Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming. This is another installment of Big Fat Five—the series where I sit down with my favorite drummers and ask them to break down the five records that shaped how they approach the kit.

This week, I’m joined by the legendary Calvin Rodgers. His playing has helped define modern gospel drumming through his work with Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, and John P. Kee. And speaking of John P. Kee—Calvin’s performance on "Rain On Us" has come up again and again in other drummers’ Big Fat Fives. I had to ask him about it, and his story doesn’t disappoint.

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

CALVIN'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Artist – Walter Hawkins
Album – Love Alive II
Release Year – 1978
Key Track(s) – “Until I Found The Lord”
Drummer – Joel Smith

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Artist – Hezekiah Walker
Album – Oh Lord We Praise You
Release Year – 1991
Key Track(s) – “Oh Lord We Praise You,” “He’s Sweet I Know,” “Walk In The Light”
Drummer – Gerald Heyward

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Artist – Babyface
Album – Unplugged
Release Year – 1997
Key Track(s) – “Whip Appeal,” “I’ll Make Love To You”
Drummer – Ricky Lawson

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Artist – Dave Weckl
Album – Synergy
Release Year – 1999
Key Track(s) – “High Life,” “Cultural Concurrence,” “Tower 99”
Drummer – Dave Weckl

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Artist – Kirk Franklin
Album – The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin
Release Year – 2002
Key Track(s) – “Hossana,” “Don’t Cry,” “Brighter Day”
Drummer – Terry Baker

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Honorable Mention
Artist – Mint Condition
Album – Definition Of A Band
Release Year – 1996
Key Track(s) – “Intro,” “Let Me Be The One,” “Raise Up,” “Sometimes”
Drummers – Stokely Williams, Chris Dave

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

We’re back with another installment of Big Fat Five - a segment of the show where I chat with my favorite drummers about the 5 records that shaped their approach to the instrument. This week’s guest is Zach Danziger...a drummer/composer who refuses to let tradition box him in. From early days with Wayne Krantz to collaborations across jazz, fusion, film, and experimental projects, Zach has built a career that’s as deep as it is unpredictable.

Sometimes you click with everything a guest says…and this conversation was just that. Talking with Zach not only made me more confident in who I am as a player, but also excited to explore elements I've been neglecting.

That being said, I hope you enjoy the 5 records that helped shape Zach Danziger into the player he is today. Cheers. 

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

ZACH'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Artist – Bill Connors
Album – Step It
Release Year – 1985
Key Track – “Step It”
Drummer – Dave Weckl

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Artist – Chaka Khan
Album – Naughty
Release Year – 1980
Key Track – “Clouds”
Drummer – Steve Ferrone

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Artist – McCoy Tyner
Album – Inner Voices
Release Year – 1977
Key Track – Uptown
Drummer(s) – Eric Gravatt & Jack DeJohnette

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Artist – Luther Vandross
Album – Busy Body
Release Year – 1983
Key Track – For the Sweetness of Your Love
Drummer – Yogi Horton

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Artist – Squarepusher
Album – Feed Me Weird Things
Release Year – 1996
Key Track - Squarepusher Theme
Drummer – Programmed by Tom Jenkinson (Squarepusher)

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

Today on The Drum Panel, we’ve got Dave Elitch and Sarab Singh.

Dave has worked with The Mars Volta, Weezer, The 1975, Justin Timberlake, and plenty more. Alongside his playing career, he’s become a sought-after instructor on body mechanics and the psychology of performing. He’s put out two online courses—Getting Out of Your Own Way and Staying Out of Your Own Way—that dive deep into how the body moves behind the kit. His brand-new online course, Your Mind’s Ear, shifts the focus to sound and gear. Check out all of his courses ⁠HERE⁠!

Joining us is our good friend Sarab Singh. He’s an incredibly talented drummer based in Los Angeles and currently plays with MUNA. Beyond that, he’s one of the best hangs I know, and the perfect bridge between me and Dave.

This isn’t just a promo. We cover a lot of ground as always—but Dave’s new course is the glue that holds today’s conversation together.

Check out all of his courses HERE!

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

On this episode of Big Fat Five, I’m joined by drummer Xavier Ware. He’s currently out on the road with Bilmuri, and his playing is UNREAL—able to blaze with the kind of intensity that feels like he’s getting paid by the note, then pivot into a dynamic, nuanced jazz approach with left-foot finesse that I honestly can’t wrap my head around. Both of those styles live so far outside my own playing, which made this conversation especially exciting.

We discuss where he learned the jazz language, how he breaks down the incredibly technical songs he’s known for, and his journey toward appreciating the small things. And ultimately, how you shouldn’t strive for perfect timing or playing, but that perfect feeling, for both you and the audience.

