047 – Jim Reilley: Producer, The Influence of Ringo on Modern Drumming, Getting the Right Drum Sounds in the Studio

From Cuba, Dafnis Prieto’s revolutionary drumming techniques and compositions have had a powerful impact on the music landscape, nationally and internationally. His various awards and honors include a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, a GRAMMY Award for Back to the Sunset (2018), two additional GRAMMY nominations, two Latin GRAMMY nominations (including Best New Artist in 2007), and the Jazz Journalists Association’s Up & Coming Musician of the Year in 2006. As a composer, Prieto has created music for dance, film, chamber ensembles, and most notably for his own bands, ranging from duets to big bands. He has received commissions, grants, and fellowships from Chamber Music America, Princeton University, Jazz at Lincoln Center, MoMA, Whitney Museum of American Art, National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, Jerome Foundation, East Carolina University, Painted Bride Art Center, Meet The Composer, WNYC, New Music USA, Hazard Productions, and Metropole Orkest, among others. Prieto has performed at many national and international music festivals as a bandleader. Since his 1999 arrival in New York, he has also worked in bands led by Michel Camilo, Chucho and Bebo Valdés, Henry Threadgill, Steve Coleman, Eddie Palmieri, Chico and Arturo O’Farrill, Dave Samuels and the Caribbean Jazz Project, Jane Bunnett, D.D. Jackson, Edward Simon, Roy Hargrove, Don Byron, and Andrew Hill, among others. Also a gifted educator, Prieto has conducted numerous master classes, clinics, and workshops around the world. He was on the jazz studies faculty at New York University from 2005 to 2014, and in 2015 joined the faculty of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. In 2016, Prieto published the groundbreaking analytical and instructional drum book, A World of Rhythmic Possibilities. In 2020, he published Rhythmic Synchronicity, a book for non-drummers inspired by a course of the same name that Prieto developed at the Frost School of Music. In 2025 he released the book "WHAT ARE THE ODDS" the third book in his catalog, and it shows not only his passion for rhythm and drumming but furthermore his commitment to music education at large. This one takes you to a fascinating journey of rhythms and meters. The book features 519 examples, and each of them comes with an audio track and a video clip. He is the founder of the independent music company Dafnison Music, established in 2008. In this episode Dafnis talks about: Building a career on your own terms Teaching at Frost School of Music at Miami University His new book: “What are the Odds” Asking tough questions about tradition as it relates to Latin music Allowing patterns and phrasing to dictate the time feel Valuing the content you play over the ability to play with a click Here's our PatreonHere's our YoutubeHere's our Homepage

17 Huhti 1h 19min

As an internationally acclaimed drummer and percussionist, Bill Ransom has played some of the world’s biggest halls with a host of world-famous artists. While building his performing career Bill also worked as an educator, guiding countless young drummers into professional careers. One passion fueling another. He has toured and recorded with artists including Patrice Rushen, Aretha Franklin, Marion Meadows, Cecil Bridgewater, Diane Reeves, Mary Wilson, and James Newton.  Bill currently tours the world with renowned singer, Beth Hart, and is an endorser for Yamaha drums, Remo drumheads, Vic Firth sticks, and Paiste cymbals. Bill has been on faculty at Cleveland State University since 2007 teaching drums, mallet and hand percussion, and jazz combo. In this episode, Bill talks about: His gig with Beth Hart, and what she needs from the drum chair School at Ohio University and The New School in New York Living in New York for awhile but returning home to Cleveland  Cleveland’s active theatre and jazz scenes  “You gotta talk” Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

10 Huhti 1h 7min

Originally from Garland Texas, Chris Brush moved to Nashville in the fall of 1999 after college to play drums professionally. Over time, session opportunities ignited a passion in Chris as he began to work toward getting off the road full time, and move into the studio scene. Along the way Chris discovered that engineering, mixing, and music production were as exciting to him as drumming. He put the effort into learning about the world of acoustics, microphones, pre-amps, compressors, equalizers, DAWs, mixing, engineering, etc. He began mixing his own projects that turned into mixing and recording other artists — all the while playing drums live, in his home studio, and at studios around Nashville. In 2014 Chris and a partner, opened PlethoraTone studios. After eight years at PlethoraTone, Chris moved into a studio he designed and built. On any given day, Chris is either out and about Nashville playing on sessions or working out of his own place recording, producing, or mixing. In this episode, Chris talks about: Drumming, Mixing and Producing and how these skills feed each other Accepting the role of entrepreneur Building the ultimate home studio How to communicate with an artist effectively Providing flexible pricing options when tracking remotely Discovering what it is you’re passionate about Socials: https://www.patreon.com/c/workingdrummer https://www.instagram.com/workingdrummerpodcast/ https://www.workingdrummer.net

