Working Drummer

Latest Episodes:

466 - Finch: FDS Drum Services, Managing your Time as a Self Employed Person, Learning New Skills Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

Born in Northern New Jersey, Finch grew up with an unwavering love for drums that shaped his life's path. Before his eventual move to Nashville Tennessee in late 2020, Finch spent time in the US Army as well as working in the insurance world. Shortly after his move to Nashville, his dream was realized by the founding of FDS Drum Services, a drum tech service that includes repairs, restorations, custom heads, tour teching & so much more.

FDS quickly gained recognition through Finch’s dedication as well as the overwhelming support from the Nashville drumming community. Beyond providing professional drum services, he actively contributes to the community by hosting drummers' hangs, fostering networking, and uplifting fellow musicians.

In this episode, Finch talks about:

Managing your time as a self employed person
Utilizing your network to get things done
Always learning new skills
Being ready when shit goes wrong on stage
Reviewing five different drummers he’s teched for
Creating financial security
Focusing on physical and mental health

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465 - Steve Picataggio: Straddling the Worlds of Jazz and Musical Theatre in NYC, Apr 18, 2024

Show notes

Steve Picataggio has lived in New York for over a decade and has stayed busy on the jazz and musical theatre scenes there. He has toured with The Hot Sardines, The Four Phantoms, and others, and is active on the New York jazz scene playing everything from trio to big band. He is a graduate of University of North Florida where he studied with Danny Gottleib and Ulysses Owens Jr., and NYU where he studied with Billy Drummond. He is also active as an educator, with students from age 4 to adult as well as at the collegiate level.

In this episode, Steve talks about:

His fully remote college gig
Touring with The Four Phantoms
Why he loves rehearsing
The mentorship and influence of Matt Wilson and Bill Drummond
How cutthroat attitudes are mostly gone
His love of accompanying singers

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464 - Yamil Conga: Playing with Artist Frank Ray, Diversifying your Portfolio, The Origin of the Conga in American music Apr 11, 2024

Show notes

Yamil Conga is a percussionist and drummer with over 20 years of experience playing a vast array of musical genres in live venues, music videos and in the studio. A native of Puerto Rico and a current resident of Nashville, Yamil has benefitted from a vast array of musical influences. Salsa runs in Yamil’s blood due to his father, singer songwriter, Eladio Jimenez, who wrote and produced for several Latin giants. Knowing that music has no boundaries, Yamil’s mission is to make people fall in love with the art of live performance and foster a new generation of percussionists.

Yamil tours nationally and internationally bringing educational lectures on the conga drum and salsa music. He is currently the percussionist and DJ for Country artist Frank Ray. Yamil rounds out his calendar performing with corporate bands as well as performing as a soloist as a drumming DJ.

In this episode, Yamil talks about:

Diversifying your "portfolio”
Being proactive with your daily activities
The evolution of the drumming/DJ thing
Playing with artist Frank Ray
Lecturing on the origin of the conga in American music
The influence of his father’s legacy
Percussion advice for drum set players

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463 - Tom Jorgensen: Playing on the "Beetlejuice" Tour, Studying with Michael Carvin, A Sound-Oriented Approach Apr 04, 2024

Show notes

Tom Jorgensen is an active and highly-requested drummer, session musician, composer, and mixing engineer based in New York City, currently on the first national tour of the Beetlejuice Broadway musical. Tom is a graduate with a BFA from The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC, where he studied with jazz legends such as Reggie Workman, Charli Persip, and privately with Master Drummer Michael Carvin, with whom a mentorship continues to this day.

Tom frequently performs with the internet sensation Post Modern Jukebox, having toured with the group extensively in the United States, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. His career has also taken him abroad throughout Europe, South America, French Polynesia, and the Caribbean while acting as Music Director onboard Holland America Cruise Line.

In this episode, Tom talks about:

The broad range of genres and drumming styles in the “Beetlejuice” show
Auditioning for a Broadway tour vs. being offered the gig outright
The “authenticity meter” in relationship building
What it means to have a sound-oriented approach
His experience studying with Michael Carvin at The New School in New York
What good relationships look like - if one person wins, we all win
“Go, do, be, have” in that order

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462 - Matt Muckle: Drumming for Kingdom Come, Shedding Negative Energy from your Life, Finding Your Own Voice Mar 28, 2024

Show notes

Matt Muckle is a Pittsburgh based drummer who has worked with and toured with acts such as Paul Gilbert, Lynch Mob, Buckcherry, John Waite and many others. He is currently recording with and preparing to tour with the band Kingdom Come. This legendary rock band formed in the late 80’s and with Matt as their new drummer, continues to entertain their committed and string fan base.

