for writing and producing Learning to write and produce Finding your people, like minded musicians The direction of the music industry Evan endorses Innovative percussion This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums

Gerald French was born and raised in New Orleans in one of the city’s most prominent musical families. Over his career, he has played with most of New Orleans musical royalty, including Harry Connick Jr., Charmagne Neville, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Dr. John. In 2014, he became the leader of the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band. He is only the fifth person to lead the group in its 107-year history, and the third member of his family to do so, preceded by his uncle Bob French and his grandfather Albert “Papa” French. In this podcast Gerald talks about: His annual tours of Japan with Tom Fischer and the New Orleans All-Stars Succeeding his uncle and grandfather as the leader of The Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, and the long history of that group Drumming and singing Transitioning from sideman to leader “Being a soldier”, not a star, in the music industry His work as an educator with the Traditional New Orleans Jazz Camp Teaching young musicians how to properly play traditional New Orleans music, and preventing that tradition from being lost or diluted How New Orleans musicians have historically His experience during and after Hurricane Katrina His involvement in the Wild Magnolias Mardis Gras Indians Gerald French endorses Taye Drums, Sabian Cymbals, and Innovative Percussion Sticks This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums.

Pat Torpey was born in Cleveland, Ohio. At age 7, he first played the drums and in high school, Torpey immersed himself in all available music programs, concert, orchestra, marching and stage bands. In 1983, Torpey moved to Los Angeles and became a regular on the American Bandstand and Solid Gold TV shows performing with artists like Ben E. King, Mike + The Mechanics, Melissa Manchester and Bob Geldof. In 1985, Torpey auditioned for the British pop–rock singer John Parr, who was riding high on his #1 hit “St. Elmo’s Fire” and had landed the opening slot for Tina Turner on her Private Dancer tour. When that tour ended he became the drummer for Belinda Carlisle on her first solo tour, opening for Robert Palmer. In 1987, Pat joined The Knack. Playing around Los Angeles with The Knack was the pathway to Mr. Big. Billy Sheehan and Paul Gilbert were starting a new band and were on the hunt for a drummer. They saw Pat playing with The Knack and were impressed with his energy and style. Mr. Big secured a recording contract with Atlantic Records but before the band started work on the first CD Torpey was tapped to play drums with Robert Plant on his Now and Zen tour when Plant’s drummer Chris Blackwell was injured. In 1992, Mr. Big’s international hit song “To Be With You” was no.1 in the U.S. and fifteen other countries and top five in many more. For fourteen years Mr. Big toured the world, headlining as well as opening for Aerosmith, Rush, Bryan Adams and The Scorpions to name a few, garnering a reputation for their world class musicianship and totally ‘live’ performances. Pat has been noted as a great backing vocalist (with high vocal range) and he often sings some cover songs in the Mr. Big show during his encore. Also he sings some tunes from The Beatles during his drum solo. Because of Mr. Big’s popularity in Japan and Asia, Pat released two solo albums (as a singer) overseas, Odd Man Out and Y2K in 1998 and 1999. He announced on July 25, 2014 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and would be unable to perform all of his normal drumming duties on the band’s 2014-15 world tour in support of the album …The Stories We Could Tell. “I’ve been dealing with Parkinson’s symptoms for the past couple of years and only recently received a confirmed diagnosis as symptoms worsened,” Torpey said. “I intend to fight the disease with same intensity and tenacity that I drum and live my life by and will continue recording and performing, as always, to the best of my ability.” Torpey recently acted as a “drum producer” on Mr. Big’s latest album, Defying Gravity, and still plays percussion on tour, though Matt Starr has taken over lead drummer duties In this episode, Pat talks about: Touring around the world over the years The early days of Mr Big Meeting Mitch Mitchell Getting his start in L.A. Mr Big questions from David Parks Pat being honored at the Nashville Drummer Jam His diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease in 2014 Recording and touring with the help of drummer Matt Starr Pat’s inspiration for his drum solo while singing Pat endorses: Promark drum sticks,Remo drumheads, Tama drums, Zildjian cymbals This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums

Ian Chang was born in Hong Kong and moved to New Jersey as a teenager to attend boarding school. He had studied classical piano and percussion in Hong Kong, but quickly became interested in all the other genres New York had to offer. He had begun a pre-college classical percussion program at Julliard, and was on track to attend there after high school, but decided against it at the last minute to focus on drumset, jazz, hip hop, and beyond. He is the drummer for Son Lux, an acclaimed trio whose compositions, recordings and performances are a mix of acoustic and electronic mediums. He was one of the beta testers for Sunhouse’s Sensory Percussion, a new electronic percussion system that gives the drummer an unprecedented range of sounds, sensitivity, customization, and improvisational possibilities. In this podcast, Ian talks about: The process of creating his new solo album “Spiritual Leader” Making electronic music sound less “gridded.” The development of Sunhouse Sensory Percussion, and what sets it apart from other electronic percussion Ways to approach electronics that make them seem less daunting and lower the wall between electric and acoustic How Sensory Percussion has changed his approach to coordination, speed, orchestration, etc. Some musicians’ preoccupation with sound and timbre rather than groove and melody His first exposure to music, an extremely regimented classical program in Hong Kong Chinese attitudes toward a career in music, and current music trends in China His first years in New York – catching the jazz bug and playing tons of hip hop gigs, and how those both contributed to the drummer he’s become The origins of his band Son Lux, and their creative process How music’s focus has shifted from melody, harmony and groove, to sound and timbre Finding ways to use electronics that make the most sense and are the most inspiring to YOU. Ian Chang endorses C&C Drums, Vic Firth Sticks, Istanbul Cymbals, Sunhouse Sensory Percussion, and Roots EQ This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums.

For more than 24 years, Jeremy Roberson has been perfecting his precise, unpredictable, high-energy style of drumming. Using a combination of techniques, he has developed his own original style, which is as exciting to listen to as it is to watch. His ability to adapt to any genre of music while maintaining precision, timing, and his uniquely smooth style has earned him numerous accolades, and has led him to be known by musicians and fans alike as none other than “Mr. Finesse.” At the age of 3, Roberson, born in Columbia, SC, began honing his skills on the drum set, emulating the style of his older brother Tony, nine years his senior. Before long he began marching with the W.J. Keenan High School Band- at age 11. He continued marching with the band throughout his high school career, eventually gaining regional recognition and numerous awards. After high school he attended Johnson C. Smith University where he furthered his studies and marched on the University’s band. After college he rapidly began to merge into the local, regional, and nation scene, playing with acts such as Tony Terry, Wycliffe Gordon, Crossfade, Weaving The Fate, to name a few. Currently Roberson is touring with country artist Chase Rice. In this episode, Jeremy talks about: The importance of knowing how to running tracks and loops His experience performing in Korea for the troops Knowing John Blackwell growing up and the influence that he had Touring with Chase Rice His approach to soloing Deflecting stereotypes Being selfless on stage The origin of his nickname – Jeremy “Finesse” Roberson Getting the Chase Rice gig Grooving with tracks Jeremy endorses: Zildjian Cymbals, Vater Sticks, Tama Drums, Evans Drumheads, Gibraltar Hardware This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums

In today’s music landscape, Kevin Kanner is a rare breed of drummer; focused intently and passionately on straight-ahead jazz. While many of his generation have looked for ways to widen the scope of the drumset and the role of the drummer, and cross breed jazz with other genres, Kevin’s musical ambition has remained simple and singular: to swing. Like his heroes, Philly Joe Jones, Mickey Roker, his fellow West Coast jazzer Shelly Manne, and his mentor Jeff Hamilton, Kevin brings a fiery but concentrated intensity to the music. This “dyed-in-the-wool” identity has become his calling card and is the reason he has been sought after by the likes of John Pizzarelli, Eric Reed, Walter Smith III, Terrell Stafford, Gerald Clayton, and many more of the best in the current jazz world. Kevin is based in his hometown of Los Angeles, which has a rich jazz history of its own. What it has historically lacked in Kevin’s estimation, is a place for the straight-ahead, take-no-prisoners, small-group, instrumental jazz to which he has dedicated himself for so long. But Kevin and a few equally dedicated cohorts are on a mission to win a place at the L.A. table for the brand of swinging they love. He originated and continues to run a Monday nigh jam session at The Mint in L.A., a venue not otherwise known for jazz, but one that has proven a weekly home for the L.A. jazz community. After performing as a sideman for his entire career, Kevin is also venturing into leading his own sextet. In this podcast, Kevin talk about: Starting and continuing The Mint Jam Forming a close relationship with Jeff Hamilton as a teenager that continues today Learning jazz language through experiencing it in its whole form What all the music he loves has in common The two essential elements he feels jazz must not lose Playing with John Pizzarelli Why he left L.A. and why he returned The strengths and weaknesses in jazz pedagogy Recognizing the differences between different types of jazz, and giving each their due This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums.

