Working Drummer

Latest Episodes:

387 - Steven Wolf: Creating Emotional Reactions in Programming, Connection Between Mind and Body, Advice for the Young Player Sep 22, 2022

Show notes

Steven Wolf (also known simply as Wolf) is one of the world’s most in-demand studio musicians. His discography includes numerous #1, Gold, Platinum, and Grammy winning records.

A virtuoso drummer and world class programmer, with an encyclopedic musical vocabulary spanning every musical genre, his distinctive skill-set and versatility have made him the "go-to" rhythmic solution for a long list of the world's top recording artists and producers. In addition to drumming and programming, he's also an accomplished producer, songwriter, and remixer.

Wolf’s credits include: Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Pink, Annie Lennox, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Celine Dion,Cher, Joss Stone, Britney Spears, The Bee Gees, Natalie Imbruglia, Leona Lewis, Johnny Cash, Rufus Wainwright, Daryl Hall, Macy Gray, Grover Washington Jr, Oz Noy, Hiram Bullock, Tribal Tech, Larry Coryell, The Gil Evans Orchestra, Lenny Pickett, The Saturday Night Live Band, and many others…

In this episode, Wolf talks about:

Advice for the young player
Transitioning from a touring to session drummer and programmer
Getting the right sounds in the studio
Managing a sample library
Creating an emotional reaction in programming
Staying current with musical styles
The connection between mind and body

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386 - Billy Drummond: Playing with Sonny Rollins and Horace Silver, His New Record, "Me Being Me for Right Now" Sep 15, 2022

Show notes

Acclaimed by Downbeat as “one of the hippest bandleaders now at work,” Billy Drummond’s thrilling, powerful and highly musical playing has also made him one of the most called-for sidemen of his generation. Mentored in the bands of jazz legends Horace Silver, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, J J Johnson and Sonny Rollins, Drummond is now widely acknowledged as one of today’s most versatile drummers, making sideman appearances with a veritable who’s who of jazz greats on over 350 albums. He has made three albums as a leader—including Dubai, a New York Times Number 1 Jazz Album of the Year—and five as a co-leader, including We’ll Be Together Again in Three’s Company, a trio with Javon Jackson and legendary bassist Ron Carter, which made several Top Ten lists of the Year.

In this episode, Billy talks about:

The idea of a jazz record being a snapshot of an artist's present condition
How what he loves listening to relates to what he chooses to play
Entertainment vs. expression
Playing with Horace Silver
The influence and mentorship of Al Foster
Teaching at NYU and Julliard

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385 - Dez Davis: Drumming for Hunter Hayes & Mickey Guyton, Promoting His Brand “BlackDrumHippie”, Using Faith as a Guide Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

Desmond Davis the “BlackDrumHippie”, is a Dove Award, Stellar Award & Ascap Rhythm & Soul Award winning, Grammy nominated musician, producer and writer hailing from the west side of Chicago where he honed his skills in the Baptist church playing gospel music however; he is well-rounded with the ability to play various genres including but not limited to; rock, pop, country, hip-hop, jazz, R&B, reggae, funk, and blues .

The BlackDrumHippie’s talent and tenacity has afforded him various endorsements and the opportunity to play a variety of tours, festivals, tv appearances and concert venues.

With growing notoriety, Desmond has played for decorated artists such as: Donald Lawrence, Johnathan McReynolds, Sir the Baptist, Todd Dulaney, Byron Cage, Bri Babrieaux, Hunter Hayes, Mickey Guyton & many more.

Desmond’s hard work and forward thinking has allowed BlackDrumHippie to transcend music as it has grown into a brand that provides customizable Levi denim jackets, t-shirts and other merchandise.

In this episode, Dez talks about:

Moving to Nashville in 2019 with a gig with Hunter Hayes
Affordable home studio options for outboard gear
Growing up and performing in many churches in the west side of Chicago
Trusting in his faith to be a guide
His experience with songwriting yet staying focused on live performance and sessions
Promoting his brand

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384 - Larry Florman: Fronting Them Vibes, Collaborating with Maggie Rose, Traditional Percussion vs. Pop Percussion Sep 01, 2022

Show notes

Larry Florman is a drummer, percussionist, vocalist, and front man for the Nashville-based band Them Vibes. Also known as Brother Love, he fronted numerous bands in New York before relocating to Nashville. Them Vibes has put out numerous singles and EPs since 2013, and became the opener and backing band for Maggie Rose, with whom they co-wrote and toured. Larry is also married to Nashville drummer Sarah Tomek.