3 Huhti 1h 45min

Jamey Haddad's career as a drummer and percussionist has spanned five decades, countless genres, and multiple continents. For over 25 years, he’s had a close relationship with Paul Simon, playing alongside Steve Gadd on multiple records and live projects. He has appeared on over 170 recordings and has played with a wide range of artists from Joe Lovano to Yo Yo Ma, and his career as an educator has found him at Berklee, New England Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory, and the Cleveland Institute of Music. In this episode, Jamey talks about: Playing with Paul Simon, and Paul’s constant desire to rehearse and adjust how his music is presented Recording the album You’re The One and collaborating with Steve Gadd to create the rhythmic and textural foundations for those songs Committing to representing the traditions he studied in the pop world  How a given style can be treated as both an academic subject or a folkloric tradition “Every generation needs its music.” How to make people you’re playing with know you’re listening to them Socials: https://www.patreon.com/c/workingdrummer https://www.instagram.com/workingdrummerpodcast/ https://www.workingdrummer.net

27 Maalis 1h 19min

Newsboys is one of the biggest bands in Christian music history, having sold more than 10 million records across 23 recordings and garnering boundless accolades, including 1 RIAA® Platinum certification and 8 Gold certifications, 30 #1 radio hits, four GRAMMY® nominations, two American Music Award nominations and multiple Dove Awards. With signature songs like “We Believe,” “Born Again” and the unstoppable mega-hit “God’s Not Dead” — which birthed a film franchise of the same name — Newsboys have continued to collect career-defining accolades at full speed ahead. Reinventing and reinvigorating the sounds fans have come to love, Newsboys present their two-part album, Worldwide Revival, featuring 16 songs and a national tour to support. For over three decades, the band, with current members Adam Agee, Duncan Phillips, Jeff Frankenstein, and Jody Davis, have toured extensively throughout the world to present their unparalleled high-energy shows. From their formation in Australia to their current residence in the United States, and everywhere in between, Newsboys share the same unified message about their faith and the God they serve, a position they do not take lightly. In this episode Duncan talks about: The work that goes into maintaining a seasoned band after over 30 years Drumming for the Newsboys Effectively and musically working with tracks The industry in Australia vs the United States Handling fame as a CCM band Making fitness a priority Dealing with personal changes The spinning drum riser Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

21 Maalis 1h 7min

Russ Lawton has spent most of his career in and around New England from Cape Cod to Boston to Burlington Vermont. For almost 25 years, he has been the drummer for the Trey Anastasio Band. He also has an organ trio project called Lamp that is about to release their second record and tour in support of it, and has played with countless other bands and artists from blues to Afro beat. In this episode, Russ talks about His early career, moving through Cape Cod, Boston, and Woodstock NY Infusing afrobeat into his mating early on   Being a lifelong “band guy” Playing with Trey Anastasio, and Trey building songs around Russ’s grooves  The LaMP project and their “no chops” approach

13 Maalis 1h 6min

Robert Blair is a Nashville TN based drummer with decades of live and studio experience. Originally from South Carolina, Robert's early love and commitment to drumming led him to working and touring by the age of 16 with players many years his senior. At the age of 21, he made the move to Nashville where he's built a reputation as a solid and reliable player with a professional sound. Not only does Robert stay busy in Nashville, live and in the studio, he has become the first call sub for country super star Martina McBride as well as the iconic pop band Wang Chung. In this episode Robert talks about: His early interest in drumming Acclimating to Nashville and it’s scene Learning from Nashville’s legends Finding ways to nurture growth in your playing Staying “awake” when performing The power of therapy Being your authentic self Communicating the time feel from the count off to the last chorus Subbing on the Martina McBride gig Subbing with Wang Chung

6 Maalis 1h 41min

Jose Medeles is the owner of Revival Drum Shop in Portland and the author of several books including The Stoic Drummer. In his former life, Jose was an LA based working drummer and toured and recorded with The Breeders and many other artists, and also did a stint working at the famed Pro Drum Shop in Hollywood. Most recently, Jose became the brand manager for the relaunch of Slingerland Drums. In this episode, Jose talks about: His LA-based playing career prior to moving to Portland and opening Revival Working at Hollywood Pro Drum and learning the value of connection and community from Stan and Jerry  Making the decision to leave the road and move out of LA, and grieving the loss of his old life while embracing his new life  Recognizing when making a sacrifice for an opportunity is or isn't worth it Revival Drum Shop’s origin story and mission HIs new role as brand manager for Slingerland Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

27 Helmi 1h 17min