Finding a drummer with the chops and knowledge necessary to recapture a wide range of various styles authentically, is no small task. To make you believe you’re hearing the original recording is even more rare. Jason Harrison Smith does this and so much more. Currently playing simultaneously with Blues legend Albert Lee and guitar virtuoso Carl Verheyen, Jason’s a busy guy and likes it that way. His past credits outline his versatility, including time spent with Enrique Iglesias, Five For Fighting, Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson, Mike Keneally (former Zappa guitarist), guitar legend John Jorgenson, Kelly Sweet, Julia Fordham, Buzz Feiten, Wings’ Denny Laine and many, many more. On his debut solo recording, “Think Like This”, he’s joined by bassist Dave Carpenter and keyboardist/drummer Gary Husband. The music showcases a precocious, updated and unconventional take on the standard Jazz trio format. In this podcast Jason talks about: The business of entertaining the masses Advice for those balancing the day job and a music career Taking time off the road Recording with keyboardist/drummer Gary Husband Inspiring the next generation Jason’s inspirational teachers Working with Mike Keneally (former Zappa guitarist) and learning so much Jason endorses: Innovative Percussion, Aquarian Drumheads, Pork Pie Drums, Paiste Cymbals This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums

Doug Auwarter has spent most of his 40-year career in Kansas City and has been equally active as a performer and educator. He began his career playing across spectrum of American music – jazz, rock, funk, etc. In the 80’s he fell in love with Brazilian music and culture, and although he continues to play a wide variety of music, he is known and loved as Kansas City’s resident guru for all things Brazilian, from the proper Partido Alto feel to the proper Moqueca de Peixe (fish stew). Doug is the cofounder and co-leader of the Sons of Brasil, an instrumental Brazilian jazz group currently in its third decade, and the long-time drummer for jazz vocalist Angela Hagenbach. He has taught drumset, percussion, latin combo, world music, and jazz history, and music appreciation at numerous colleges and universities in and around KC including University of Missouri-Kansas City, Missouri Western State University, Northwest Missouri State University, and Johnson County Community College, and is the author of two self-published books, “Essential Latin Styes for the Drumset” and “Essential Rock for the Drumset.” In this podcast, Doug talks about: How a bout with cancer and a stroke have affected his playing, and his outlook on aging as a musician Discovering and digging into Brazilian music Some of the common misconceptions about Brazilian music and Latin styles in general Teaching, from private drum lessons to college world music classes How listening, not physical exercises, is the focus with his advanced students Doug endorses Paiste Cymbals. This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums.

Based in Los Angeles but originally from Long Island, New York, Evan Stone (Drummer/Producer/Bandleader) currently fronts his original project the Translucent Ham Sandwich Band who released their debut album in 2016 entitled: ‘Music From The Future’ which has received airtime on numerous radio and cable television stations around the world.  Evan Stone has toured the United States with trumpeter/bandleader Maynard Ferguson and traveled throughout Australia and New Zealand with pop artist Toni Childs. Evan formed the Progressive/New Thing Rock band Salty The Pocketknife which released their debut recording in 2003. When not leading his own bands throughout the west coast, Evan has toured in the past with the Greg Adams Band (Tower of Power) and pop artists Aly & AJ. In addition, Evan Stone has played with Kei Akagi, John Beasley, Brian Bromberg, David Garfield, Gilbert Castellanos, Darek Oles, Bob Sheppard, Chuck Manning, Doug Webb, Steve Cardenas, Theo Saunders, Otmaro Ruiz, Luther Hughes, Bob Cooper, Dr. Art Davis, Llew Matthews, Rob Mullins, and Anthony Wilson. Fish. * In this podcast, Evan talks about: * The effect that world events and politics has on music and art * His band The Translucent Hamsandwich * Studying with Peter Erskine * The click and the drummers relationship with it * The influence of programing and drum machines to drummers * Evan’s beginnings * His lesson with Vinnie Colaiuta Evan endorses: Vater Sticks, Murat Diril Cymbals, Aquarian Drumheads, Canopus Drums, This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums and their new Sublime Birch series

Gintas Janusonis is the son of Lithuanian immigrants and grew up in Milwaukee. Berklee brought him to the East Coast and he soon made the jump to New York, where he has been active as a drummer and producer for most of his professional life. His list of credits ranges from jazz greats Branford Marsalis and Kurt Rosenwinkel, to hip hop royalty Wu Tang Clan and Kool G Rap, to singer/songwriter and America’s Got Talent semi-finalist Jonah Smith. At the top of his list of current projects is Bandit 65, a trio with Rosenwinkel and Tim Motzer, in which he gets to flex his producer chops, incorporating various types of electronics and sound manipulation. On the more analogue end of the musical spectrum, he has been part of countless acoustic jazz projects and leads The Revelations, a funk/soul band and production collective. In this podcast, Gintas talks about: Rockwood Music Hall, which has become a hub for live music in New York The ways he incorporates electronics and effects with Bandit 65, and that group’s improvisational dynamic The differences between “Free Jazz” and other types of improvised music, and how he and his bandmates craft improvised music with producers’ ears. Managing his time so that none of the roles he plays suffer, and using “mental practicing.” The aspect of the New York scene that has improved the most over the years Getting exposed to high art at an early age Playing on America’s Got Talent  His interest in Hip Hop, which dates back as far as his interest in jazz Leading The Revelations Gintas endorses Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals, and Vater Sticks

Kent Slucher was born in Louisville, Kentucky October 19, 1976. With an intensely musical ear he learned to appreciate music at a very young age. Some of the most influential bands for Kent growing up included; Led Zeppelin, KISS, Fleetwood Mac, Bad Company, and Journey. At 19, Kent got his first gig in his father’s band, Uncle Lijah. After that, he played in a top 40 house band hoping to be discovered. In 2002, Kent got his first touring gig with singer/songwriter Anthony Smith. Since touring with Smith, Kent has had the opportunity to tour and record with Pam Tillis for five years as well as working with such artists as; Kelly Keagy(Night Ranger), Gatlin Brothers, Oak Ridge Boys, Suzy Boguss, James Otto, Bill Medley(Rightious Brothers), Mary Sue Englund, Reggie Vinson(Alice Cooper), Bobby Terry(producer/songwriter, Cowboy Crush and many more. Kent currently plays with country music artist Luke Bryan. Luke has been fortunate enough to tour with artists such as; Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts, Tim Mcgraw and headlined his own “Tailgates and Tanlines” tour in 2011. Luke has had many number ones and top ten hits including; “Do I”, “Rain is a Good Thing”, “Someone Else Calling You Baby”, “Country Girl Shake It” and “I Don’t Want This Night to End”. Kent performed with Luke on the CMA Awards, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Jimmy Kimmel Show, Ellen Degeneres, The Today Show, Regis and Kelly, and the CMT Awards. With passion and determination to be the best player he can be, he has brought a uniqueness and energy to the bands he has played with. “I like to think of myself as a pocket player…groove oriented.” Although he started out “stealing licks from hundreds of influential drummers”, he feels he has developed a style of his own. Very technical and precise, he leaves no room for error. “When performing live, while staying true to the recorded version of the song, I try to make it my own.” In this episode, Kent talks about: Navigating the home recording thing His responsibilities as the drummer for Luke Bryan Keeping your cool when things go haywire Becoming a full-time musician His approach to clinics Bus etiquette His pre-show ritual of watching and finding inspiration from opening acts How he spends his time off Performing on T.V. (talk shows etc..) Kent endorses: Ahead, Zildjian Cymbals, Ludwig Drums, Vic Firth Sticks

