Working Drummer

Latest Episodes:

197 – Kevin Leon: Touring with St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Creative Pursuit vs. “Work,” Groove is Groove is Groove Dec 06, 2018

Show notes

Kevin Leon has been on the Atlanta scene for nearly a decade and recently landed the touring gig with St. Paul & The Broken Bones. Kevin grew up in Birmingham, AL. He studied music at The University of Alabama at Birmingham and got a fast start playing all kinds of gigs on the Birmingham scene. After school, he moved to New York for a year and returned to Birmingham when it became clear he didn’t have the inclination (or the money) to live there long term. He then landed a gig with country artist Niko Moon, which brought him to Atlanta, where he has been active ever since with singer/songwriters, jazz artists, and corporate bands. He is also part owner of Music Lessons Decatur, a local teaching network.

In this podcast, Kevin talks about:

The somewhat emergency process by which he joined St. Paul

His relationships with Chris Fryar and Harry Miree

Exploring his non-musical outlet, fishing, on the road

Gearing up to be the primary breadwinner when his girlfriend went to grad school

Filling your schedule with “work” vs. keeping it open for creative projects

Lessons learned when the gig that brought him to Atlanta ended abruptly

The experience that made him realize making 2 & 4 feel good required as deep a dive as jazz

A snapshot of his hometown, Birmingham

Publishing videos (and an eventual album) of his original compositions, and his thoughts on managing his output

Kevin Leon endorses Vic Firth sticks

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196 – Gregg Bissonette & Kennan Wylie: Writing & Creating The Hal Leonard Drumset Method Nov 29, 2018

Show notes

Gregg Bissonette performing and recording credits include working with Ringo Starr, David Lee Roth, James Taylor, Santana (on his Grammy-award winning Supernatural), Don Henley, Joe Satriani, Andrea Bocelli, ELO, Maynard Ferguson, Spinal Tap, and countless others.

He has recorded for many films—including The Bucket List, Finding Nemo, Best in Show, For Your Consideration, The Bourne Supremacy, The Mighty Wind, The Polar Express, The Devil Wears Prada, Waiting for Guffman, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The 40-Year-Old Virgin as well as TV shows, including the hit NBC series Friends.

Gregg exclusively uses Zildjian Cymbals, Dixon Drums, DW Drum Pedals, Remo Drum Heads, Vic Firth Drum Sticks, Samson Audio, Audix Mics, the Gregg Bissonette Signature Stick Bag by Kaces, XL Specialty road cases, Beato Drum Bags, LT Lug Locks, and LP Percussion products.

Kennan Wylie is in his 22nd year as the Director of Percussion Studies at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, TX. Kennan is a free-lance performer in the Dallas-Forth Worth area and a member of the Dallas based jazz group Fingerprints.

His previous publications include the book “Simple Steps to Successful Beginning Percussion”, through K. Wylie Publications (www.kwylie.com). With a Bachelors and Masters degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas, Kennan is active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the Southwest, as well as serving as the President of the Texas PAS Chapter.

Kennan endorses Yamaha drums, Zildjian cymbals, Innovative Percussion, and Evans drumheads

In this episode, Gregg and Kennan talk about:

* Gregg and Kennan’s presentation at PASIC 2018

* Describing the book – Hal Leonard Drumset Method book 1 and 2 & it’s many features

* Unique challenges teachers have these days / private lessons vs YouTube

* The importance of performing with other people

* The “Flow Sticking System”

* The growing popularity of open handed technique

* Setting goals and a rough plan for teaching so students reach the goals you’ve set for them

* Things that educators can offer that can go beyond just teaching drums?

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195 – Jeff Mellott: Playing in “Us Today,” The Cincinnati Scene, Your Region’s Musical Heritage Nov 22, 2018

Show notes

Jeff Mellott has spent his entire life in Ohio and become a fixture on the Cincinnati scene. His trio, Us Today, recently release its fourth album, Computant. After starting at a community college, he transferred to Ohio Univeristy and went on to earn a master’s degree in Jazz Studies from the College Conservatory of Music at The University of Cincinnati. In addition to Us Today, Jeff performs with guitarist Brandon Coleman and many other Cincinnati-based jazz artists, and has diversified his working life between performing and being a Music Educators Rep for Willis Music.

