508 - Robert Blair: Being Your Authentic Self, Subbing with Wang Chung & Martina McBride, Learning from Nashville’s Legends

Doug Auwarter has spent most of his 40-year career in Kansas City and has been equally active as a performer and educator. He began his career playing across spectrum of American music – jazz, rock, funk, etc. In the 80’s he fell in love with Brazilian music and culture, and although he continues to play a wide variety of music, he is known and loved as Kansas City’s resident guru for all things Brazilian, from the proper Partido Alto feel to the proper Moqueca de Peixe (fish stew). Doug is the cofounder and co-leader of the Sons of Brasil, an instrumental Brazilian jazz group currently in its third decade, and the long-time drummer for jazz vocalist Angela Hagenbach. He has taught drumset, percussion, latin combo, world music, and jazz history, and music appreciation at numerous colleges and universities in and around KC including University of Missouri-Kansas City, Missouri Western State University, Northwest Missouri State University, and Johnson County Community College, and is the author of two self-published books, “Essential Latin Styes for the Drumset” and “Essential Rock for the Drumset.” In this podcast, Doug talks about: How a bout with cancer and a stroke have affected his playing, and his outlook on aging as a musician Discovering and digging into Brazilian music Some of the common misconceptions about Brazilian music and Latin styles in general Teaching, from private drum lessons to college world music classes How listening, not physical exercises, is the focus with his advanced students Doug endorses Paiste Cymbals. This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums.

27 Syys 20171h 20min

Based in Los Angeles but originally from Long Island, New York, Evan Stone (Drummer/Producer/Bandleader) currently fronts his original project the Translucent Ham Sandwich Band who released their debut album in 2016 entitled: ‘Music From The Future’ which has received airtime on numerous radio and cable television stations around the world.  Evan Stone has toured the United States with trumpeter/bandleader Maynard Ferguson and traveled throughout Australia and New Zealand with pop artist Toni Childs. Evan formed the Progressive/New Thing Rock band Salty The Pocketknife which released their debut recording in 2003. When not leading his own bands throughout the west coast, Evan has toured in the past with the Greg Adams Band (Tower of Power) and pop artists Aly & AJ. In addition, Evan Stone has played with Kei Akagi, John Beasley, Brian Bromberg, David Garfield, Gilbert Castellanos, Darek Oles, Bob Sheppard, Chuck Manning, Doug Webb, Steve Cardenas, Theo Saunders, Otmaro Ruiz, Luther Hughes, Bob Cooper, Dr. Art Davis, Llew Matthews, Rob Mullins, and Anthony Wilson. Fish. * In this podcast, Evan talks about: * The effect that world events and politics has on music and art * His band The Translucent Hamsandwich * Studying with Peter Erskine * The click and the drummers relationship with it * The influence of programing and drum machines to drummers * Evan’s beginnings * His lesson with Vinnie Colaiuta Evan endorses: Vater Sticks, Murat Diril Cymbals, Aquarian Drumheads, Canopus Drums, This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums and their new Sublime Birch series

21 Syys 20171h 33min

Gintas Janusonis is the son of Lithuanian immigrants and grew up in Milwaukee. Berklee brought him to the East Coast and he soon made the jump to New York, where he has been active as a drummer and producer for most of his professional life. His list of credits ranges from jazz greats Branford Marsalis and Kurt Rosenwinkel, to hip hop royalty Wu Tang Clan and Kool G Rap, to singer/songwriter and America’s Got Talent semi-finalist Jonah Smith. At the top of his list of current projects is Bandit 65, a trio with Rosenwinkel and Tim Motzer, in which he gets to flex his producer chops, incorporating various types of electronics and sound manipulation. On the more analogue end of the musical spectrum, he has been part of countless acoustic jazz projects and leads The Revelations, a funk/soul band and production collective. In this podcast, Gintas talks about: Rockwood Music Hall, which has become a hub for live music in New York The ways he incorporates electronics and effects with Bandit 65, and that group’s improvisational dynamic The differences between “Free Jazz” and other types of improvised music, and how he and his bandmates craft improvised music with producers’ ears. Managing his time so that none of the roles he plays suffer, and using “mental practicing.” The aspect of the New York scene that has improved the most over the years Getting exposed to high art at an early age Playing on America’s Got Talent  His interest in Hip Hop, which dates back as far as his interest in jazz Leading The Revelations Gintas endorses Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals, and Vater Sticks