Matt Jorgensen was born and raised in Seattle and caught the jazz bug in high school. It sent him to New York in 1992 to study at the recently formed New School, after which he worked around town until 2002 when he returned to his hometown. He has since maintained an active performance schedule as a leader and sideman, playing with many modern jazz greats including Peter Bernstein, Reggie Workman, and Sam Yahel. He is also the cofounder of Seattle-based Origin Records and The Ballard Jazz Festival, and composes for recording projects, commercials, web series, films, and theatrical productions. In this podcast, Matt talks about: The influence of experiencing other art forms How to bring a signature approach and voice to many different styles and genres His experience at The New School, and how his career is still built on the relationships he formed there Spending his 20s playing anything and everything in New York What brought him back to Seattle, and how he has gotten to do more of what he wants to do there since. Living and working in Seattle, before and after the tech boom Working with public and private sponsors to get new music heard How time spent away from the drumset on other responsibilities can “reset” his drumming and ideas Composing for solo drumset/percussion How finding his voice as a composer is just like finding his voice as a drummer – identifying strengths, playing to them, and being authentic https://youtu.be/J8YeXU7Zsl0

Robert Breithaupt is a veteran of over 40 years in music, as a performer, arts administrator, educator, author, musical contractor, entrepreneur, and visionary in the arts. Breithaupt has performed in diverse solo, small ensemble and orchestral settings and has appeared with a virtual “Who’s Who” of great jazz talents and scores of other noted artists. As drummer/percussionist for trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling, Broadway star Sandy Duncan and other artists, he has performed with dozens of professional orchestras throughout the United States and abroad. As Executive Director of the Jazz Arts Group of Columbus from 2001 until 2012, Breithaupt’s vision helped to shape the nation’s oldest not-for-profit jazz organization into a comprehensive, working model for performance, education, and community engagement. He developed the concept for the unique JAG Jazz Academy, a 5,000 square-foot facility dedicated to instruction of jazz and American music for all ages.   In 2011, JAG received the Columbus Foundation Award as the top non-profit organization in Columbus, and the first performing arts organization to have ever received this distinction. In 1981, Breithaupt was a co-founder of Columbus Pro Percussion, Inc., recognized today as one of the nation’s top comprehensive retail percussion outlets; he served as Vice-President until 2006. He is also Past-President of the Percussive Arts Society, the world’s largest percussion membership organization. He has been a musical contractor for over 20 years, and is the President of RBMusic, Inc. Breithaupt is recognized internationally as one of today’s leaders in percussion education, and has conducted workshops and clinics throughout the world on the subject. He is Professor of Music and Department Chair of Performance Studies at Capital University, and since 1978 has built what is viewed as one of the nation’s top undergraduate percussion programs. Breithaupt is the author of The Complete Percussionist (Barnhouse), one of the standard textbooks in percussion education, and the instructional DVD Snare Drum Basics (Hudson). The recipient of numerous honors and awards, Breithaupt received Bowling Green State University’s Outstanding Graduate Award, was a fellow in the Jefferson Academy for Leadership and Governance, participated in the Stanford Graduate School of Business’ Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders in the Arts and was the founding chair of the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium (CCLC). He is currently a member of the board and executive committee of Experience Columbus, where he represents the viewpoint of the arts community in dialogue surrounding the role of arts and culture in economic development and civic value. In this episode, Bob talks about: Traveling to Beirut, Lebanon for a drum workshop The way young students consume information Recognizing the drum-set as a “folk instrument” What lead to Bob teaching at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio Creating and managing a diverse workload Leveraging your skills into a lifetime career How his teaching has evolved and changed over time Drawing from your experiences when teaching The love of teaching Bob endorses: Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Remo drum heads and Innovative Percussion sticks

Steve Fidyk’s career has been a balance between military service in the Army Field and Army Blues bands, civilian life as a member or leader of various creative projects, and academia as an author, clinician, and Artist in Residence at Temple University. The son of a weekend warrior sax player, Steve was encouraged to pursue music from an early age. He began sitting in with his dad’s band and by age 11, was getting called for gigs. He went on to study with Ed Soph and Joe Morello before winning the drum chair for the funk group in the Army Field Band and later the Army Blues big band. With Annapolis, MD as his home base, Steve has been able to maintain a presence in multiple east coast cities including Baltimore, Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York. In this podcast, Steve talks about: How orchestral training helped shape his drumset playing Studying with Ed Soph and Joe Morello, who kept him focused on musical and technical development rather than professional ambition, and how their style of teaching lays the foundation for a student to pursue anything Spending equal time developing mechanics and concept Always viewing his music career through the lens of providing for his family His career in the military, the single largest employer of musicians in the world Working for an institution while avoiding an institutional mindset How “staying current” outside his military gig kept him busy and motivated outside of it, and is making the transition away from it easier Steve endorses Mapex drums, DW hardware and pedals, Zildjian cymbals, Remo drumheads, Vater sticks, and LP percussion.

Originally from upstate New York, Seth began playing drums at the age of three. By age nine, he was sitting in with local bands and even backing up his elementary school choir. He’s been in the Nashville music scene for 15 years and is currently the touring drummer for Keith Urban. Other artists Seth has worked for include Gary Allan, Joe Nichols, Phil Vassar, and Little Big Town. While with Little Big Town, Seth was given the opportunity to record on two records and work with producer Jay Joyce. When Seth isn’t on the road, he is in the studio recording and collaborating with some of Nashville’s top writers, musicians, and producers. In this episode, Seth talks about: Working with Keith Urban and how the gig came about Performing on “festival dates” Getting let go from a gig and seeing it as an opportunity Recording with Little Big Town and producer Jay Joyce Creating unique sounds in the studio through non-traditional means The influence of a musical family growing up Studying with George Lawrence Balancing family and touring Seth endorses: Zildjian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion, Gibraltar Hardware and Gretsch Drums

Justin Chesarek has lived in Atlanta for almost a decade, where he has played with various jazz artists including Gary Motley,Joe Gransden, and singer/songwriter Sam Burchfield. Justin also teaches at two area universities, Kennesaw State and Emory. He grew up near Pittsburgh which, despite its rustbelt identity, has always had a rich music scene and has recently evolved into a more cosmopolitan city. He stayed close to home for college, attending Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Grad school brought him to Atlanta in 2007 and he earned a master’s degree in jazz from Georgia State. His recent trip to Alaska, and finding ways to put yourself in a good headspace to perform, especially while on the road Creating jazz tunes with relatable titles and content The early influence of The Beatles, and the first jazz records he listened to His first performance experiences at age 12, sitting in with his teacher’s bands at bars on school nights Notable jazzers from Pittsburgh including Art Blakey, Roger Humphries, Ahmad Jamal and Sean Jones How the Atlanta scene, especially the drumming community, is very high level without being too competitive Rediscovering his passion for rock drumming, and putting in the work to sound authentic on it Transitioning out of a gig in a positive way when life moves in a certain direction The differences between the two college programs he teaches in, and what each requires of him as an educator His hobby of photography, and how it can further enrich the experience of traveling for music Justin endorses Vic Firth Drumsticks