In this podcast, Jeff talks about:

* The evolution of Us Today

* Getting featured on NPR

* The band’s composition process

* His upbringing and musical background in Ohio

* Starting out at a community college, transferring to Ohio University, and going on to grad school at University of Cincinnati

* His other job with Willis Music, outfitting music educators with everything they need from instruments to sheet music to tech

* His advice on endorsements

* What keeps him in Cincinnati, and the city’s musical legacy

* Appreciating the different pockets and regions of American music

* The possibility and feasibility of someday moving away from Cincinnati

Jeff Mellott endorses Canopus drums, Bosphorus cymbals, and Vic Firth drumsticks

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194 – Sean Paddock: Touring w/ Kenny Chesney, Recording and Producing in a Home Studio Nov 15, 2018

Show notes

Growing up in Watertown, NY, Sean Paddock started playing the drums at the age of four, and within a year was sitting in, performing live with his musician parents, Don Paddock (bassist) and Claudia Paddock (singer, guitarist) at local nightclubs. By the time he was 9-years-old, Sean had begun formal drum lessons and participated in the school band program. At fourteen, Sean and his family moved to Arizona where he continued his involvement in variety of high school music groups, including marching band, orchestra and stage band. It was during his high school years that he started his music career as a semi-pro, playing paid gigs with his father. After high school, Sean was working as a full-time musician, playing the local music seen both in Phoenix and northern New York.

In 1996, Sean traveled to Nashville to check out the music scene, heard that Kenny Chesney needed a drummer, auditioned and landed the gig which he’s been playing ever since.

Besides Kenny Chesney, Sean has worked with such rock and country icons as Vince Gill, Sammy Hagar, John Mellencamp, Steve Miller, George Strait, and numerous others. His televised appearances with Chesney include The Grammy’s, Austin City Limits, Sound Stage, the ACM, CMA, AMA award shows, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Late Show with Letterman, Good Morning America, and Today Show. Sean can also be seen in many of Kenny Chesney’s music videos, as well as the Summer In 3D Movie.

When not on the road, Sean is back in Nashville — doing recording sessions with an A-list team of musicians or tracking drums at his home studio.

In this episode, Sean talks about:

* The importance of mic placement, creating phase coherence, kit placement, etc when recording at home

* Tracking and producing full tracks with all instruments

* Touring with Kenny Chesney

* The realities of touring with a major label act

* How he got the gig with Kenny

* Being authentic on the gig

* Recounting the flood of 2010 and how it affected tour production

* Final words of advice in maintaining sanity on the road

Sean endorses: Tama Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Evans Drumheads, Audio Technica, Puresound Snare Wires

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193 – Bill Stewart: The Jazz Master on Trio Drumming, Composing, and Scofield Nov 08, 2018

Show notes

Bill Stewart has been one of the most unique voices in jazz drumming for decades. He is especially known for his work with jazz guitar greats Pat Metheny, Jim Hall, Peter Bernstein, and most consistently and profoundly, John Scofield. His resume is rounded out with other iconic artists such as Michael Brecker, Maceo Parker, Joe Lovano, and Nicholas Payton. He has released several recording as a leader including Think Before You Think, Snide Remarks, and his latest, Band Menu. Stewart grew up in Iowa but made the move to New York for college and never left, and has remained one of the most sought-after drummers in jazz.

In this podcast, Bill talks about:

* The dynamic of his new record, and playing and composing for a “chord-less” trio

* Growing up in Iowa and playing with family members and in Top 40 bands in high school

* His simultaneous development as a drummer and composer

* How other genres such as roots/blues and classical have influenced him

* His transition from Iowa to the East Coast, and from college to the New York scene

* Studying with Elliot Zigman

* The importance of playing with clarity – in rhythmic content, orchestration, and tone

* How he first hooked up with John Scofield, and the musical adventures they’ve had since

* His long-standing trio with Larry Goldings and Peter Bernstein, and his thoughts on playing with organ

The challenges and opportunities presented by trio drumming

Bill Stewart endorses Gretsch drums, Remo drumheads, and Zildjian cymbals and sticks.

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192 – Bart Robley: Drumming for The Sam Morrison Band, The Responsibility of Drumming Educators, Playing for the Song Nov 01, 2018

Show notes

Bart Robley is a perfect example of a full time musician that stays busy by diversifying his work load through teaching, performing live, recording as well as publishing educational material.

Through his many projects, Bart learned the nuances of rock, country, jazz, fusion, hard rock and heavy metal. As his thirst for musical adventures grew, so did his need for larger projects. So he bid goodbye to his small town life in Colorado and in 1989, relocated to Southern California. Bart networked the L.A. music scene, replete with a host of metal, punk and industrial bands. Bart returned to studio work and live performances as a ‘hired gun’ in many diverse projects from country to hard rock. It was one of these situations that led to Bart being hired full time by Southern Rock mainstays The Sam Morrison Band.

