Working Drummer

Latest Episodes:

426 - Dr. Charlie Kautz and Dr. Shayan Ghaffari: The Fine Tune Clinic, Parallels Between Athletes and Musicians, Using Education to Solve Physical Issues Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

At the Fine Tune Clinic, Dr. Charlie Kautz and Dr. Shayan Ghaffari are a licensed Chiropractors providing state-of-the-art techniques that directly treat specific muscles to relieve pain symptoms and improve range of motion. After years of observing and working with musicians, they provide a unique combination of advanced myofascial and Chiropractic techniques to address underlying causes of repetitive stress injurys.

In this episode, Dr. Charlie Kautz & Dr. Shayan Ghaffari talk about:

Parallels between athletes and musicians
Matt’s personal work with Dr. Shayan
Dr. Charlie meeting John Densmore, drummer for the Doors
Active Release Technique (ART)
Problems with “drummers posture”
Using education to solve physical issues
Things that we do that sabotages our health and mobility
How supplements optimize recovery

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425 - Mike Malone: Gigging Around Northeast Wisconsin, His Youtube Channel, The Virtues of Smaller Markets Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

Mike Malone is a performer and educator based out of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He attended University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire to study classical and jazz percussion. In 2013 Mike was invited to join The Glenn Miller Orchestra's national tour. After returning to UWEC to finish his degree in 2014, Mike began touring with groups including jazz vocalist, Ray Brown Jr, and vocal jazz group, Five By Design.

As a recording musician Mike can be heard on dozens of albums as both a supporting musician and leader. His diverse skillset has allowed him to be featured musically across numerous styles and settings, and led him to be named "Drummer Of The Year" by the Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) Awards in 2021.

Mike currently maintains a regular performing schedule and manages a private teaching studio with students of all ages and experience levels. Mike is a performing artist for Bosphorus Cymbals.

In this episode, Mike talks about

Why he decided to make his home and career in Oshkosh
How church gigs taught him to convey respect as a performer, which he takes into all performances
Touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and the challenge of playing true old school big band style with no bebop
How tech has changed how we prepare for gigs, for better or for worse
The genesis and scope of his youtube channel
Being able to anticipate what content might be popular, i.e. manufacturing a viral video
Tech tips to improve the audio and video quality of your online presence

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424 - John "JR" Robinson: The Down Beat is WORD, SRT: Vanguards Of Groove, Recording #1 Hits Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

World-renowned, Grammy-winning musician John "J.R." Robinson is widely considered the most recorded drummer in history, playing on albums that have sold well over 500 million copies. He is the drummer on 20 number-one pop songs by artists such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie and Steve Winwood, and has been the drummer on more than 100 Grammy-winning tracks. Rolling Stone Magazine featured J.R. in their list of The Top 100 Drummers of All Time.

J.R. is the drummer on many other Top-40 hits with artists such as Madonna, Lady

Gaga, Diana Ross, Daft Punk, David Lee Roth, Rufus & Chaka Khan, The Pointer

Sisters, Wilson Philips, Peter Cetera, George Benson, and Quincy Jones.

In this episode, John talks about:

The down beat is WORD
Being able to groove without a click
His new trio SRT: Vanguards Of Groove
Working on his book that is coming out in 2024
Hi-Hat technique
Breaking down the session with Steve Winwood
Recording with Daft Punk

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423 - Joe Farnsworth: "Just Play Time" Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

One of the most highly regarded jazz drummers on the scene today, Joe is known for his blazing speed, precision, musical, and melodic playing. Born in South Hadley, Massachusetts in 1968, Joe grew up in a musical family; his father was a music educator and he has four older brothers, two of whom became professional musicians. He studied with Alan Dawson and Arthur Taylor prior to attending and graduating from William Patterson College in New Jersey in 1994.

Upon moving to New York City, he led the weekend jazz combos at Augie’s (now Smoke Jazz & Supper Club). He performed with Junior Cook, Cecil Payne, John Ore, Big John Patton, Harold Mabern, Eddie Henderson, John Jenkins and his brothers, John and James.