Kyle Wilkerson is a well-versed and highly versatile drummer/percussion and film composer based out of Nashville, Tennessee. He has played/toured/recorded with many national artists and bands such as Maddie and Tae, Joshua Scott Jones (of Steel Magnolia), Kristen Kelly, Jillette Johnson, Michael Alvarado (of the duo US), Justin Adams, Logan Mize, Adam Sanders, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, The Lucky Few, North Carolina Dance Company, and many more. Kyle has toured all over the nation and has played the top music festivals in North America including Bonnaroo, CMAFest, and will appear in an upcoming episode of Bar Rescue on Spike TV. While home in Nashville, Kyle consistently works at the top live music venues and recording studios such as 3rd and Lindsley, 12th and Porter, Mercy Lounge, Darkhorse Studios, Blackbird Studios, Omni Sound, and Sound Emporium. In addition to recording and performing, Kyle also composes and scores for film and video for the Bofars Production Company based out of Columbia, South Carolina. His music has been featured in the Nissan Innovation for Endurance campaign leading up to the 2012 Olympics and he will be scoring the full-legnth feature documentary, The 41st Day, about the top US Men’s Olympic Marathon runner Ryan Hall (www.ryanhallfilm.com). Kyle also teaches, writes, and arranges for various high school marching bands in NC and TN. When he is not performing or composing, he is teaching/arranging percussion for the WGI Indoor Percussion Group Forza East Independent, based out of Greenville, North Carolina, which he is also the board of directors. In this episode Kyle talks about: Touring with Maddie and Tae When to showcase your chops What a radio tour is How the Maddie and Tae gig happened Creating real relationships Writing music for film Being prepared T.V. performances Answering a question from a listener Kyle endorses: Gretsch, Zildjian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion, Evans Drumheads, Gibraltar hardware, and Big Fat Snare Drum

Rafael Pereira was born and raised in Sao Paolo, Brazil. As a kid he began playing piano, guitar and percussion, and along with his brother, fell in love with the traditional Samba and Choro music of Brazil. He first came to the U.S. as an exchange student in high school, and spent a year in Idaho. After he returned to Brazil, his father got a business opportunity in Atlanta and Rafa made the move with him. In addition to Atlanta’s Brazilian community of about 60,000, Rafael found immediate opportunities to play all sorts of gigs on drums and percussion. He played percussion alongside two of the city’s most famous local heroes, Sonny Emory and Lil’ John Roberts, which led to his name being thrown into the hat when Janel Monae was forming a new band in 2010. He’s been part of her team ever since, playing for multiple recordings and tours. He also stays active at home in Atlanta with multiple projects including The ATL Collective, a pool of Atlanta musicians that convenes once a month to perform a classic album in its entirety. In this podcast, Rafael talks about: He and his brother getting into the Samba artists of their parents’ and grandparents’ generations The blurred line between percussion and drumset in Brazilian music Why he views the percussionist’s role as that of a copilot, and why he loves it The parallels between American and Brazilian folk/roots music Taking stylistic and rhythmic cues from guitarists His involvement in The ATL Collective Rafael endorses Pearl Drums and Percussion, Remo Drumheads, Sabian Cymbals, Innovative Sticks and Mallets, Cooperman Frame Drums, and Ultimate Ears In-Ear Monitors.

Brian Ferguson is a studio and live Musician/Drummer/Producer based in Austin, Texas. He began playing drums and percussion at the age of 10 and has never looked back. A consummate student of the instrument and it’s significance to American Music, Brian can be found touring, recording and producing a wide variety of acts. His deep knowledge of drumming and music allow him to contribute to any musical situation while inspiring the band to play their best. His light sense of humor and punctual professionalism make him an irreplaceable and key ingredient to a wide variety of musical projects. Brian has performed/recorded/toured with a wide variety of artists including but not limited to: Robert Earl Keen, Pat Green, Jack Ingram, Cory Morrow, Aaron Watson, Stoney Larue, Eleven Hundred Springs, Hudson Moore, Zane Williams, Adam Hood, Jason Eady, Rob Baird, Curtis Salgado, Mike Morgan and the Crawl, Carter Beckworth and Bubba Hernandez. Currently, Brian is drumming with Performing Artist/ Songwriter Cory Morrow, in addition to his own project The Harvey Kartel. THK is the creative outlet and side project of Brian and Steve Miller guitarist Jacob Petersen. In this podcast, Brian talks about: Touring with Texas artist Cory Morrow and dealing with a new born Flying to China for a clinic tour for Dixon Drums Trial by fire during his early years of touring Defining the Texas country music scene and what makes it unique Attitude!!!!!! The importance of subtleties, nuance, touch and feel on the kit Brian’s producing experience Balancing artistic expression and being efficient in the studio Knowing and developing your strengths Brian proudly endorses Dixon Drums and Hardware, Paiste Cymbals, Western Audio Works Cases and Vic Firth Drum Sticks.

Adam Goodhue has been busy on the Atlanta scene for the last four years. Before that, he spent 16 years in San Francisco where he played just about every type of music it had to offer. Adam grew up in Massachusetts where he was the beneficiary of a small but active high school music program. By his late teens, he was hooked on two things; drumming and snowboarding. For short time, he thought competitive snowboarding might be his focus, but a knee injury made that impossible, and he realized that snowboarding was a fun hobby, but drumming was what he really wanted to do for the rest of his life. He was in a band with some friends who made plans to move to San Francisco. He took advantage of the “in” and moved there in 1996. Although the band didn’t last very long after that, Adam had already fallen in love with the city and began getting work with other groups. He also got some formal training for free, when the University of California at Berkeley was in need of a drummer for their jazz program. Adam was allowed to play in some groups and audit classes without actually enrolling. By this time, he had also become obsessed with the music of New Orleans, discovered that it was a sister city to San Francisco, and found how much the two cities have in common musically. Adam moved to Atlanta in 2013 where he has continued his love affair for the music of the South, performing with Col. Bruce Hampton, Grant Green Jr., Maria Muldaur, Tommy Talton and many others. In this podcast, Adam talks about: How his approach to teaching lessons has changed from the kind of lessons he took as a kid The moment he got serious about pursuing music professionally How discovering the music and drummers of New Orleans was a turning point for his playing What brought him to the Bay Area, and the strong connections between San Francisco and New Orleans Pursuing feel and tone rather than content The Bay Area when he got there vs. when he left What brought him to Atlanta, and what kept him there Treating networking like a full time job when you’re new in town His outlook as he pushes his career forward and makes plans to get married

There are drummers and there is Sarah Tomek. With the rumbling authority of a John Bonham and the razor precision of a Keith Carlock, she has become one of the most in demand drummers today. Currently playing for Steven Tyler, Gretchen Wilson and the fast rising Americana band Loving Mary, Sarah Tomek commands a front row seat in the new class of top tier musicians. Born and raised in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Sarah found herself behind the kit at an early age. Her father, Joe Tomek, a formidable drummer in the New York 70’s rock scene, inspired and shaped her natural talents. By her early teens, she was a club staple at world famous venues throughout NYC and NJ. By the time she was 20, she began making her name as a session player. Her precocious ability to play a multitude of genres with effortless pocket and feel made her the easy choice for many producers; recording for Maggie Rose, Glen Burtnik, Gedeon Luke, Lance Larson and Jon Bon Jovi, to name a few. Sarah has been featured in Modern Drummer magazine and currently uses Ludwig drums, Paiste Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks and Kelly Shu drum mounts. In this podcast, Sarah talks about: The many projects Sarah is involved with The reason she moved to Nashville The influence of her father’s drumming on her The idea of “drum ID’s” and adopting them in your playing Positive attitude The joy of proving skeptics wrong who doubt the abilities of a female drummer Touring with Steven Tyler and Gretchen Wilson Staying healthy on the road

L.A. drummer Kevin Stevens recently completed two tours of Europe with David Brighton’s Space Oddity, a David Bowie tribute show. He is the drummer and bandleader for three groups (Rumproller Organ Trio, Brass Monkey Brass Band, and The Deep Cuts) under the umbrella of his company, Grits n’ Gravy Music. Kevin grew up in Denver, studied music at the University of Miami, cut his teeth as a pro on cruise ships and on the scene in San Francisco, and has lived in L.A. since 2003. He is also on the faculty at Musician’s Institute where he developed a 10-week course on the music, drumming, and drummers of New Orleans. In this podcast, Kevin talks about: First getting involved in Space Oddity ten years ago, being away from it for years, and being asked back three months before Bowie died. His process of learning the songs, making charts for himself, and incorporating the tracks he’s responsible for running. Instrumentation for the Oddity gig, on the road and at home The psychological game of sharing a drum chair, and maintaining confidence in yourself and your relationships How leading three separate bands led to leading a single company His New Orleans Drumming course at Musicians Institute and his long love affair with New Orleans music of all kinds The keys to successful marriage and family life as a musician Kevin Stevens endorses Remo Drumheads, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, and Protection Racket Cases.

