Working Drummer

Latest Episodes:

057 – Reggie Jackson: Drumming for Dr John, Exuding Joy While Performing, Applying Experience to the Gig Mar 30, 2016

Show notes

Based in Columbus Ohio, drummer Reggie Jackson built a reputation from an early age as a powerful drummer who could cover many styles such as be-bop, latin, big band, fusion, pop and gospel.

Over the last two decades Reggie expanded his reach beyond the Columbus scene through world wide tours with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dr John as well as the Grammy Award winner Diane Schuur.

Throughout these tours, Reggie has performed in many legendary jazz clubs such as The Blue Note and can be heard on Diane Schuur’s CD “Live in London” which was recorded at the famous Ronnie Scott’s jazz club.

Reggie continues to stay busy in Columbus balancing work in music and family. In Columbus alone, Reggie can be found working with many great players like Bobby Floyd and Derek DeCenzo. His work covers a wide variety of situations such as educational workshops, church gigs and weekly jazz jam sessions.

In this podcast, Reggie talks about:

Drumming is like being a “relationship counselor” in the band

Picking your battles in the studio

Playing and recording at legendary venues like Ronnie Scott’s and The Blue Note

Transmitting joy to the audience when performing

Working with a legend like Dr John

Supporting the music and fellow musicians on stage

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056 – Kassandra Kocoshis: From Classical to Flamenco to Pop, A Percussionist’s Journey to A Busy L.A. Career Mar 23, 2016

Show notes

As a freshman in high school, Kassandra Kocoshis was studying classical percussion in a collegiate program, and went on to DePaul University in Chicago to study with members of the Chicago Lyric Opera and Chicago Symphony. But while there, she got turned on to Chicago’s Flamenco scene, and became obsessed with hand percussion and world music. She pursued them further in graduate school at The California Arts Institute, and made a quick and smooth transition into a busy schedule of live and studio work in and around Los Angeles. Her performance credits range from guitarist Vahagni, who fuses Flamenco music with Armenian folk music, to L.A.-based soul band Beat Mosaic, to pop acts like Young the Giant and Kanye West.

In this podcast, Kassandra talks about:

The universal musical concepts she learned as a high school student studying classical percussion

How Flamenco was her gateway to other types of world music

Studying percussion traditions from around the world at Cal Arts

Her connection with hand percussion vs. sticks or mallets

Making connections in LA through school

The relationship between the drummer and the percussionist

The pros and cons of living and working in LA

Seeking out the music and musicians that inspire you, and letting that passion guide your career path.

This episode is sponsored by OnlineDrummer.com

Kassandra Kocoshis endorses Latin Percussion and Amplified Timber.

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055 – Jack White: Drumming for Rick Springfield, Ike and Tina Turner, Facing Your Fears Head On Mar 16, 2016

Show notes

Originally from Detroit, Jack White is best known for his work world wide with singer/songwriter Rick Springfield in 1976, 1980-84, and 1990-2002. In the 40 plus years that Jack has been playing drums, he has worked with many other artists including Mitch Ryder, Ike and Tina Turner, Sam The Sham, Rare Earth, Redbone, The Knack, Steppenwolf and Roger Miller just to name a few.

At the age of sixteen, a few events would help Jack set a standard for how he would live his life and find success in music. These include cold calling Mitch Ryder and demanding to be his drummer as well as hitch hiking to L.A. in 1971.

He is also known as an actor in several Disney movies and several tv shows including the last 2 episodes of the series “Sons of Anarchy” and the TV series “Nashville”. Jack is currently announcing for iheart radio.

In this podcast, Jack talks about:

Perseverance and determination

Cold calling Bob Seger Mitch Ryder when he was 16

Never taking “no” for an answer

Auditioning for Ike and Tina Turner

Drumming for Rick Springfield from the beginning

Taking on new challenges like acting and voice overs

Facing your fears

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054 – Willie McNeil: From Punk to Reggae, from Salsa to Burlesque…Putting on a Show for 35 Years Mar 09, 2016

Show notes

Willie McNeil came to LA barely out of high school in the early 1980s. He got busy quickly and hasn’t stopped since, playing with bands across the musical spectrum, sometimes as a sideman but more often as a leader. These days, he’s most widely known as the drummer and frontman for Big Willie’s Burlesque, a troupe of musicians and dancers that appears weekly at LA’s hottest clubs including No Vacancy and The Edison. In this podcast, Willie talks about:

How working in a clothing store kickstarted his music career in LA

His experience coming to LA in the 80s vs. a young drummer’s experience today

His gig in the house band at The Forty Deuce, where the LA Burlesque scene was born

Tricks of the Burlesque drumming trade, and incorporating different styles into the Burlesque genre

Some common mistakes American musicians make when playing Afro-Cuban styles

His “whatever works” approach to gear

The advantages of smaller cities over LA and New York, particularly in terms of live music scenes

This episode of Working Drummer Podcast is sponsored by OnlineDrummer.com

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053 – Marshall Richardson: Touring with a “Legacy Artist”, Garnering Recording Tips from Pro Engineers, Taking Recommendations Seriously Mar 02, 2016

Show notes

Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Marshall Richardson moved to Nashville in 2000 after graduating from the University of North Texas with a BA in Music.

As a sideman, Marshall has worked with a diverse list of artists, ranging from country legends to roots rockers, including Jo Dee Messina, Lorrie Morgan, Webb Wilder, Bernie Leadon, Joe Nichols, and Johnny Reid. His career in Nashville is a balance of recording sessions and live local, national, and international touring performances.

Marshall endorses Paiste cymbals, Vater percussion, Gretsch drums, and Gibraltar hardware.