Joseph’s career includes recording over 100 CD’s as leader and side-man, jazz festivals and world tours with Pharaoh Sanders, Horace Silver, Harold Mabern, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, Diana Krall, Benny Golson, George Coleman, Johnny Griffin, Lou Donaldson, Benny Green, Curtis Fuller to name a few.

In this episode, Joe talks about:

Studying with Alan Dawson
How he arrived at his "just play time" identity as a jazz drummer
the centrality of the ride cymbal in all jazz drumming
The difference between playing with someone and playing for them
Why he chooses to almost always perform in a suit and tie

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422 - Mark Poiesz returns: His online program: The Big 3: Steps to the Big Stage, The power of curiosity, Becoming a Professional Certified Coach Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

As a drummer, Mark Poiesz has performed in front of millions of people on five continents with artists including Tyler Farr, Lindsay Ell, Mitchell Tenpenny, Chuck Wicks, Jon Secada, Lita Ford and Ghost of Gloria. As an alumnus of the University of Miami's prestigious Frost School of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree in Studio Music and Jazz, Mark's career has spanned nearly every conceivable genre of music as he brings his signature energy to each moment. His current role as drummer, bandleader and programmer with multi-platinum country music artist Tyler Farr has involved nearly a decade of touring, major network television appearances and the Super Bowl LI pre-game show.

As an ICF Professional Certified Coach, Mark holds the gold standard credential for coaching. He has built real-world experience not just with individuals in the entertainment industry, but also with leaders and high performers at companies such as AT&T, IBM, Boeing, Capital One, Warner Bros. Discovery, HelloFresh, The US Department of Defense and more.

In this episode, Mark talks about:

Getting out of his comfort zone
The power of curiosity
His online program: The Big 3: Steps to the Big Stage
When you say no to something, you are saying yes to something else.
Having a clear objective when practicing

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421 - George Coleman Jr.: Musical DNA from New York, Memphis, and Cuba, "Taking Care of the Listener", May 30, 2023

Show notes

George Coleman Jr. was born into a musical family. As a drummer, producer, composer, filmmaker, and son of two musical jazz greats, saxophone legend George Coleman Sr. and organist, composer and vocalist, Gloria Coleman, he was seven when master drummer Max Roach gave him his first set of drums. George studied with master teachers including Sam Ulano, Michael Carvin and Billy Higgins.

In 2019, George took on the role of film producer and released a documentary entitled “Another Kind of Soul: The Coleman Family Legacy”. The film chronicles his family’s personal and musical histories and includes concert footage as well as interviews with his family and other iconic jazz figures including Branford Marsalis. Another Kind of Soul is available on various streaming services including Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, and Tubi TV. He has also released a new record as a leader entitled Resurgence.

In this episode, George talks about

His dad's jazz legacy that began in Memphis
The influence of his mother who was a bassist and organist
Being surrounded by Latin music in his childhood neighborhood in the Upper West Side
Making his album a culmination of all his mentors
What he learned about music from his dad vs. his mom
What he learned and continues to learn from Michael Carvin
How music has served as a between him and his dad later in life

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420 - Andy Hull: Relationship Building in the Session World, Drumming for Clint Black, Finding Inspiration from his Son May 25, 2023

Show notes

Andy Hull is a drummer and a seasoned veteran of the Nashville music scene. He has toured and recorded with many artists including Billy Dean, Ty Herndon, Jaimie O’Neal , Collin Raye, Lee greenwood and is currently on tour with country music super star Clint Black.