Kasey Todd is a professional drummer, percussionist, vocalist, and an all around musician and entertainer. Along with being a performer, he also has credits as a producer, arranger, and bandleader. Kasey grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and was involved in music at a very young age. His father is the Co-Owner and front man of 50’s and 60’s show band, The Van-Dells. This has allowed Kasey to be around the music business his whole life, gaining great first hand experiences into the industry. Kasey moved to Nashville, Tennessee in the fall of 2011, and is working as a full time touring and studio drummer. Before moving to Nashville, Kasey graduated from Otterbein University, in Columbus, Ohio, with a Bachelors Degree in Music with a focus in Jazz Studies. At Otterbein, Kasey studied all styles of music and spent a lot of time on drumset, vibraphone, orchestral and hand percussion. Kasey has toured the globe as bandleader with Canadian country artist Aaron Goodvin(Warner Bros.). The latest single ‘Woman In Love’ reached #7 on the Canadian country charts. Kasey also performs and records with singer-songwriter Jace Everett, best known for the theme song to HBO’s True Blood. Kasey can be heard on the new Jace record ‘Dust & Dirt’ (2017). Kasey still holds the drum chair live and in the studio with The Van-Dells. And, starting in the summer of 2017, Kasey has been touring with the band Tonic. Kasey keeps busy working with a wide range of Nashville artists, and is even an entertainer at the Big Bang Dueling Piano Bars where he can be found singing, playing piano, drums, and bass. Kasey has been on stage performing since the age of two and has had the pleasure to play with many great artists and groups. Some of those include Tonic, Jace Everett, Josh Thompson, Aaron Goodvin, Sam Lewis, Morgan Frazier (NBC’s The Voice), The Van-Dells, Rick Brantley, Megan Ruger (NBC’s The Voice), Matty Monk, Andrew Varner, The Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra, The Otterbein College Faculty Jazz Ensemble, and The Westerville Symphony Orchestra just to name a few. In this episode, Kasey talks about: Starting to tour with the band Tonic Growing up watching his fathers band, The Van Dells and then taking on the drum chair Learning to play piano and bass Studying at Otterbein University Dealing with perception vs. reality in the music business Working with singer/songwriter Jace Everett Recording at Abby Road Studios Endorsements Paying your dues Recording at home Kasey endorses: Promark Sticks, Paiste Cymbals, Evans Drum Heads, Kelly Shu mic mounting system, Westone in-ears, Humes and Berg cases, Snare Weight, Vintage Logos and Swan Percussion

Go-Go Ray has been a Kansas City fixture since he moved there in the early 90s. He grew up in Dallas where he played in every possible school ensemble from 4th grade on, and got his first professional experience in a local funk/R&B cover band. He studied music briefly at North Texas but was drawn to the rock, punk, and other music scenes that were happening outside of school. Mike Dillon‘s band Billy Goat needed a new drummer and the chair was offered to Go-Go, with the caveat that he had to move to Kansas City where the band was based. Go-Go made the move and hasn’t looked back, playing in a litany of groups including Mike Dillon’s Go-Go Jungle, Karma, The Brody Buster Band, and most recently with blues guitarist and singer Samantha Fish. In 1992, he won the Guitar Center Drum Off and in 2010, won the Roland V-Drum Competition. He has also been an educator for 20 years, maintaining a steady roster of private students to whom he is known not as the drum teacher or the drum instructor, but The Drum Counselor. In this podcast, Go-Go talks about: The musical culture of Texas when he was growing up there Playing in various projects lead by Mike Dillon The history of the blues scene in Kansas City Making his playing more mainstream after playing experimental music How advertising himself as The Drum Counselor started as a gimmick but quickly became an educational philosophy The growth that comes from participating in competitions His five-year tenure with Samantha Fish and why it was time to move on Putting himself in a position to be patient and wait for the right project to come along, rather than taking whatever comes up next Go-Go Ray endorses Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Aquarian Drumheads, Promark Drumsticks, Humes & Berg Cases, Sweet Spots, Carmichael Thrones, BDM Mic Clips, Cympads, and 64 Audio.

Milton Sledge is a session drummer best known for a string of sessions in Muscle Shoals, Alabama as well as several albums with country super-star Garth Brooks. With Garth, Milton wrote and played drums on several key albums including the self-titled 1987 Capitol release, “No Fences,” “Ropin’ The Wind” and “The Chase.” Milton can be heard on many recordings including those of: John Anderson, Barbara Mandrell, Tracey Lawrence, Jo Dee Messina, Randy Travis, The Amazing Rhythmn Aces, Asleep at the Wheel, Mark Chesnutt, Paul Overstreet, Bryan White, Becky Hobbs, Crystal Gayle, Neal McCoy, Juice Newton, Eddie Rabbitt, The Statler Brothers, Gene Watson, Kathy Mattea, Emmylou Harris, George Jones, Alabama, Hal Ketchum, Shenendoah, Trisha Yearwood, Pam Tillis, Chris LeDoux, Vince Gill, Toby Keith and Garth Brooks, just to name a few. As a songwriter, Milton has written for Pat Alger and Bruce Bouton along with Garth Brooks. Milton has played drums on over 30 number 1 singles and the albums that he has played on have sold over 180 million copies. In October of 2016, Milton along with the hand picked group of musicians dubbed “The G-Men” were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame for their work and creative contributions to almost every Garth Brooks recording. Originally from Decatur, Alabama, Milton grew up in the Clements community, west of Athens, AL, not far from Muscle Shoals, an area known for its wide variety of music. After graduation from high school and a stint in the Army Band, Milton returned to the Shoals area to attend college and study music at the University of North AL. While in college there, Milton started to pursue his dream of playing in the recording studios of Muscle Shoals. He worked his way through the ranks and worked regularly in the studios there for 4-5 years. Soon he began to receive more and more calls for recording sessions in Nashville. This prompted him to move there in 1984, where he has been a mainstay in the Nashville recording studios ever since. In February of 2014, Milton moved back to his hometown of Athens to “give back” by offering his expertise/assistance to local musicians. He is once again an active part of the music scene in the Shoals area, as well as Nashville. Since his return, he has been writing with various songwriters and playing at local venues. As well as producing. He has also played with the Muscle Shoals All-Stars and recorded at Fame Studio, The Nutthouse, all in Muscle Shoals AL. In this episode, Milton talks about: Recording at the original Muscle Shoals Sound Studio at 3614 Jackson Highway Tuning the kit for different rooms The “Muscle Shoals sound” Recording all the Garth Brooks records Changes in the Nashville studio scene over the last 30 years Giving back, paying it forward Getting a good ear mix in the studio

Evan Pazner is a native and life-long resident of New York City. For the last six years, he has been the touring drummer for Lee Fields & The Expressions, a truly old-school soul band. It’s not old school just because they got the right gear and the right sound, it’s old school because Lee Fields has been doing it for over four decades. Evan got into drums playing in bands with friends as a teenager, catching the tail end of a New York music scene in which some clubs allowed 15-year-olds to play there. After earning a liberal arts degree at NYU, he entered The New School for two years of intensive drum study with Jimmy Cobb, Joe Chambers, Billy Hart, Joey Baron, and others. Recently, when not traveling with Lee Fields, Evan has also been working on Broadway as a sub drummer for Cirque Du Soleil’s “Paramour.” In this podcast, Evan talks about: How he landed the gig with Lee Fields and what a straight-up soul band requires of the drummer, stylistically and technically How growing up in New York City shaped him as a musician and as a person His time at the New School, and why a degree wasn’t the point The most valuable lesson he got from Jimmy Cobb How there is no substitute for the confidence that comes from putting in the work and getting experience What has changed about New York since he was a kid, and what will never change How family life has made it easier to be in the moment, on stage and at home.