In this podcast, Marshall talks about:

Delivering a great performance when recommended for gigs

Being comfortable playing with or without a click

Touring with a “Legacy Artist”

Getting advice from engineers about home recording

Explaining phase and polarity when recording

Balancing your kit

Considering note length when drumming

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052 – Tina Raymond: Trusting Her Musical Instinct, Being a Woman in a Male-Dominated Field, The Power of Yoga Feb 24, 2016

Show notes

The Los Angeles jazz scene has been coming on strong in recent years and Tina Raymond is right in the middle of it. She performs regularly in the city’s top jazz clubs as well as internationally, with artists ranging from relative newcomers like Cathlene Pineda and Jon Armstrong to long-established greats like Bobby Bradford and Vinnie Golia. She is a graduate of the California Institute of the Arts, better known as Cal Arts, where she studied with legendary jazz drummer and master teacher Joe LaBarbara. She teaches at several high schools and colleges in the LA area and is also a certified yoga instructor.

In this podcast, Tina talks about:

Two very different college experiences at two very different schools

How studying with Joe LaBarbara helped her use her intuition and develop her own voice

Being a woman in the male-dominated worlds of drumming and jazz

How yoga has affected her mentally and physically as a musician

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051 – Chad Cromwell: Studio Legend, Drumming for Neil Young, Joe Walsh & Mark Knopfler, Creating the Perfect Part in the Studio Feb 17, 2016

Show notes

Chad Cromwell is known as one of the most respected studio drummers in Nashville. Even before his move to Nashville, Chad had a strong history of live and recording experience with legends like Joe Walsh, Neil Young and Mark Knopfler.

Chad Started recording and touring with Joe Walsh in 1986. In 1987 as well as collaborating with songwriter Neil Young that lead to several recordings and tours with Neil. Chad appears on Neil Young albums such as Freedom (1989), Prairie Wind (2005) Living with War (2006) and Chrome Dreams II (2007). He has also appeared in Heart of Gold, a documentary capturing the debut of Neil Young’s album, Prairie Wind.

Cromwell is also known for his contributions to Mark Knopfler’s solo albums Golden Heart (1996), Sailing to Philadelphia (2000), The Ragpicker’s Dream(2002) and Shangri-La (2004). He was also part of Knopfler’s band during the tours of his first solo albums.

He has also worked with many other artists including Dave Stewart, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Lady Antebellum, Diana Krall, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Boz Scaggs, Wynonna, Trisha Yearwood, Miranda Lambert, Bonnie Raitt, Peter Frampton, Allison Moorer, Chris Knight, Joss Stone, Rodney Crowell, Marty Stuart, and Stevie Nicks.

In this podcast, Chad talks about:

The impact that home studios have had on the music industry

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050 – John Kizilarmut: The Pros & Cons of College Music, Removing Barriers Between Genres, Finding His Musical Home in Kansas City Feb 10, 2016

Show notes

John Kizilarmut spent his formative years bouncing around the Midwest and Texas, eventually landed in Kansas City. He has become a first-call drummer, percussionist, vibraphonist and composer/arranger in KC’s vibrant music scene, playing with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, Hermon Mehari, and many more of the area’s world-class talents. He has also maintained teaching duties as an adjunct faculty member at multiple colleges. In this interview, John talks about:
How his first year of college shaped his work ethic
His lesser-known but masterful and influential mentors including Al Sergel, Kevin Bobo and Doug Auwarter (read an article on Doug here).
His heavy focus on marimba and orchestral percussion in college, and how the college environment can blind musicians to the wider world of musical possibilities/opportunities.
The deep understanding of jazz and swing held by Kansas City musicians and audiences.
How Kansas City’s fierce pride in its rich musical history is balanced with its openness to all kinds of music, and its embrace of a younger generation of musicians creating new and original music.
Listen to John on Soundcloud!

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049 – Paul Griffith: Being a Stylist, Managing Expectations, Dealing with Insecurities Feb 03, 2016

Show notes

Paul Griffith is a freelance drummer and writer based in Nashville, TN. As a musician, his unique, left-of-center style (the result of a New Orleans upbringing) has made him a first call for artists looking to add a laid back groove to their records and live performances. Combining the visceral, dance-oriented feel of New Orleans legends like Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste and Earl Palmer with the meticulous experimentation of session great Jim Keltner, Paul has found a home among some of the world’s most creative singer-songwriters, including Sheryl Crow, k. d. Lang, John Prine, Todd Snider, Cerys Mathews (Catatonia), Greg Brown and Jack Ingram. He has been recognized as “Best Hired Hand” by Nashville Scene magazine and was nominated for a Nashville Music Award in the drummer/percussionist category.

In this podcast Paul talks about:

Being a “Stylist”

Caring about the gig but not worrying about it

Dealing with your insecurities

Dealing with peeks and valleys in the music business

Managing expectations and diversifying

Asking what the gig pays

The right conditions for taking a gig

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048 – Giuliano Mingucci: Drum Mic’ing 101, Absorbing Styles, Playing to the Song, Working With a Producer Jan 27, 2016

Show notes

Giuliano Mingucci was born in Brazil but has spent almost his entire life in Kansas City, MO. He started playing professionally in high school and since then has been a member of Kansas City’s most beloved bands including Bixby Lane, The Barclay Martin Ensemble, and David George & A Crooked Mile. He attended college at The University of Missouri-Kansas City, but chose to get a degree in audio engineering rather than music performance. He has since made a name for himself around the region as a go-to in either discipline, and sometimes both.

In this podcast, Giuliano talks about:

How the jazz of his hometown and the Brazilian music of his family heritage has shaped his playing

Being the house drummer in a cabaret bar

Playing in a band with broad stylistic influences

Giving a producer musical control of an album

How drum tuning, room acoustics and drum mic’ing should be connected

Relying solely on drumming vs. having mulitple sources of income

Click here for pictures

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