To date the Sam Morrison Band has recorded 8 CD’s with legendary producer Michael Vail Blum whose credits include work with Madonna and Pink Floyd. The band has sold over 700,000 downloads on I-Tunes and have been streamed over 10 million times on Spotify.

Bart has been involved in music education, teaching private and semi-private drum lessons, as well as hosting master classes and drum clinics for 20 years. Bart’s extensive knowledge of drumming and rhythm has come together in three popular instructional books, as well as three instructional DVDs. Bart’s efforts were recognized in 2009, when he won a Telly Award for his instructional DVD, “The School Of Hard Rocks”.

In this episode, Bart talks about:

* Bart’s teaching practice

* The importance of teaching students to read music

* How to stay organized as a teacher

* How to start and maintain a successful teaching practice

* “What you’re doing not How you’re doing”

* Teaching business side of the music business to students

* His full time band The Sam Morrison Band

* Working with legendary producer Michael Vail Blum

* Being the best you you can be

* Playing for the song

* Bart’s instructional books and DVD’s

* The responsibility of drumming educators

* 3 instructional books, & 3 instructional DVDs

Bart endorses: Gretsch Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Aquarian Drumheads, Symphonic Percussion, Trick Drums, Clamp-It, Kickport, Gorilla Snot, The Kelly Shu, Humes & Berg, Audix Microphones

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191 – Bernie Dresel: His New Big Band, The L.A. Session Scene, The Confluence of Groove and Swing Oct 25, 2018

Show notes

Prior to forming his own jazz orchestra, The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel, Bernie backed Maynard Ferguson, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. Bernie served 15 years for both Setzer and Goodwin. He has been the drummer on numerous Brian Setzer Grammy Award®-winning recordings and more recently on every recording that Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band has released, including the Grammy Award-winners.

You can see Bernie on the silver screen and hear him in Jersey Boys. He also played on Jurassic World, Inside Out, Tomorrowland, Minions, American Sniper, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Mission Impossible 3, Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice, Superman: Man Of Steel, Up, The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie, Cars 2, Super 8, Transformers 3, Get On Up, Star Trek Generations, Star Trek 2009, Speed Racer, The Bourne Supremacy, Payback, The Hulk, Ratatouille, Elf, Me Myself And Irene, The Santa Clause, Once Upon A Time In Mexico, Stuart Little, Jingle All The Way, The Mask, Analyze This, The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas, An Extremely Goofy Movie, The Aristocats, Liberace: Behind The Candelabra, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Hairspray, The Bucket List, Walk Hard, Enchanted, and many more.

Bernie has played on sessions for TV including Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show, The Simpsons, King Of The Hill, Pinky And The Brain, Animaniacs, Tiny Toon Adventures, Lost, The Sopranos, Jag, Star Trek Voyager, Star Trek Next Generation, Star Trek Deep Space Nine, Star Trek Enterprise, Baywatch, The Young And The Restless, American Music Awards, Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Emmy Awards, American Comedy Awards, Dawson’s Creek, Dallas, Knots Landing, Simon And Simon, Murder She Wrote, Cheers, Frasier, News Radio, Beverly Hills 90210, Christmas At Rockefeller Center, Tom And Jerry, Ugly Betty, and many more. He also performed as the drummer for Jerry Lewis’s MDA Labor Day Telethons.

In this podcast, Bernie talks about:

* His philosophy on leading and recording a big band

* Joe’s Great American Bar & Grille, and the place it holds on the LA music scene

* Growing up in rural Pennsylvania

* How parts of the new record “Bern Bern Bern” tell the story of his early musical experiences

* His experience at Eastman School of Music

* Working his way onto the LA scene, and how he distinguished himself from guys like Vinnie, rather than trying to emulate or compete with them

* Playing with bassist John “Spazz” Hatton

* How the LA scene has changed over the years, and how it can turn musicians into specialists

* The groove aspects of jazz and big band drumming

* The importance of putting on a visibly energetic performance

Bernie Dresel endorses Craviotto drums, Remo drumheads, Vic Firth sticks, and Sabian cymbals

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190 – Sandy Gennaro: Drumming for Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, The Monkees and Many Others, Opening for Queen in ’86, Inspirational Speaking w/ His B.E.A.T.S. Program Oct 18, 2018

Show notes

Sandy Gennaro was born and raised in NYC and currently resides in Nashville TN. Sandy has toured and/or recorded with: Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Bo Diddley, Johnny Winter, The Monkees, Joe Lynn Turner, Michael Bolton, Benny Mardones, Craaft, The Mamas and Papas and Jon Paris. He has recorded several Top 10 singles and has performed for for over a billion fans spanning his 50 year career.