13 Syys 20171h 4min

Kent Slucher was born in Louisville, Kentucky October 19, 1976. With an intensely musical ear he learned to appreciate music at a very young age. Some of the most influential bands for Kent growing up included; Led Zeppelin, KISS, Fleetwood Mac, Bad Company, and Journey. At 19, Kent got his first gig in his father’s band, Uncle Lijah. After that, he played in a top 40 house band hoping to be discovered. In 2002, Kent got his first touring gig with singer/songwriter Anthony Smith. Since touring with Smith, Kent has had the opportunity to tour and record with Pam Tillis for five years as well as working with such artists as; Kelly Keagy(Night Ranger), Gatlin Brothers, Oak Ridge Boys, Suzy Boguss, James Otto, Bill Medley(Rightious Brothers), Mary Sue Englund, Reggie Vinson(Alice Cooper), Bobby Terry(producer/songwriter, Cowboy Crush and many more. Kent currently plays with country music artist Luke Bryan. Luke has been fortunate enough to tour with artists such as; Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts, Tim Mcgraw and headlined his own “Tailgates and Tanlines” tour in 2011. Luke has had many number ones and top ten hits including; “Do I”, “Rain is a Good Thing”, “Someone Else Calling You Baby”, “Country Girl Shake It” and “I Don’t Want This Night to End”. Kent performed with Luke on the CMA Awards, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Jimmy Kimmel Show, Ellen Degeneres, The Today Show, Regis and Kelly, and the CMT Awards. With passion and determination to be the best player he can be, he has brought a uniqueness and energy to the bands he has played with. “I like to think of myself as a pocket player…groove oriented.” Although he started out “stealing licks from hundreds of influential drummers”, he feels he has developed a style of his own. Very technical and precise, he leaves no room for error. “When performing live, while staying true to the recorded version of the song, I try to make it my own.” In this episode, Kent talks about: Navigating the home recording thing His responsibilities as the drummer for Luke Bryan Keeping your cool when things go haywire Becoming a full-time musician His approach to clinics Bus etiquette His pre-show ritual of watching and finding inspiration from opening acts How he spends his time off Performing on T.V. (talk shows etc..) Kent endorses: Ahead, Zildjian Cymbals, Ludwig Drums, Vic Firth Sticks

6 Syys 20171h 1min

Matt Jorgensen was born and raised in Seattle and caught the jazz bug in high school. It sent him to New York in 1992 to study at the recently formed New School, after which he worked around town until 2002 when he returned to his hometown. He has since maintained an active performance schedule as a leader and sideman, playing with many modern jazz greats including Peter Bernstein, Reggie Workman, and Sam Yahel. He is also the cofounder of Seattle-based Origin Records and The Ballard Jazz Festival, and composes for recording projects, commercials, web series, films, and theatrical productions. In this podcast, Matt talks about: The influence of experiencing other art forms How to bring a signature approach and voice to many different styles and genres His experience at The New School, and how his career is still built on the relationships he formed there Spending his 20s playing anything and everything in New York What brought him back to Seattle, and how he has gotten to do more of what he wants to do there since. Living and working in Seattle, before and after the tech boom Working with public and private sponsors to get new music heard How time spent away from the drumset on other responsibilities can “reset” his drumming and ideas Composing for solo drumset/percussion How finding his voice as a composer is just like finding his voice as a drummer – identifying strengths, playing to them, and being authentic https://youtu.be/J8YeXU7Zsl0