Since the age of three, Derrek C. Phillips has had a deep passion for music. From that time he has carved out an exciting musical career as a performer, educator, and composer While attending high school, Phillips played snare drum for the Concord Blue Devils drum and bugle corps from 1990-93. In 1998, he received his bachelor’s degree in jazz studies at William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J. He studied privately with Horace Arnold, Yoron Israel, John Riley and Tony Williams. As an educator, he has also worked with several school bands and drums corps as a percussion and marching instructor, jazz and drum set clinician, composer, marching drill designer, and private tutor. He is currently the presiding drum set and ensemble instructor at both Middle Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University. In the spring of 2014, Derek became the touring drummer for Hank Williams Jr. His drumming is featured on Vanessa Williams’ recording The Real Thing and Michael McDonald’s This Christmas. He has also worked with Rachael Lampa, Jonny Lang, Charlie Peacock, Mike Farris, the McCrary Sisters, Seth Walker, James Otto, Charlie Hunter, Jimmy Hall, Tommy Sims, Delbert McClinton, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Greg Osby, Joshua Redman and Kurt Elling. He has performed on the CBS Early Morning Show and A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor, BET (Black Entertainment Television) and throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, as well as Brazil, Korea, South Africa, Turkey, India, Panama, the Caribbean, and Japan. In this episode, Derek talks about: Teaching at Middle Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University Utilizing a curriculum when teaching Getting into drum corp and joining The Concord Blue Devils Master classes with Tony Williams Working with Charlie Hunter Touring with country legend Hank Williams Jr Derek endorses: Spaun Drums, Istanbul Cymbals, Evans Drumheads and Vater Sticks. ​

At the helm of The Equinox Orchestra are tenor saxophonist and bandleader Jeremy Davis, lead vocalist Clay Johnson, and trumpet player, musical director and tour manager Tommy Brinson. Their combined efforts have gotten the 11-piece group on the road for a 2 month, 18,000 mile U.S. tour, the most ambitious undertaking in the band’s 15-year history. The three talked with their drummer and Working Drummer Podcast co-host Zack Albetta about their individual roles, the drummer’s role, their perspective as leaders of a group and owners of an enterprise. Equinox began as a traditional 18-piece instrumental big band playing performing whenever and wherever they could, but has evolved into a multi-faceted group with line-ups ranging from three to 25 playing everything from restaurants and bars to theatre shows and private events. Jeremy and Clay have recently sought to use Equinox for philanthropic causes in addition to their regular for-profit gigs. In this podcast, the guys talk about The types of gigs Equinox has played and what their goals are How Tommy ascended the ranks from regular sideman to musical director and tour manager Jeremy and Clay’s musical background leading up to Equinox The outsized role and responsibility of the big band drummer How bands and musicians can use their talents for causes they believe in Jeremy’s strategy to keep the band working – the more leads you chase down, the more will pan out How to create a band identity and monetize it, and how to attract multiple funding sources How to eat well on the road

Angie Lese always wanted to be a drummer since she could remember. Growing up in Fort Wayne Indiana, she took to music early and studied flute throughout high school. It wasn’t until her college years that Angie decided to follow her drumming passion, bought a kit and taught herself how to play. After graduating and starting a career in meteorology, Angie moved to Louisville Kentucky and heavily pursued music. She played for a Sony recording artist, several cover bands, and was a session drummer as well. Her main band, CatFight (original pop/punk rock), received a strong local and regional following along with the support from Little Heart Records of Louisville, KY. In 2013 they released a self titles EP – CatFight. While that was taking off, Angie was offered a promotion in her meteorology career that prompted a move to Nashville Tennessee in 2012. After immersing herself in the Nashville music scene, Angie joined forces with artist Leticia Wolf, fellow Catfight member Erica Sellers, and two other musicians to form The Dead Deads, a heavy, hard rock/pop band. Having just formed in late 2013, The Dead Deads have garnered quite a bit of attention from Page Hamilton of Helmet/David Bowie, Chuck Garric of Alice Cooper, Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick to Lzzy Hale of Halestorm. As a result of The Dead Deads’ quick rise, Angie and her band have been on several national tours with acts like Halestorm, P.O.D., Bush, Chevelle along with the Motorboat and the Shiprocked cruises. They have recorded two full-length albums, “Rainbeau” (2014) and “For Your Obliteration” (2016), produced by Page Hamilton. In this podcast, Angela talks about: Current news with the Dead Deads Pros and cons of playing in an all girl band Recording and writing for the new Dead Deads record Transitioning from “regular jobs” to touring in a band Cultivating a strong fan base The benefits of an online presence The challenges of an all girl band Having hobbies and distractions in life to keep your headspace healthy Angela endorses TAMA drums, Sabian cymbals, Evans heads, Promark drumsticks, and Humes and Berg cases.

Jermal Watson is a native of New Orleans and like so many musicians there, got his musical start playing in church. Growing up in New Orleans, he explains, young musicians learn songs and styles by ear and by the time you’re grown, all of the city’s musical languages – the swing feel of Preservation Hall, the street beats of the brass bands, the funk of The Meters and The Neville Brothers – are languages you just know. As a young drummer, Jermal was brought along on the scene by two of its elder statesmen, Russell Batiste and Gerald French and for decades now, he has been among The Crescent City’s first-call drummers. His resume includes The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Eddie Roberts, and many more. For the past two years, he has also headed a percussion program at Encore Academy, in which almost 90 elementary school students participate. In this podcast, Jermal talks about: His elementary school percussion program Playing with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band Why learning songs by ear on the fly is particularly common in New Orleans How Russell Batiste and Gerald French helped him work his way onto the scene How New Orleans changes the playing of drummers who move there A project he was recently involved in called Attakid, a collaboration between New Orleans and San Francisco musicians Playing with Big Sam’s Funky Nation Where to go for live music in New Orleans (hint: it’s not Bourbon Street). The New Orleans style of recording Jermal Watson endorses Mapex Drums and Meinl Cymbals

Around The Kit with Joe Gansas For close to a year and a half, Joe Gansas has been hosting an online radio show focused on drummers and all things drums. This show is called Around The Kit. Joe digs deep into the life, career and background of each guest whether it’s a well known drummer like Kenny Aronoff or a lesser known drummer with important and relatable storys to tell. Joe has surrounded himself with a strong team that helps Joe create a thoughtful and consistent show week by week. A few highlights of Around The Kit include multiple guests every episode as well as tribute shows. Some of Joe’s guests include Simon Phillips, Dave Weckl and Cathy Rich. This show can be found www.aroundthekit.net. It airs 8-11:00pm eastern time every Sunday night In this episode, Joe talks about: His internet radio show – “Around The Kit” Drug addiction in our community Joe’s performance background and his influences The importance of listening The future of Around The Kit Asking important questions This episode is sponsored by Mapex Drums

Carter McLean has been a New Yorker for most of his adult life. From his home base in Brooklyn, he commands a multi-pronged career as the drummer for The Lion King on Broadway, playing regularly with 8-string guitarist Charlie Hunter, and running his own educational website, Four Hands Drumming. In this podcast, Carter talks about: His first experiences in NYC – working at Manny’s Music, driving 12 hours for a $100 gig, going to Jeff “Tain” Watts’ jam session. His typical day, which almost always includes one or two Lion King shows Fighting the complacency that comes from a steady paycheck His educational website, Four Hands Drumming, and how the focus is practical musical concepts that everyone can apply Basic gear and techniques drummers can use to improve the quality of their videos His approach to micing drums and how using fewer mics gives the drummer more control and more responsibility to self-mix Playing with Charlie Hunter Carter McLean endorses Dunnett/George H. Way drums, Istanbul Agop Cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Remo heads, DW Hardware, Tackle Instruments, BigFatSnareDrum, Beyerdynamic mics, and BAE mic pres. This episode is sponsored by Mapex.

