Working Drummer

Jody Stephens is a drummer based in Memphis, Tennessee, who has played in Big Star and is the last surviving original member. Along with his over three decades working at the historical Ardent Studios in Memphis, he continues to record and tour with groups like Golden Smog (with members of the Jayhawks and Wilco) and Those Pretty Wrongs with Luther Russell. In this episode, Jody talks about:    Meeting his hero, Ringo       Ardent Studios in Memphis and it’s rich history    The importance of building relationships in the industry    What he learned during the recording of the first Big Star record    His work with Golden Smog    Playing music for fun not money    His duo Those Pretty Wrongs

Petar Janjic is best known for playing with Cory Wong these days, but stays busy playing live and recording with many other Nashville artists. Petar's journey in music began with a solid educational foundation in his hometown of Kraljevo, Serbia . He pursued his passion by moving to the United States and earning both a Bachelor's and Masters degrees from McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul. He moved to Nashville in 2019. With his expertise and versatile skills, Petar Janjic continues to captivate audiences worldwide with his dynamic drumming and unwavering dedication to his craft. His contributions to the music industry and collaborations with esteemed artists have solidified his reputation as a true force to be reckoned with in the realm of percussion. In this episode, Petar talks about: How the old guard of Nashville studio drumming has influenced his approach How the Cory Wong gig has fun/goofy aspects, but also takes preparation and quality control very seriously The Minneapolis approach to time

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

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

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

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 e

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

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 bassi

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

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 Anton

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

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, tour

Drummer, Producer, Recording Artist and Educator Bruce Becker has steadily made his mark in the world of Music. Founding member and Drummer behind the David Becker Tribune, Bruce has recorded and co-produced 10 critically acclaimed recordings. The DBT has performed at clubs and jazz festivals throughout the world for more than 3 decades. In 2015 “Message To Attila” was released on Enja records. Bruce was part of an all star cast to honor the music of Attila Zoller, featuring Ron Carter, Pat Metheny, Mike Stern and many others. Spanning more than 3 decades as an Educator, Bruce has drawn from his more than thirty year association with Drumming “guru” Freddie Gruber carrying on the torch of a unique approach in getting the student to understand the natural principles of the physical body’s interaction with the drum set. Bruce’s reputation has interested a vast array of drummers to seek his teachings. The list includes drummers such as, David Garibaldi, Mark Schulman, Daniel Glass, Glen Sobel and Clayton Cameron

Best known for her work with Lenny Kravitz and her husband, Carlos Santana, Cindy's career has spanned over 30 years and involved many other artists from Pharoah Sanders to Joss Stone to Buckethead. In this episode, Cindy talks about: The Vegas residency serving as a "laboratory" How she and Carlos navigate being spouses and bandmates How Tony played the function of the drums first and foremost A drummer’s physical and spiritual connection to their sound How being promoted because of your gender can be just as toxic as being held back

Daru Jones is known for his work with Jack White as well as his list of collaborators that include, Bootsy Collins, Kanye West, Pete Rock, Gloria Gaynor, Slum Village, Jamie Lidell, Talib Kweli, Dwight Yoakam, Nas, Pee Wee Ellis, Lorenzo Jovanotti, Queen Latifah, Black Milk, Salaam Remi, Pharoahe Monch, Rance Allen, Black Violin, Ski Beatz & The Sensei’s, and Jon B just to name a few. Throughout the course of his career, Jones has received rave reviews from Rolling Stone Magazine, LA Weekly, Esquire.com, Fuse.tv, the Los Angeles Times, and USA Today (among countless others). He has also appeared on several national and international television programs: The David Letterman Show, Jools Holland (UK), The Colbert Report, Saturday Night Live, and on the iconic MTV. In this episode, Daru talks about:    His new PDP signature kit    Navigating the music scene as an introvert    How his faith has guided his life choices    How to stay grounded when touring    The power to inspire    Moving to Nashville and fin

In this episode, Craig talks about Knowing and owning your preparation process/method How being good at reading can prevent you from listening in-depth, and how reading well doesn’t automatically mean you have good time, good feel, or good ears Approaching recording with a producer’s ears, thinking about not just the nuts and bolts of the drums, but the whole sound of the whole record Why he moved to Portland in 2017, and being careful about entering the scene in his new home Allowing yourself to take a break from the hustle when you have a consistent gig The option to build your career around your chosen community rather than a geographic community

Kyle May, is a working drummer, writer, and producer in Nashville, TN. He currently plays for Maddie & Tae and Billy Ray Cyrus. Additional touring credits include Lindsay Ell, Runaway June, Brandon Lay, and Carter Faith. He’s cut for artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jimmie Allen, Matt Stell, Clay Walker, Levi Hummon, Willie Jones, Walker Hayes, to name a few. The best part about recording from his home studio is chasing sounds, parts, and more for producers and artists from Nashville to everywhere else in the world. In this episode, Kyle talks about:    His early interest in remote tracking    The creative freedom that comes from tracking from home    How he delivers his tracks (raw or processed)    Building upon your strengths and interests    Posting high quality content and it’s benefits    Tips to instantly level up your sounds    Creating sample packs    Creating helpful and educational content

Craig McIntyre has had a long tenure as the drummer for the Goo Goo Dolls and has also performed with Josh Groban, Vertical Horizon, Idina Menzel, Deana Carter, Seal, and many others along the way. After building a very LA-centric career, Craig now lives in Portland Oregon.  In this episode, Craig talks about: The combination of festival and theatre work that comprises the Goo Goo Dolls’ yearly schedule The challenge of being present in the music with your fellow musicians, and how different situations can make it difficult in different ways How to exit a gig in a way that leaves future possibilities open, and not take personnel changes personally How the gig you’re doing can be a status symbol or platform, apart from whatever the actual music is  The musical cross-pollination that happened among the various members of Josh Groban’s band The counterintuitive aspects of what the Groban gig required of the drummer 

Bobby Sanabria is an eight time Grammy-nominee as a leader. Known as a drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, conductor, documentary film producer, educator, activist, and bandleader, his versatility as both a drummer and percussionist, from small group to big band, has become legendary. A native son of the South Bronx born to Puerto Rican parents, he has performed and recorded with every major figure in the world of Latin jazz and salsa, from the founder of the Afro-Cuban/Latin jazz movement Mario Bauzá, to Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaría, Dizzy Gillespie, Chico O’Farrill, Ray Barretto, Candido, to Larry Harlow, Ruben Blades, Celia Cruz, and jazz luminaries as diverse as Henry Threadgill, Charles McPherson, Randy Brecker, Joe Chambers, Jean Lucien, The Mills Brothers, and others. DRUM! Magazine named him Percussionist of the Year (2005); he was named Percussionist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2011 and 2013. In 2006, he was inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame. He was a recipient of t

Joe LaBarbera has spent his life in jazz, first based in New York, then in LA, and has performed with Bill Evans, Tony Bennet, Chuck Mangione, and many more. He also spent 28 years on the faculty at Cal Arts teaching drumset, jazz small groups, and jazz history. His new book, Times Remembered, recounts his time with the Bill Evans Trio during the last two years of Evans' life. In this episode, Joe talks about: His motivation for writing a book about his time with Bill Evans The musical and personal dynamic he had with Bill during their time together Going from playing with Bill Evans, a very heavy jazz gig, to Tony Bennett, which he doesn't consider to be a jazz gig The overarching concept he drew from Bill - commitment How he viewed his role as a mentor to many different types of students during his 28 years at Cal Arts