30 Elo 20171h 13min

Robert Breithaupt is a veteran of over 40 years in music, as a performer, arts administrator, educator, author, musical contractor, entrepreneur, and visionary in the arts. Breithaupt has performed in diverse solo, small ensemble and orchestral settings and has appeared with a virtual “Who’s Who” of great jazz talents and scores of other noted artists. As drummer/percussionist for trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling, Broadway star Sandy Duncan and other artists, he has performed with dozens of professional orchestras throughout the United States and abroad. As Executive Director of the Jazz Arts Group of Columbus from 2001 until 2012, Breithaupt’s vision helped to shape the nation’s oldest not-for-profit jazz organization into a comprehensive, working model for performance, education, and community engagement. He developed the concept for the unique JAG Jazz Academy, a 5,000 square-foot facility dedicated to instruction of jazz and American music for all ages.   In 2011, JAG received the Columbus Foundation Award as the top non-profit organization in Columbus, and the first performing arts organization to have ever received this distinction. In 1981, Breithaupt was a co-founder of Columbus Pro Percussion, Inc., recognized today as one of the nation’s top comprehensive retail percussion outlets; he served as Vice-President until 2006. He is also Past-President of the Percussive Arts Society, the world’s largest percussion membership organization. He has been a musical contractor for over 20 years, and is the President of RBMusic, Inc. Breithaupt is recognized internationally as one of today’s leaders in percussion education, and has conducted workshops and clinics throughout the world on the subject. He is Professor of Music and Department Chair of Performance Studies at Capital University, and since 1978 has built what is viewed as one of the nation’s top undergraduate percussion programs. Breithaupt is the author of The Complete Percussionist (Barnhouse), one of the standard textbooks in percussion education, and the instructional DVD Snare Drum Basics (Hudson). The recipient of numerous honors and awards, Breithaupt received Bowling Green State University’s Outstanding Graduate Award, was a fellow in the Jefferson Academy for Leadership and Governance, participated in the Stanford Graduate School of Business’ Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders in the Arts and was the founding chair of the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium (CCLC). He is currently a member of the board and executive committee of Experience Columbus, where he represents the viewpoint of the arts community in dialogue surrounding the role of arts and culture in economic development and civic value. In this episode, Bob talks about: Traveling to Beirut, Lebanon for a drum workshop The way young students consume information Recognizing the drum-set as a “folk instrument” What lead to Bob teaching at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio Creating and managing a diverse workload Leveraging your skills into a lifetime career How his teaching has evolved and changed over time Drawing from your experiences when teaching The love of teaching Bob endorses: Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Remo drum heads and Innovative Percussion sticks

23 Elo 20171h 16min

Steve Fidyk’s career has been a balance between military service in the Army Field and Army Blues bands, civilian life as a member or leader of various creative projects, and academia as an author, clinician, and Artist in Residence at Temple University. The son of a weekend warrior sax player, Steve was encouraged to pursue music from an early age. He began sitting in with his dad’s band and by age 11, was getting called for gigs. He went on to study with Ed Soph and Joe Morello before winning the drum chair for the funk group in the Army Field Band and later the Army Blues big band. With Annapolis, MD as his home base, Steve has been able to maintain a presence in multiple east coast cities including Baltimore, Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York. In this podcast, Steve talks about: How orchestral training helped shape his drumset playing Studying with Ed Soph and Joe Morello, who kept him focused on musical and technical development rather than professional ambition, and how their style of teaching lays the foundation for a student to pursue anything Spending equal time developing mechanics and concept Always viewing his music career through the lens of providing for his family His career in the military, the single largest employer of musicians in the world Working for an institution while avoiding an institutional mindset How “staying current” outside his military gig kept him busy and motivated outside of it, and is making the transition away from it easier Steve endorses Mapex drums, DW hardware and pedals, Zildjian cymbals, Remo drumheads, Vater sticks, and LP percussion.

16 Elo 20171h 21min

Originally from upstate New York, Seth began playing drums at the age of three. By age nine, he was sitting in with local bands and even backing up his elementary school choir. He’s been in the Nashville music scene for 15 years and is currently the touring drummer for Keith Urban. Other artists Seth has worked for include Gary Allan, Joe Nichols, Phil Vassar, and Little Big Town. While with Little Big Town, Seth was given the opportunity to record on two records and work with producer Jay Joyce. When Seth isn’t on the road, he is in the studio recording and collaborating with some of Nashville’s top writers, musicians, and producers. In this episode, Seth talks about: Working with Keith Urban and how the gig came about Performing on “festival dates” Getting let go from a gig and seeing it as an opportunity Recording with Little Big Town and producer Jay Joyce Creating unique sounds in the studio through non-traditional means The influence of a musical family growing up Studying with George Lawrence Balancing family and touring Seth endorses: Zildjian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion, Gibraltar Hardware and Gretsch Drums

10 Elo 20171h 14min