Russ Miller is internationally known as one of the top drummers of today. As a Multi-Platinum recording artist, he has played on multiple Grammy award winning recordings with combined sales of over 26 million copies. His musical versatility has led him to work with an incredible list of over 50 international artists from legends like Ray Charles, The Fifth Dimension, Natalie Cole, Tina Turner & Bobby Caldwell through modern stars, Nelly Furtado, The Psychedelic Furs, Hilary Duff, Steve Perry, Andrea Bocelli, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Daniel Bedingfield and Meredith Brooks. As a star of the Los Angeles studio scene, the Modern Drummer Magazine Readers Poll has repeatedly voted Russ in the top 5 Studio Drummers in the world, including the 2015 Poll, where he was voted the #3 Session drummer. He has performed on more than 300 albums (including many #1 Billboard hits like Nelly Furtado’s “Whoa Nelly” and Hilary Duff’s “Metamorphosis”). Russ has also recorded for many T.V. shows and over 60 international movies (such as #1 box office titles like “Chicken Little”, “Fracture”, “Lakeview Terrace”, “Resident Evil Apocalypse”, “Percy Jackson” and the “Boondock Saints” series of movies, just to name a few). Along with his many sideman recording credits, he has been a staple on T.V. “house bands”. Such as “American Idol”, for all of their “Mentoring Sessions”. Russ also has four critically acclaimed solo albums, Cymbalism, Arrival and the Arrival Live concert DVD/CD and his latest “Chagada3” with the Arrival Trio. In addition, Russ performs educational clinics throughout the world. In October of 2014, Russ was awarded an “Honorary PHD” for “ sustained lifetime accomplishments that have benefited Drumming artistry and the Global Drumming community”, from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, in Shanghai, China. He also has authored two books: The Drum Set Crash Course and Transitions, along with his three videos, “Arrival-Behind The Glass” from Hudson Music, The Drum Set Crash Course and The Drum Set Crash Course Tuning Edition from Alfred Publications. A 7-time Modern Drummer readers poll winner, Russ’ solo projects were also voted the #1 educational books and videos in the world (2001-2004). In this episode, Russ talks about: Russ’s current gigs including Andrea Bocelli, India superstar Kavita Krishnamurthy and his band Arrival Recording on TV and Movie sound tracks Russ’s approach to world music Being a life long student and finding a “coach” The YouTube effect Gig opportunities in technology Creating your own voice Russ Miller’s interest in product development Explaining the Mapex Design Lab series Russ endorses: Mapex Drums, Zildjian, Remo, Vic Firth, Porter & Davies Tactile monitoring, Hercules stands, May E/A Mics, Prologix, SKB cases, Arrel Audio Electronics, Puresound Snares, Korg and Meinl music instruments This episode is sponsored by Mapex Drums

Yonrico Scott has been a fixture on the Atlanta scene and in Southern music in general for decades. He was born and raised in Detroit, where he began touring and recording as a teenager. His interest in percussion brought him to The University of Kentucky where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in classical music. After college, he moved to Atlanta and quickly felt like he was home. In the late 90’s he joined the band led by guitar prodigy Derek Trucks with whom he recorded several albums and toured extensively for a decade. He was also a member of Southern super group The Royal Southern Brotherhood, co-led by Devon Allman, Mike Zito and Cyril Neville. YonRico has just released Life of a Dreamer, his fifth album as a leader. In this Podcast, Yonrico talks about Recording “Life of a Dreamer” at ZAC Recording Studios in Atlanta with engineer Tony Terrabone Recognizing when a unique drum part is called for vs. something more obvious Playing congas and percussion in funk, R&B, and pop settings as opposed to Salsa, and the subliminal power of a shaker How he was shaped by the musical culture and history of Detroit. Studying percussion at Kentucky State University and the University of Kentucky, and approaching the drumset more like orchestral percussion. His time in The Derek Trucks Band, and what he and Derek learned from each other. Sentiments on his recently departed friend and Allman Brothers drummer, Butch Trucks. Yonrico Scott endorses Pearl Drums, Ziljian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, and LP Percussion. This episode is sponsored by Mapex.

Rob Mitchell has built an impressive resume list of gigs throughout his decades in Nashville, Tennessee. Currently, Rob continues to hold down the drummers chair with the band, Sixpence None the Richer. Due to their light touring schedule, Rob finds time to work with singers like at James Otto, Chuck Wicks, Wes Cunningham and Chris Carmack from the TV show “Nashville”. Rob stays busy in Nashville’s vibrant studio scene recording everything from demos to independent projects. Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Rob moved to Nashville in the mid 80’s to study music at Belmont University. During his time at the Belmont, Rob received the type of professional experience he needed to maintain steady work as a professional musician. In this episode, Rob talks about: Working with Sixpence None the Richer World travel and playing shows around the world in places like Japan, Buenos Aires, and Jacarta, Indonesia Receiving “real world experience” in college Taking charge from the drum chair when needed The challenges of promoting yourself online Sharing a house with drummer Kevin Murphy! Being prepared for what the music business offers Staying mentally healthy on the road and dealing with “down time” This episode is sponsored by Mapex Drums

Wayne Salzmann has been at the top of the Austin scene for nearly a decade. Even before graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a Master’s degree in jazz performance, he was working his way into the many musical circles Austin has to offer. He has since compiled a long list of performance credits including Steve Miller, Kris Kristofferson, Joe Satriani, Mike Stern, Joe Bonamassa, Bobby Mcferrin, Jeff Coffin, and Oz Noy. He also holds down regular gigs with his own trio and with Austin favorites Bob Schneider and Eric Johnson, and is a member of the adjunct jazz faculty at UT Austin. In this episode, Wayne talks about: Why Austin is the self-proclaimed “live music capital of the world,” and why it’s a destination for musicians from all regions and backgrounds The small but mighty jazz program at UT Austin, and how he uses the Austin scene as a training ground for his students. His early musical life in Stevens Point, WI, the town that was the basis for That 70’s Show Creating a live music scene in his small college town where there wasn’t one before Receiving a grant to travel to New York for an independent study project with Bill Stewart, Billy Martin, Joey Barron and Ari Hoenig. His gigs with real-life guitar hero Eric Johnson, singer-songwriter Bob Schneider, and his own groups, The Wayne Salzmann Trio and Groove Society. Wayne Salzmann endorses Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Evans heads, and DW Drums, pedals, and hardware. This episode is sponsored by Mapex drums.