Sandy has also made numerous TV appearances including The Tonight Show, The Grammy Awards, The American Music Awards, The MTV New Years Ball, and The Late Show with David Letterman among others. He is also a favored councelor at the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camps.

He is currently recording and gigging with various artists in Nashville.

Before his move to Nashville in early ‘14, Sandy gave lessons, master classes and inaugurated the Music Business program at the Collective in NYC where he started in 1987.

Gennaro is also a corporate/academic inspirational speaker. He has brought his “B.E.A.T.S.” presentation to FedEx, Belmont University, Pacific Hotel Management LLC, Sam Ash Corp. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center, The Collective NYC and The School of Rock with extraordinary results. Participants in his “B.E.A.T.S.”program return to work or school with a renewed sense of purpose and enthusiasm, increased passion, tenacity and a renewed engagement in their work. They will be inspired by new behaviors that increase productivity and drive business, sales and leadership performance. “B.E.A.T.S.”in an acronym for Belief, Enthusiasm, Attitude, Tenacity and Service.

In this episode, Sandy talks about:

* Appreciating the journey over any destination

* The acronym “B.E.A.T.S.” that he uses for his speaking engagements

* Sandy’s early career highlights during the 1970’s and 80’s

* Positive interaction with others that lead to monumental change in Sandy’s life

* What lead to his long time gig with The Monkees (1987 – 2012)

* Teaching at The Collective in New York City for 27 years

* His tour with Cyndi Lauper in 1984/85 and his hybrid electronic/acoustic kit

* Opening up for Queen in 1986 on four month tour with German band Craaft

* Info about “Breast Cancer Can Stick It”

Sandy endorses DW drums, pedals and hardware, Zildjian cymbals, Hot Sticks, Remo drumheads, Rhythm Tech percussion

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189 – Cody Rahn & Ben Smith: “Sounds Like A Drum” – Talking Tone Oct 11, 2018

Show notes

Cody Rahn and Ben O’Brien Smith are the creators of Sounds Like A Drum, “an ongoing video series for drummers, audio engineers, and anyone who is responsible for achieving great drum sounds at the source. Sounds Like a Drum offers in-depth tutorials on tuning in ways most have never learned, tips and tricks for a memorable sound, and hacks that you might never have thought of.” Cody’s background as a working drummer in New York and Ben’s background in product development give them a unique and insightful approach to achieving great drum tone, whether that means finding creative new sounds or just troubleshooting the old ones.

In this podcast, Ben and Cody talk about:

* The philosophy behind the aesthetic and presentation of Sounds Like a Drum

* SLAD’s origin story

* How to associate certain drum tones with certain genres

* Going beyond the “what” and “how” of tone, and getting into the “why”

* Developing your ear and taste to inform your tone choices, rather than buying gear

* Making confidence part of you sound

* Balancing tone with feel

* Cody’s approaches for mic’d vs. un-mic’d situations

* How they handle comments and feedback on their channel

* Their advice for anyone who wants to start a social media or digital enterprise

Cody Rahn endorses Promark sticks and Evans heads.

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188 – Rodney Edmondson: Drumming For Country Music Legend Ronnie Milsap, Changes in the Music Scene in Nashville Oct 04, 2018

Show notes

Since the early 1990’s, Rodney Edmondson has been the drummer for award winning singer and piano player Ronnie Milsap. Ronnie Milsap is credited with six Grammy Awards and forty No. 1 country hits. He was selected for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2014.

Growing up in Virginia, Rodney developed his feel and approach to drumming throughout the 1970’s with local groups that included many styles that prepared him for his eventual move to Nashville. Rodney quickly established himself as a solid musician that could cover many different styles from heavy rock to traditional country. Just before landing the Milsap gig, Rodney was the full time drummer for the traditional country group, The Whites.

Rodney balances his touring with Ronnie with his work at Spectrum Sound Inc. building and designing road cases.

In this episode, Rodney talks about:

* Ronnie Milsap and his history including the time he meet Ray Charles

* How Rodney got the gig with Ronnie

* Evolving with the gig

* Recordings that Rodney did with Ronnie

* Growing up in Virginia and playing music locally in the 70’s

* Significant changes In the music scene in Nashville

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