Working Drummer

Latest Episodes:

337 - Chuck Palmer: Applying Drumming Expertise to Produce, Write, Arrange, Conduct and Create, Collaborating with Cellist Dave Eggar Sep 23, 2021

Show notes

As a drummer/percussionist, producer, engineer, arranger, songwriter, conductor and composer Chuck Palmer has performed and recorded with a myriad of artists including Foreigner, AG, Gil Goldstein, RJD2, Frank Ocean (Channel Orange), Dave Eggar, Esperanza Spalding, Norah Jones, Cellogram, Dr. Ralph Stanley, The City And Horses, John Patitucci, Earwig, Five For Fighting, Amber Rubarth, O.A.R., Waway Saway with the Talaandig Tribe, and Amy Lee of Evanescence.

In this episode, Chuck talks about:

Using your skills and expertise as a drummer to produce, engineer, mix, write and create
His experiences and growth as a musician in New York City
Collaborating with cellist, pianist and composer Dave Eggar
Conducting and creating string arrangements for the band Foreigner

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336 - Cameron Tyler: Carving a Niche in Las Vegas On and Off the Strip Sep 16, 2021

Show notes

Cameron Tyler has been based in Las Vegas since 2017, where he is involved with numerous shows including Cirque du Soleil's Ka. He spent the first chapter of his career in Los Angeles learning the ropes of touring and recording, but relocated to Vegas in search of more affordable housing and studio space, and more creative autonomy as a drummer and producer.

In this episode, Cameron talks about:

Why he chose to relocate to Vegas, and how he got involved with Ka
How reading and Ableton are table stakes for most Vegas gigs
The importance of treating your space for optimal sound
The piece of gear that has upped his mixing game

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335 - Bobby Jarzombek: From Fates Warning to George Strait, Splitting Duties Between Metal and Country Sep 09, 2021

Show notes

Bobby Jarzombek is currently the drummer for progressive metal band Fates Warning, vocalist Sebastian Bach, and country music legend George Strait.

He has also recorded and toured extensively with the Halford band, featuring legendary Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford as well as the long-running New York City metal institution Riot. Bobby made his recording debut with Juggernaut on "Baptism Under Fire" in 1986. Other touring and recording credits include his work with Spastic Ink, CED Earth, Demons & Wizards, Rob Rock and John West among others.

In this episode, Bobby talks about:

Early interests that shaped his drumming
Tracking from home for different projects
Getting the gig with George Strait
Adapting to changes in live performances

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334 - George Sluppick: The Memphis Vibe, The Sample Pack Business Model, Erasing Genre Sep 02, 2021

Show notes

George Sluppick is an American drummer born in Memphis, Tennessee, specializing in blues, funk, soul and R&B music. In 1986, he graduated from Overton, a prestigious creative & performing arts high school. Growing up in Memphis, he shared the stage with many legends, including BB King and Rufus Thomas and just one year after his high school graduation at age 19, he went on the road with blues guitarist Albert King. He has since played with Charlie Hunter, JJ Grey & MoFro, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, and many others, and has just released a Memphis-infused sample pack through Yurt Rock.

In this episode, George talks about:

The process of creating and marketing his new sample pack
Why he moved from his hometown of Memphis to the smaller town of Greensboro, NC
The influence of Idris Muhammed and the idea of genre-free drumming

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333 - Joe McCarthy - Band Leading the New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band, His B.A.S.I.C. Training Lesson Program, Living and Working in Miami Florida Aug 25, 2021

Show notes

Joe McCarthy has led a diverse career as drummer/percussionist, bandleader, producer and educator in a myriad of settings from symphony orchestra to bebop, big band, afro cuban, theater and beyond.

Joe is the founder, leader, producer and drummer of The New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band, winner of the 2008 Latin Grammy for Latin Jazz Album of the Year, and nominated in the same category for the 51st Grammy Awards for the Heads-Up release “Afro Bop Alliance”, featuring Dave Samuels.

Active in education, Joe has held adjunct appointments at the collegiate level since 1992 upon graduating from the University of North Texas with a Masters in Percussion Performance. Previous adjunct positions include Texas Wesleyan University, Delaware State University, Georgetown University, George Mason University and Washington College. As a clinician, Joe has been a featured performer and clinician at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), Jazz Educators Network International Convention (JEN), numerous PAS Days of Percussion, MusicFest Canada, The National Jazz Workshop, George Mason University Summer Jazz and Percussion Seminars, The Jazz n Youth Exchange of Germany, and many others. Joe has been featured at many of the nation’s top collegiate music institutions and festivals, in addition to numerous high school jazz festivals as a guest soloist, clinician and adjudicator.

As an author, Joe is published by Alfred music with “Joe McCarthy’s Afro Cuban Big Band Play-Along Series”, featuring a book/CD play-along and Vol’s I & II DVD’s.

Joe spent a twenty-year tour as Chief Petty Officer with The United States Naval Academy Band, where he served as principal percussionist with the wind ensemble and Chief in Charge/drummer of the Next Wave Jazz Ensemble- one of the Navy’s two premier big bands.

In this episode, Joe talks about:

Living and working in Miami Florida
How he spends his practice time
Teaching in the 21st century
The value of learning multiple styles
His B.A.S.I.C. Training lesson program - Balance, Alignment, Substitution, Interdependence, and Control
Band leading the New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band

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332 - Stephen Chopek: Playing with John Mayer, Charlie Hunter and More; Writing, Recording, and Mixing His Own Original Songs Aug 19, 2021

Show notes

Stephen Chopek is a musician living and working in Atlanta, GA. Prior to releasing his first solo album in 2012, he spent over 10 years drumming on tour and in the studio with Charlie Hunter, John Mayer, and Jesse Malin among many others. He had just returned home from a tour playing drums with former Soul Coughing frontman Mike Doughty when an explosive songwriting streak hit him. While in the throes of his creative deluge, the Pandemic put most of the world on indefinite lockdown. With no other commitments for the foreseeable future, he finally had the latitude to take his time with the new songs. It was a luxury that he, as a touring musician for the last two decades, is normally not afforded. His new EP, Dweller, is out now.