In this episode Working Drummer hosts Zack Albetta and Matthew Crouse have a unique opportunity to join forces with Nick Ruffini from Drummer’s Resource to have a “host-full” conversation. We take a break from our normal interviews and spend some time to talk about ourselves and some major transitions all three of us are going through. In this podcast, Nick, Zack and Matt talk about: Adapting to major life changes and transitions Changing the Narrative of what its like to be a working musician Finding non-playing gigs in the music business “Shedding the ego related badge of only playing for a living'” Nick Ruffini’s anticipated transition to San Francisco Zack Albetta’s transition to Atlanta after a year Matt’s transition from life as a touring drummer to finding work closer to home in Nashville Being selective about work The pitfalls of comparing ourselves with other people This episode is sponsored by Mapex Drums

Tony Austin was born and raised in Los Angeles. He is one of two drummers (the other being Ronald Bruner Jr.) who are part of The West Coast Get Down, a collective of LA musicians making their mark on the modern jazz scene. The collective’s flagship is saxophonist Kamasi Washington’s recent release, “The Epic,” a three disc set of compositions involving dozens of musicians and ranging from free jazz to soul to electronica, on which Tony played multiple roles as drummer, engineer and producer. As a kid, Tony was part of the Big Brothers program and was mentored by Roger Linn, a pioneer inventor of electronic musical instruments including the MPC60 drum machine. He credits Roger with nurturing his interest in music and re e maintains that relationship to this day. In this episode, Tony talks about: Growing up in North Hollywood and learning about music, electronics, and recording from Roger Linn The origins and mission of The West Coast Get Down The unique, “co-op” approach to recording Kamasi Washington’s “The Epic” Playing double drums with Ronald Bruner Jr. His friendship, musical partnership, and current duo project with bassist Miles Mosley Carving out creative and profitable projects for yourself, not just being at the mercy of the sideman hustle The experiences he had as a kid under the mentorship or Roger Linn Tour managing and playing with groups that performed on military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tony Austin endorses Tama drums, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth drumsticks, and Remo drumheads. This episode is sponsored by Sonor.

In this episode we have the opportunity to share the unique perspective of a group of talented black musicians who make their living in Nashville, Tennessee. They share stories of resilience and realism in an unpredictable work environment. Our guests include Keio Stroud, Derek Phillips, Jeremy Roberson, Marcus Finnie and Hubert Payne. Their respective artist gigs include Big and Rich, Chase Rice, Hank Williams Jr., Kirk Whalum, Little Big Town as well as other live and studio work that keeps these drummers busy. In this podcast, this round table discusses: Building relationships upon the common ground of music Being the only black person at an arena gig Influencing the culture on and off the kit Learning how to develop thick skin Being mistaken as the band’s security The influence of urban music in country music “Kanye Twitty” “Don’t step on the money” – AKA the melody – Keb Mo Hands = knowledge / Ears = wisdom Driving the band Creating a support system This episode is sponsored by Sonor drums  

Andy Sanesi is a New York native who has spent the last decade in L.A. His time in New York was highlighted by playing with saxophonist John Zorn but the quality of life in L.A. and the opportunity to do better than just scrape by drew him west. He got busy soon after moving, thanks to a few friends in L.A.’s latin, jazz, fusion and rock scenes, and eventually landed the gig with Missing Persons, a drum chair originally occupied by Terry Bozzio. In this podcast, Andy talks about: Growing up with the jazz influence of his dad and the pop/rock influence of his older sisters How a John Zorn tribute show in college led to actually playing with Zorn Not being the best at any one thing, but really good at many things How working his way onto the LA scene hinged on just a few key contacts Playing in Missing Persons, and making that drum chair his own The difference between being told what to play and told how to play The tools and techniques he uses to alter the sound of his cymbals His long-standing weekly steady with the Julian Coryell Trio at Trip in Santa Monica His (and Zack’s) favorite cocktail  Andy Sanesi endorses DW drums, Aquarian drumheads, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth drumsticks, and Humes & Berg cases. This episode is sponsored by Sonor drums

When not out touring with country duo Trick Pony, Wil Easterwood spends his time as a freelance drummer and vocalist for live performances and studio sessions in Nashville, Tennessee. He also has several years of experience as an audio engineer live/studio. Originally from Cedartown, GA, Wil moved to Nashville in 2008 and quickly began working steadily as a drummer on lower Broadway. The exposure and experience on lower Broadway lead to many performance opportunities for Wil including his work with Trick Pony. At the age of 29, his musicality and approach to the instrument has a maturity that has been well-recognized by his peers of all ages and experience.  Before moving to Nashville, Wil played with Georgia based groups in both indie rock and country genres. While in Georgia, Wil worked for several Atlanta market FM and smaller “hometown” AM radio stations as an On-Air Personality. And, from 2005 to 2007, Wil served as the house engineer and assistant technical director for his hometown one thousand seat auditorium/theater. Repairing, cleaning, tuning and general maintenence of drums has always been something Wil has had a love and talent for. Under the name, “Circus Bear Drum Services”, Wil is now offering this service to the drumming community. In this episode, Wil talks about: Singing while playing drums Expecting the best from yourself How the Trick Pony gig happened In-Ears vs a wedge Playing lower Broadway gigs in Nashville Early small town musical influences Wil’s engineering experience Circus Bear Drum Services and its back story Diversifying your workload This episode is sponsored by Sonor Drums

Gary Hobbs resides just outside Portland, OR, literally steps from the house he grew up in. His father and grandfather were both semi-pro drummers, but the drum bug didn’t bite Gary until his senior year in high school. He attended a Stan Kenton Jazz Camp where he studied with legendary jazz drummer and educator John Von Ohlen, who convinced him to pursue drumming professionally. After a stint in the army, Gary was invited to join the Kenton Band and toured with them almost non-stop for two and a half years. Since then, his hometown has been his home base from which he has commanded a successful career as a drummer and educator. In addition to playing all over the Pacific Northwest, Gary teaches at The University of Oregon. He has traveled the world as a sideman with jazz greats such as Randy Brecker, Anita O’Day, and Eddie Harris, and in his own right as an educator and clinician. In this podcast, Gary talks about: The influence of his mentor, John Von Ohlen Having to turn down the first call he got from Stan Kenton Networking and hanging – difference between being a presence and being a nuisance The Kenton touring experience – two and a half years on a bus – and how there is no substitute for that kind of experience How he keeps his students from developing short-sighted, condescending, or egotistical notions about being a pro musician How live jazz can and should diversify away from jazz clubs What “hippopotamus music” is Gary Hobbs endorses Yamaha Drums and Sabian Crescent Cymbals This episode is sponsored by Sonor Drums

We are excited to share a special edition of our 100th episode by bringing you a fun round table discussion among a group of Nashville drummers, AKA “The Cocksmiths”. This round table should have some familiar names as many have been guests on this podcast. It includes: Kevin Murphy, Ben Sesar, Billy Freeman, Tucker Wilson, Kyle Wilkerson, Keio Stroud, Wil Easterwood, Rob Mitchell and Jeff Brown. Missing from the discussion were Russ Whitman & Zack Stewart. Covering a wide range of ages and music career experiences, this group of friends has evolved into a “support group” of drummers that utilizes its collective experiences as well as sick sense of humor to create a safe space for the members to hang, have fun and be there for each other. In this podcast, the group talks about: Playing Cards Against Humanity for drummers The “origin story” of this group and why it exists The intentional safe space they’ve created for each other to show support as well as give each other total shit A group of honest friends, not a “networking” group Favorite Spinal Tap line / scenario Favorite Buddy Rich line ever What would you do if you didn’t play drums What we need more of / What we need less of Taking honest advice from your buddies This episode is sponsored Sonor drums

London-based drummer and bandleader Pete Cater has built on the traditions of Buddy Rich, Joe Morello, and many others to carve a niche for himself as the U.K.’s keeper of the big band flame. The son of a semi-pro drummer in Birmingham, Pete was gigging with his dad’s colleagues by the time he was in his early teens. Throughout his 20s, he had plenty of work locally in Birmingham and on resorts and cruise ships, but after awhile he felt the need to see what he could do in London. He moved there at age 30 In this podcast, Pete talks about: His “apprenticeship” – sitting in with and eventually working with the bands his dad played in How moving to London at the relatively late age of 30 was actually an asset, in that he went there with a lot of seasoning and experience that younger drummers there didn’t have The integral role that arts funding from the British government played in getting his band going Concepts of big band drumming, and how they translate to other styles Playing with authority to gain the band’s trust The ways in which Buddy Rich is misunderstood, and which lesser-known and sometimes maligned Buddy album is one of his favorites. What he considers the best book about Buddy How to emulate your idols in a way that fits your body and your playing Pete Cater endorses Premier Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, and Vater Drumsticks This episode is sponsored by Sonor Drums