In this episode, Larry Talks about:

Joining forces and later parting ways with Maggie Rose
How his musical life came to encompass drumset, percussion, and vocals
Learning traditional African and Latin percussion in New York with Babatunde Olatunji and other masters
Traditional Afro-Cuban conga playing vs. the American soul tradition
How he and Sarah interact musically

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383 - Nick Raskulinecz: Producing Rush, Foo Fighters and Others, Loving Drums and Producing Drummers, Reflections on Taylor Hawkins Aug 25, 2022

Show notes

Nick Raskulinecz is a record producer who has produced a Grammy-winning album for Foo Fighters, a #1 rock album for Alice In Chains, a #1 rock album for Rush, a #1 Billboard album for Evanescence, a #1 UK album for Stone Sour, and many more.

Neil Peart writes:

"Nick was best known for his highly successful work with the Foo Fighters, but before that he had a long history as a musician, engineer and producer. He had started out in Knoxville, Tennessee, and more-or-less worked his way west, studio by studio. When we met Nick, we all liked his youthful, unbridled enthusiasm, but at 36, he was also experienced enough to have a strong background in music and recording."

Of the recording sessions with Nick, he writes: "I have never enjoyed the recording process so much, nor been so satisfied with the results."

Geddy Lee from Rush also writes praise about working with Nick, saying "There's no point in hiring a producer who's not going to speak his mind, but it's a tall order to find someone who can hear Neil's playing, amazing as it is, and still say, 'Maybe you should try going in this direction...' It was a pleasure to be challenged [by Nick]. That's really what a band like us needs."

In this episode, Nick talks about:

Moving to Nashville from Los Angeles
His studio in Nashville “Rock Falcon Studio”
What he’s learned from drum techs over the years
Studio hacks when tracking drums as well as an “anti-hack”
What a producer really does
Producing the last two Rush records
Nick’s hands on approach to producing drummers
Reflections on Taylor Hawkins

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382 - Tommy Crane: His New Solo Album, His Journey from New York to Montreal, from Jazz to Ambient, and from Acoustic to Electronic Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

Tommy Crane is a NYC and Montreal based musician. Crane has recorded and performed with Ambrose Akinmusire, Melissa Aldana, Briars of North America, The Mingus Big Band, Linda Oh, Thus Owls, Aaron Parks, Richard Reed Parry, Logan Richardson, Bing and Ruth, Becca Stevens, Half Waif, Port St Willow, and Wood River.

In 2017 Crane was commissioned by the Lincoln Center, NY, to create a multimedia piece titled "Preservation" in collaboration with filmmaker Tracy Maurice. Crane's composition was performed live and released as a full-length album in 2019. In addition to Crane, the recording features performances by Colin Killalea (Albert Hammond Jr.), Eliot Krimsky (Here we go magic), and Greg Chudzik (Steve Reich).

In 2017/2018, Crane toured extensively with Melissa Aldana and recorded the Grammy Nominated album "Visions" with the band. Crane is also a core member of Aaron Parks's "Little Big" (whom he met and befriended at a jazz camp in NYC when they were both 15 years old). Crane also taught improvisational ensembles at the Accademia Nazionale del Jazz - Siena Jazz in Italy (2019-2020). He contributes original compositions to various WNYC and NPR podcasts and is also a Sunhouse artist.

In this episode, Tommy talks about:

The process of recording his album, almost entirely on his own at home
How he uses Sunhouse products
His early days in New York attending the New School and immersing himself in jazz
Playing with the Mingus Big Band
Getting burned out by life in New York, musically and otherwise
Prioritizing projects, bands, and his own music over the "hired gun" life

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381 - Adam Box: Recording and Touring with Brothers Osborne, His Home Studio: Gilded Palace, Experiencing the Grammys Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

Adam Box is the touring and recording drummer with the country duo, Brothers Osborne.

Adam grew up in Mississippi where with the support of family, friends and his church community, helped to develop the skills he needed to be a world class musician and drummer. This community and environment lead to Adam meeting legendary bass player Chris Ethridge, member of the Flying Burrito Brothers. Chris became a mentor to Adam and was an important figure in the early days of Adam’s career.

Shortly after Adam moved to Nashville, his talents we’re quickly realized and this lead to him joining the group Brothers Osborne.

He has also played on recordings by Chase Bryant, Lucie Silvas, Sonlite Band, Jeremy Lesley, Kristy Lee Cook and many others. Adam also produces and records out of his home studio, Gilded Palace.

In this episode, Adam talks about:

Useful application in his home studio
Humble beginnings in Nashville
Adam’s snare tone(s)
Geeking out on studio tech
An inspiring in-ear mix for live performance
Working with Producer Jay Joyce
Experiencing a performance on the Grammys

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380 - Will Kennedy: His Yellowjackets Legacy, His Educational Mission, His Bay Area Roots Aug 04, 2022

Show notes

Will Kennedy's musicality and finesse are legendary in the jazz world and beyond, performing with luminaries such as Yellowjackets, Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Snarky Puppy, Bobby McFerrin, Esperanza Spalding, George Benson, and Lee Ritenour. His career is marked by pushing musical boundaries and a desire to be inspired yet be an inspiration. As a longstanding member of the Yellowjackets, the celebrated jazz quartet that includes fellow USC Thornton faculty members Bob Mintzer and Russell Ferrante.

