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

20 Jul 20231h 6min

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 and groove that he and Cory both come from Releasing an online drum course with Cory, and his "overtone control" cymbal dampeners Playing with Victor Wooten Uncle Bronco, his trio project with organist Ty Bailie and guitarist Adam McPhail

13 Jul 20231h 13min

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

6 Jul 20231h 23min

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 convey respect as a performer, which he takes into all performances Touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and the challenge of playing true old school big band style with no bebop How tech has changed how we prepare for gigs, for better or for worse The genesis and scope of his youtube channel Being able to anticipate what content might be popular, i.e. manufacturing a viral video Tech tips to improve the audio and video quality of your online presence

29 Jun 20231h 28min

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

22 Jun 20231h 28min

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 episode, Joe talks about: Studying with Alan Dawson How he arrived at his "just play time" identity as a jazz drummer the centrality of the ride cymbal in all jazz drumming The difference between playing with someone and playing for them Why he chooses to almost always perform in a suit and tie

15 Jun 202351min

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 Defense and more. In this episode, Mark talks about:    Getting out of his comfort zone    The power of curiosity    His online program: The Big 3: Steps to the Big Stage    When you say no to something, you are saying yes to something else.    Having a clear objective when practicing

8 Jun 20231h 34min

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 bassist and organist Being surrounded by Latin music in his childhood neighborhood in the Upper West Side Making his album a culmination of all his mentors What he learned about music from his dad vs. his mom What he learned and continues to learn from Michael Carvin How music has served as a between him and his dad later in life

30 Mai 20231h 5min