In this episode, Stephen talks about:

How Memphis changed his playing
Studying with Leon Parker and playing with Charlie Hunter in his early New York-based career
Playing on the John Mayer Room for Squares tour
Taking a year away from drumming to volunteer with Americorps and delve into other instruments
Taking the opportunity during the pandemic to fully realize his original songs

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331 - Music City Drum Show: "Flash Interviews" Featuring Former and Future Guests and Many More Aug 12, 2021

Show notes

August 7th, 2021 the first annual Music City Drum Show was held in Nashville Tennessee. Music City Drum Show was created to unite the drumming community in the Greater Nashville area and beyond. Organized by drummer Landon Hall, the Music City Drum Show was focused on drum displays, sales, networking, and clinics.

Big thanks to all who participated in our "Front line war correspondence recording". Not all the interviews were usable due to the volume in the room and it could be hard to listen to at times. But, we hope you enjoy this collection we created from what was a super fun weekend.

This episode features

JC Clifford, AJ Maland - (Recycled Rhythm), Drummers Hands, Sam Bacco, Dan Ainspan - (Nashville Drummer Podcast), Josh Touchton - (Ludwig), Rodney Edmonton, Chris from UFIP Cymbals, Kayleigh Moyer, Angela Lese, Mike McKee from Baldman Percussion, Bryson Nelson from Nelson Drumshop and Evan Hutchings

These fine people were interviewed but the recording didn’t work out due to external volume:

Vincent Dee, Brian Zach, Arjuna Contreras, Marshall Richardson, Jeremy McCormick, Dan Douchette, Jeff Brown, Po Shy from Po’s Percussion representing the Rogers Booth

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330 - Aaron Serfaty: Playing With Your "Accent," A Universal Teaching Approach, Paying Attention to What Your Drums Tell You Aug 05, 2021

Show notes

Aaron Serfaty was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He began playing drum set at the age of fifteen and started to play professionally at seventeen. He did extensive work as a session and touring drummer from 1980 until 1991 with local and international artists. In 1991 he moved to Los Angeles to study Jazz and African American studies at the California Institute of the Arts. Aaron has also taken lessons with Peter Erskine, Joe LaBarbera, Jeff Hamilton, Jerry Steinholz, and Juan Oliva. Since his move to the US he has played with artists like Arturo Sandoval, Sergio Mendes, Jon Anderson, Oscar Hernandez, Otmaro Ruiz, Denise Donatelli, Kristin Korb, Kathleen Grace, Bill Cunliffe, Shelly Berg, and Alan Pasqua among many others.

He has taught at Los Angeles College of Music (1997-2014), at The California Institute of the Arts (2000-2014) and is currently on faculty at the University of Southern California (1997-present) where he conducts the Latin Jazz Ensemble, teaches drum set, and a Latin Percussion class.

In this episode, Aaron talks about:

Growing up in Caracas and the many types of music he was exposed to through his dad's business
His experience studying jazz at Cal Arts, and privately with Peter Erskine
Bringing your "accent" to every musical conversation you have
His teaching philosophy
His tuning approach

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329 - Nashville's Lower Broadway Roundtable: Kelly Bamberger, Eddie Bell, Billy Freeman, Jake Gammon, John Root & Derek Smith Jul 29, 2021

Show notes

This episode features six amazing drummers with a wide range of experience, discussing the many unique aspects of gigging in Nashville's downtown tourist district known as lower Broadway. Some have referred to it as "The Honkytonk Industrial Complex". This scene is not for everyone but, for those who are willing to slug it out in the trenches of lower Broadway and perform for a mostly over served audience, the money can be good, great music can happen and important connections can be made.

In this round table discussion, the group talks about:

Explaining what the lower Broadway scene is
The pros and cons of gigging on lower Broadway in Nashville
The unique skill set that’s needed to play lower Broadway
Advice for the player that wants to break in to the scene
Essential gear to carry with you when playing lower Broadway

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328 - Rod Elkins: Playing with Tyler Childers, Overcoming Anxiety Issues, Staying in His Small Hometown Jul 22, 2021

Show notes

As the touring drummer for Childers, Rod Elkins is the heartbeat of a rhythm section that includes Elkins’ high-school friends and college bandmates who’ve been playing together for the past 10 years. That band, The Food Stamps, has performed sold out concerts around the world, including a headline debut at Red Rocks Amphitheater, concerts at the Ryman Auditorium, The Grand Ole Opry, Mountain Stage, and festivals around the world including Bonnaroo, Stagecoach, Lollapalooza. The band also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and has opened for everyone from Willie Nelson and The Raconteurs to Guns N’ Roses. Rod still lives in his hometown of Huntington, West Virginia, where the band was formed.

In this Episode, Rod talks about:

How his existing band became the backing band for Tyler Childers, and how they caught the attention of Sturgill Simpson
What he learned from the Nashville musicians who have recorded Childers' albums
Finding ways to create variety in songs with the same groove at the same tempo
How his lifelong anxiety showed up in his playing, and how he dealt with it
Why he stays in Huntington, WV, where he grew up and where the music and bands he's a part of were cultivated

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