Kennedy played percussion and began private lessons with teacher Bill Nawrocki throughout his school years. He also studied under professor and mentor Bill Bell, performing with him in San Francisco. Kennedy quickly became a fixture in the Bay Area scene as a teenager, and was introduced to legendary steel pan virtuoso Andy Narell with whom he recorded and toured Europe.

Joining the Thornton faculty in Fall 2018, Kennedy took over the duties of drumset instruction for Ndugu Chancler, longtime faculty member and one of the founders of the Popular Music program.

In this episode, Will talks about:

His early teachers and influences in the Bay Area, from groove with Willie "Wild" Sparks to jazz with Tony Williams
Playing on daytime talkshow, movie soundtracks, and other studio word during his hiatus from Yellowjackets
His approach to teaching pop drumming at USC
His physical approach and how he uses and teaches rudiments
What it means to play with your body vs. against your body

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379 - Ryan Brown: Drumming for Dweezil Zappa, Living and Working in Los Angeles, Channelling Zappa's Drummers Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

Ryan Brown is a professional drummer and percussionist in Los Angeles, California. In addition to his gig as the drummer for Dweezil Zappa, he plays with Los Angeles-based bands The Young Royals, Black Belt Karate, SexTapes, AM/FM, The Fuxedos and Madras, and in the bands of artists Arrica Rose, Karem Malicki-Sanchez, Colin Armstrong, Josh Canova, Space Oddity and rapper J Naugh-T.

He has toured with Taiwanese pop star Chyi-Chin and L.A. bands OWL and Ultraviolet, performed on “Last Call with Carson Daly” with Ingrid Michaelson and played the Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland with R&B artist Niki Haris. He has recorded tracks and albums with producers Marti Frederiksen, Mark Hudson, Mikal Reid, Russ Irwin, Rob Seals, Glen Laughlin, Rob Shrock, Brian Dobbs, Klaus Derendorf, Brian Paturalski, Billy Morrison, Larry Crane and David Weisberg, including the hit single “The Real Thing” from Bo Bice.

Ryan can also be heard on releases by Foreigner, Circus Diablo, Hannah Montana, Clay Aiken, Cassie Davis, Nick Lachey, Jesse McCartney, Heather Graham, Suzie McNeil (Rock Star INXS) and Stephanie McIntosh, as well as on the movie soundtracks for Ice Age: Continental Drift (Adam Schlesinger), Kung Fu Panda (Hans Zimmer and John Powell) and The Dark Knight (Hans Zimmer). He’s performed on recordings with Alex Lifeson, Earl Slick, Elliot Easton and Rudy Sarzo.

Ryan has also appeared as a sideline musician in numerous TV shows and movies, including Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World’s End, Desperate Housewives, Jag and Samantha Who?. He plays all styles of music, including rock, R&B, jazz, ska, funk, blues, folk and country. He is on the drum faculty at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, Calif., and teaches private lessons as well. A native of Denver, Colorado, he has played drums and percussion since he was 11 years old. Ryan graduated from Indiana University with a degree in jazz studies and percussion.

In this episode, Ryan talks about:

Why he chose Los Angeles
Teaching and mentoring
Growing his network in LA
The audition for Dweezil’s gig
Channeling Zappa’s drummers on the gig
Working with Alex Lifeson

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378 - Brandon Draper: Touring with Drum Safari, A Wholistic Approach to College Music, An Evolving Role on the KC Scene Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

Brandon Draper has enjoyed a celebrated career as drummer, percussionist, producer, multi-instrumentalist and educator. He has been based in Kansas City for the last 15 years where he has led and played in an eclectic mix of projects from jazz to Turkish to electronic music, and runs the acclaimed children's interactive music program Drum Safari with his wife of 14 years Teryn. His extensive resume also includes performances with both the New Mexico and Santa Fe Symphony Orchestras and the Kansas City Symphony, Ottmar Liebert, DJ Logic, Donna Summer, Mose Allison, Steve Coleman, Dick Oatts, Bobby Watson, and Kevin Hays, and Particle. Draper was musical director and live drummer for Quixotic Fusion 2007-2012. He continues to write, consult and occasionally perform with the KC-based cirque group.

Draper is on music faculty at the University of Kansas where he teaches jazz drums, world percussion, steel band and is the director of Music Enterprise certificate combining music business and entrepreneurship.

In this episode, Brandon talks about:

His entrance onto the Kansas City scene after grad school
Drum Safari, a touring music education program for kids, which is becoming the family business
His philosophy as an educator, and the drumset and music business/entrepreneurship programs he heads up at The University of Kansas
Playing with his father, a B3 organist, from an early age
How some tough love from Kevin Hays helped him find a more authentic voice
How his place on the Kansas City scene has changed along with his identity and interests over the years

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