In this episode, Andy talks about:

Dealing with last minute gigs and sessions
The psychology of working with others
Drumming for Clint Black
Relationship building in the session world
Be prepared to be uncomfortable on the gig or session
Home studio recording
Lessons and inspiration from his son

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419 - Nasheet Waits: Playing with Christian McBride's "New Jawn," Freedom vs. Responsibility, Studying with Michael Carvin May 18, 2023

Show notes

Nasheet Waits, drummer and music educator,is a New York native. His interest in playing the drums was encouraged by his father, legendary percussionist, Frederick Waits, who played with such legendary artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Sonny Rollins, Lee Morgan, Max Roach, Cecil Taylor, McCoy Tyner, and countless others. While attending Long Island University, Nasheet studied privately with renowned percussionist Michael Carvin. Carvin’s tutelage provided a vast foundation upon which Waits added influences from his father, as well as mentor Max Roach and percussionist Fred King. It was Max that first gave Nasheet’s formidable talent international spotlight, hiring him as a member of the famed percussion ensemble M’BOOM. One highlight of Nasheet’s tenure with M’BOOM was the live concert performance of M’BOOM with special guests Tony Williams and Ginger Baker.

Nasheet’s recording and performing discography is a veritable who’s who in Jazz. Waits has boasted stints with jazz notables Antonio Hart, Jackie McLean, Wadada Leo Smith, Dave Douglas, Mark Turner, Bunky Green, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Eddie Gomez, Steve Coleman, The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Greg Osby, Wallace Roney, Jacky Terrason, and The Mingus Big Band. Waits has recorded and toured extensively in Africa, Europe, Japan, Canada, South America and the United States.

In this episode, Nasheet talks about:

Learning from Christian McBride's "played with everybody" experience, and high level consistency as a performer
The early influence of his father, musically and culturally
How friends and colleague of his father like like Michael Carvin and Max Roach stepped in to mentor him after his father died
Lessons from Carvin
His experience attending an HBCU in Atlanta

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418 - Rich Redmond Returns: New Book: Making It In Country Music: An Insider’s Guide To The Industry, Mitigating Regret, Its All Relationships May 11, 2023

Show notes

Rich Redmond is an award-winning recording and touring drummer based in Nashville and Los Angeles. As an in-demand artist, Rich has recorded/toured/performed with: Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Ludacris, Kelly Clarkson, Bryan Adams, Bob Seger, Joe Perry, Garth Brooks, Chris Stapleton, Jewel, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Thompson Square, Eric Church, Deana Carter, Montgomery Gentry, Alabama, John Anderson, Trace Adkins, Keith Urban, Travis Tritt, Emily West, Chris Cornell, Kelsea Ballerini and many others.

In this episode, Rich talks about:

News of the 8 years since our first interview in 2015
Its all relationships
Why aren’t there “cattle calls” anymore in 2023
Time management challenges when being self employed
Mitigating regret
His podcast: The Rich Redmond Show
New book: Making It In Country Music: An Insider’s Guide To The Industry

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417 - John Mader: Multiple Productions of "Hamilton", Playing with Carl Verheyen, "The Sum of All Nuances." May 04, 2023

Show notes

John began playing drums at the age of 5 in Oakland California. Oakland proved to be a perfect incubator for John as he thrived playing in many of the school, community, rock, jazz, and funk bands in the area. This experience gave John a diverse background that continues to serve him well today. Early in his career, John was playing in local bands opening for such diverse acts as George Benson, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Who (two North American tours), and many more. John’s reputation quickly grew and he found himself playing with San Francisco/Oakland bay area legends including Joshua Redman, Lenny Williams (Tower of Power), and Miles Davis band alumni Barry Finnerty, Garth Webber, and Benny Rietveld.

John continued to cast his net as wide as possible. He began getting calls from New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, and New Orleans to audition with such artists as Pee Wee Ellis, Stephen Jenkins (Third Eye Blind), Cake, and many more. These experiences gave John national exposure which has led to local, touring, and/or studio dates with Josh Groban, Bonnie Raitt, Randy Newman, Pat Benatar, Steve Miller, Booker T., Pee Wee Ellis, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Oz Noy and many more. John has played multiple productions of Hamilton in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Puerto Rico and tours and records with Carl Verheyen.

In this episode, John talks about:

The resume he amassed in the Bay Area before moving to LA
Thinking of different theatre shows as different “dialects”
His experience of playing multiple productions of Hamilton
Getting called out by his musical director for going on auto pilot
The process of constant refinement over the course of a show
The broader palate he gets to use with Carl Verheyen

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