In this episode, Matt talks about:

Who inspired him to pursue a career in music
Working and recording with Kingdom Come
Shedding negative energy from your life
His experience in Los Angeles
Teaching and producing in a mentorship style
Finding your own voice
Being proactive for your career

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461 - The Hampden Brothers, Iajhi and Brevan: Their Parents' Musical Legacy, Playing in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill "Triangle," Iajhi's LA Chapter, Brevan's Neurodivergent Journey Mar 21, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Iajhi and Brevan talk about:

Their parent's musical legacy
Growing up in the Triangle area in North Carolina, and the music scene there
Attending North Carolina Central University, an HBCU and the only college in the state that offered a jazz degree at the time
The ill-fated gig that brought Iajhi to LA
Brevan's experience with being diagnosed as neurodivergent, and how that has changed how he approaches life and music
Creating structure for yourself to avoid getting "emotionally disregulated"
Iajhi's long-standing jam session at The Federal in North Hollywood, and the art and science of curating a good jam.

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460 - Miles Stone: Drumming for Cody Johnson, Balancing Life at Home and on the Road, Getting the Big Gig Mar 14, 2024

Show notes

Hailing the small south Texas town of Poth, Miles was destined to drum. His mama felt him moving to the music before he was even born. At three years old he sat behind his first drum kit, and by age 5 he was banging out some version of "Under The Bridge" by TheRed Hot Chili Peppers. In junior high he joined the school band and began to study percussion formally. From marching band to snare drum solos, Miles took any and every drumming opportunity. He turned that into an affinity for marching, and a gold metal for every snare drum solo he ever played while in school, from a Junior High level solo all the way to "Africa Hot" by John Wooton. Along with other members of the high school drumline, this quickly let to garage bands. I was clear that drumming and taken a strong hold on Miles.

After high school, he headed for College Station and Texas A&M University, and he certainly didn't leave his drums behind. While earning a BS in Horticulture, Miles spent time playing in around Texas and surrounding states with a few bands. During that time he made friends with Cody Johnson. Fast forward a few years, Cody asked Miles to come on the road with him as his permanent drummer, which he has been for at least 10 years now.

When he isn't out on the road with the Cody and The Rockin' CJB, Miles enjoys spending time with his wife Samantha, their son Noah & their daughter Riley, watching football, woodworking, hunting and fishing.

In this episode, Miles talks about:

Playing a sold out show at Bridgestone arena in Nashville
Balancing life at home and life on the road
Key components to getting the big gigs
Establishing trust with the artist/band/singer
Drumming for Cody Johnson
Recording for Cody in Nashville studios
Bringing your live energy to a recording session

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459 - Obed Calvaire: Playing with Wynton Marsalis & The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Commemorating Max Roach, Expressing His Hatian Heritage on His New Record Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

Since 2021, Obed Calvaire has been in the drum chair for Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra, with whom he recently curated and directed a series of concerts celebrating the centennial of the great Max Roach. His New York jazz career spans over two decades and includes jazz legends such as Dave Holland, Kurt Rosenwinkle, The Mingus Big Band, Joshua Redman and many others. His new album, “150 Million Gold Francs” will be released April 12th and draws heavily on his Haitian heritage.

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458 - Richard Martinez: The Wilson/Spivack Method, Adapting to the Ever Changing L.A. Scene Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

Richard Martinez grew up in Los Angeles, CA and has performed around the world. He has studied privately with Chuck Flores, Larry Troxel, and for 12 years with Richard Wilson. Richard’s television credits include The Dolly Parton Show, Baywatch Nights, The Joan Rivers Show, and Seinfeld. He has performed with Sam Harris, Keb’ Mo, Allen Frew and with Tony Award winners Linda Hopkins, Betty Buckley, Bebe Neuwirth & Roger Rees. He has recorded with Julian Lennon, Mighty Mo Rodgers, Christoph Bull and with Grammy Award winners Dan Hill, John Jones, and Rick Nowels. He has also written four articles for Modern Drummer’s Strictly Technique section.

In this episode, Richard talks about:

Working with a conductor
Opportunities for performance in the non-profit world
Adapting to the ever changing L.A. scene
How Richard Wilson changed his life
The Wilson/Spivack method
The practice pad: a rarified environment

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHg598jGIStR8y5gDV_w4ZQ

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457 - Dave Elitch: His New Course (Not Just for Drummers), Avoiding Compartmentalization, Good vs. Better (Not Right vs. Wrong) Feb 22, 2024

Show notes

Dave has been teaching privately for over 20 years and has developed a reputation as the technique/body mechanic specialist for drum set. He has helped many of the world's best players as well as top educators "get out of their own way" by being as efficient as possible in regards to conservation of motion and energy.

He has toured and/or recorded with Weezer, Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake, The Mars Volta, and many others.

The importance and benefits of a full-body warm-up

How to literally cool down after playing
What “mobility” means from a fitness and drumming perspective
Why compartmentalization is usually bad thing, in fitness and music
The importance of strength training in addition to body work
Creative development alongside physical development
His take on the role of rudiments in modern drumming

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