XAVIER'S BIG FAT FIVE:

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Artist – Nerve
Album – Prohibited Beats
Release Year – 2009
Key Track(s) – “Syncopath,” “Jabon,” “Far,” “7even”
Drummer – Jojo Mayer

Artist – Button Masher
Album – The 16bit.Wav
Release Year – 2020
Key Track(s) – “Siblings,” “Meta Knight's Revenge” (from Kirby Superstar)
Drummer – Midi

Artist – Louis Cole
Album – Quality Over Opinion
Release Year – 2022
Key Track(s) – “Laughing in Her Sleep,” “I’m Tight,” “Failing in a Cool Way”
Drummer – Louis Cole

Artist – Sonny Rollins
Album – East Broadway Rundown
Release Year – 1966
Key Track(s) – “Front to Back”
Drummer – Elvin Jones

Artist – Yellowjackets
Album – Blue Hats
Release Year – 1997
Key Track(s) – “CapeTown,” “Statue of Liberty,” “New Rochelle”
Drummer – Will Kennedy

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

I’ve been deep into working on the second book, which has me going back through a bunch of the older conversations. One that really stood out again was with Steve Goold.

If you don’t know, Steve is actually the Steve of Steve’s Donut. He’s also played with Sara Bareilles, Owl City, Mat Kearney, and Scary Pockets, to name a few. But more than the resume, I was reminded how insightful he is. There’s this part where he talks about there being no neutral notes—like, every note carries weight, it’s never just filler. That idea has been rattling around in my head ever since I revisited the chat.

Steve just put out his first release under his own name, a live recording called Solo Improvisations On Drumset, and you can watch the whole thing on YouTube HERE.

STEVE'S BIG FAT FIVE:

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Artist – Pearl Jam

Album – Vs.

Release Year – 1993

Key Track – “Go”

Drummer – Dave Abbruzzese

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Artist – Owsley

Album – Owsley

Release Year – 1999

Key Track – “Oh No the Radio”

Drummer – Chris McHugh

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Artist – Jeff Buckley

Album – Grace

Release Year – 1994

Key Track – “Mojo Pin”

Drummer – Matt Johnson

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Artist – Happy Apple

Album – Body Popping – Moon Walking – Top Rocking

Release Year – 2000

Key Track – “Where Does a Stranger Go on Christmas Eve?”

Drummer – Dave King

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Artist – Dogs of Peace

Album – Speak Release

Year – 1996

Key Track – “The Truth”

Drummer – John Hammond

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

This Drum Panel episode picks up where we left off with Brendan Buckley (Shakira, Morrissey, Perry Farrell) and Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer, Mother Feather). If you missed Part 1, you’ll still follow along just fine—but it’s worth a listen.

We dive right in with drummer nightmares before moving into bigger conversations about finding your own sound, overcoming roadblocks, and balancing identity as both artist and “brand.”

Inside this episode:

———

Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

This Drum Panel brings together Brendan Buckley—drummer for Shakira, Perry Farrell, Morrissey, and more—and one of my closest friends, Gunnar Olsen of Puscifer, Mother Feather, Big Data, and ME to chat about...

...the difference between what works in the practice room and what works in an arena, charting versus memorizing, and how to respect the composition before making it your own. Brendan breaks down the “Shakira machine” and why clarity and projection beat busy parts when you’re playing to the back row.

We also cover deep-dive listening versus casting a wide net, Bowie’s Berlin era, and the time Brendan’s electrician turned out to be one of my favorite drummers—and his too. It’s equal parts practical advice, music history, and great road stories from working drummers.

Inside this episode

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!
🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

Welcome back to The Drum Panel!

Featuring: Ben Hilzinger (me!), Joe Lana Jr. (@thecowboydrummer), and Eric Urrea (Marina City)

Inside this episode:

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. I’m Ben Hilzinger, and this is another installment of Big Fat Five—where I ask my favorite drummers (and, honestly, just favorite people) to break down the five records that shaped how they approach the instrument.

Today’s guest is Cain Daniel. You might’ve caught him on a recent episode of The Drum Panel, but this time he’s here for the Big Fat Five treatment.

I first saw Cain play with Jesus Molina, and his creativity, clarity, and confidence behind the kit instantly stood out in the sea of drum videos I scroll through every day. He’s an LA-based drummer, a Berklee College of Music grad, and in recent years he’s played with Chappell Roan, Derek Hough, Engelbert Humperdinck, and plenty more.

So let’s get into the five records that helped shape Cain Daniel into the drummer he is today. And while this isn’t a Drum Panel episode, we still take a few fun side quests along the way.

CAIN'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Artist - Dave Weckl

Album - Master Plan

Release Year  - 1990

Drummer - Dave Weckl

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Artist - Dave Matthews Band

Album - Busted Stuff

Release Year - 2002

Key Track - "Grey Street"

Drummer - Carter Beauford

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Artist - Tigran Hamasyan

Album - Mockroot

Release Year - 2015

Drummer - Arthur Hnatek

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Artist Rufus & Chaka Khan

Album - Stompin’ at the Savoy

Release Year - 1983

Drummer John "JR" Robinson

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Artist - Tower of Power

Album - Back to Oakland

Release Year - 1974

Key Track(s) - "Don’t Change Horses (In the Middle of a Stream)"

Drummer - David Garibaldi

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HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Artist - Avishai Cohen

Album - Gently Disturbed

Release Year - 2008

Drummer - Mark Guiliana

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Artist - Dirty Loops

Album - Loopified

Release Year - 2014

Drummer - Aron Mellergard

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.

---

Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok.