Drummers on Drumming

Our guest today is Daniel Glass. Daniel is a renowned drummer, educator, and historian known for his deep expertise in the roots of American drumming, particularly in jazz, swing, and early rock 'n' roll. A member of the pioneering retro-swing band Royal Crown Revue, Glass has performed with a wide array of top artists, blending historical influence with modern flair. His passion for drumming history is reflected in his books, clinics, and instructional videos. The project that introduced Daniel to me was his three-hour documentary called “The Century Project” which explores the evolution of the drum set and drumming styles from 1865 to 1965. Glass is also celebrated for his dynamic, groove-focused playing and his ability to bridge the gap between past and present drumming traditions. Go check out all his happenings at danielglass.com, but for now, please enjoy the 5 records that helped shape Daniel Glass into the drummer 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.

DANIEL'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - Made In Japan

Artist - Deep Purple

Release Year - 1972

Key Track(s) - Highway Star, Space Truckin', The Mule

Drummer - Ian Paice

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Album - Three Quartets

Artist - Chick Corea

Release Year - 1981

Key Track(s) - Quartet No. 1, Quartet No. 2, Part 2

Drummer - Steve Gadd

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Album - Buffalo

Artist - Frank Zappa

Release Year - 2007 (from a 1980 live concert)

Key Track(s) - The Torture Never Stops

Drummer - Vinnie Colaiuta

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Album - Lyric

Artist - Billy Childs

Release Year - 2005

Key Track(s) - In Carson's Eyes, Into the Light, Scarborough Fair, American Landscape

Drummer - Brian Blade, Marvin "Smitty" Smith

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Album - From Darkness

Artist - Avishai Cohen

Release Year - 2015

Key Track(s) - Beyond, Abie, C#-, From Darkness

Drummer - Daniel Dor

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Honorable Mentions:

Album - Blue

Artist - Joni Mitchell

Release Year - 1971

Key Track(s) - All I Want, This Flight Tonight

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Album - The Concert at Carnegie Hall

Artist - Benny Goodman

Release Year - 1938

Key Track(s) - Don't Be That Way, Honeysuckle Rose, Sing, Sing, Sing

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Album - Drumsville

Artist - Earl Palmer

Release Year - 1961

Drummer - Earl Palmer

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Album - Live at the Royal Festival Hall

Artist - John McLaughlin

Release Year - 1989

Key Track(s) - Mother Tongues

Drummer - Trilok Gurtu

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Album - Tiny Resistors

Artist - Todd Sickafoose

Release Year - 2008

Key Track(s) - Allision Miller

Drummer - Everyone Is Going

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

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Episode 2 PART DEUX of The Drum Panel 

Welcome to The Drum Panel—a segment where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions on polarizing and controversial drum topics submitted by our listeners.

Today's episode is the second half of a conversation between myself (Ben), my co-host Eric Urrea and special guest, Kris Mazzarisi (owner/founder of Big Fat Snare Drum & drummer for Winnetka Bowling League).

Today we discuss:

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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.

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Our guest today is Taye Dever, a young drummer from North Carolina who recently came onto my radar and quickly grabbed my attention. Taye draws inspiration from a diverse range of genres, including R&B, Pop, Folk, Rap, Gospel, and more. While his musical style is eclectic, he seems to be a fresh face in the music scene. I’m honored if this is your first introduction to his work. We dive right in, so here are the records that have shaped Taye Dever into the musician 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.

TAYE'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - Not Guilty

Artist - The New Life Community Choir featuring John P. Kee

Release Year - 2000

Key Track(s) - Rain On Us

Drummer - Calvin Rodgers

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Album - Thirsty

Artist - Marvin Sapp

Release Year - 2007

Key Track(s) - Praise Him In Advance

Drummer - Calvin Rodgers

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Album - Confessions

Artist - Usher

Release Year - 2004

Key Track(s) - "Caught Up" Aaron Spears' drum performance @ 2006 Modern Drummer Festival

Drummer - Aaron Spears

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Album - Pure Energy DVD

Artist - Various drummers

Release Year - 2009

Key Track(s) - Rekindled featuring Tony Royster Jr

Drummer - Tony Royster Jr.

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Album - Paramore

Artist - Paramore

Release Year - 2013

Key Track(s) - Ain’t It Fun?, Still Into You

Drummer - Ilan Rubin

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

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Episode 2 of The Drum Panel

Welcome to The Drum Panel—a show where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions on polarizing and controversial drum topics submitted by our listeners.

For today's panel, we have my co-host Eric Urrea and special guest, Kris Mazzarisi (owner/founder of Big Fat Snare Drum & drummer for Winnetka Bowling League).

Today we discuss:

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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.

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Today's guest is Philo Tsoungui, an independent drummer based in Berlin, Germany. Philo has played with many incredible artists both in Germany and internationally, including a recent stint with The Mars Volta.

I can't praise Philo's playing enough; it just works. While it can be categorized as Hip Hop, it's so much more than any single genre, as you'll discover in this episode. Philo shares many incredibly valuable insights, and we actually kicked off our recorded conversation by discussing practice routines (in an ideal world).

So, without further ado, please enjoy the top 5 influences that shaped the incredible Philo Tsoungui. 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.

PHILO'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - Black Orpheus

Artist - Keziah Jones

Release Year - 2003

Key Track - Afrosurrealismfortheladies

Drummer - Joshua McKenzie / Jose Joyette

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Album - The Bedlam in Goliath

Artist - The Mars Volta

Release Year - 2008

Key Track - Wax Simulacra

Drummer - Thomas Pridgen

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Album - Black Radio

Artist - Robert Glasper

Release Year - 2012

Key Track - Afro Blue

Drummer - Chris "Daddy" Dave

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Album - Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group: Live Los Angeles on Sept 14th, 2010 (video)

Artist - Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group

Release Year - 2010

Drummer - Deantoni Parks

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Album - Zildjian K Custom Special Dry Performance 

Artist - Lenny "The Ox" Reece & The Lesson GK

Release Year - 2018

Key Track - The Weekend

Drummer - Lenny "The Ox" Reece

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

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Today, my good friend and fellow professional drummer, Eric Urrea, and I are excited to launch the pilot episode of a new segment on our podcast, tentatively named “The Drum Panel.”

Drummers are known for having strong opinions, and we aim to delve into many of these in a roundtable format. For this first recording, it’s just the two of us, but our vision is to feature multiple drummers from diverse backgrounds in each episode to foster engaging, relatable, and thought-provoking discussions. We invite you to join us on this journey.

Today we discuss:

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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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s guest is Adolfo Torres. Adolfo's musical journey started in Cali, Colombia, and from a young age, his passion for music was evident, leading his parents to enroll him in drum lessons. This early start paved the way for his education at the Drummers Collective in NYC and later at Berklee College of Music on an American Tour Scholarship.

After his studies, Adolfo moved to Austin, TX, playing with artists like JT Coldfire and Jennifer B and the Groove Kings, where he learned about the life of a working musician. In 2013, he returned to Colombia, forming the band M.I.J.O, which blends Classic, Modern, and Progressive Rock. All that being said, I’ve been a big fan of his for a long time and go check out a few of his videos before you listen to our chat. It will set the stage for a lot of what we talk about. I hope you enjoy the five records that shaped Adolfo Torres into the musician 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.

ADOLFO'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - The Inner Mounting Flame

Artist - The Mahavishnu Orchestra

Release Year f- 1971

Key Track(s) - The Noonward Race, Vital Transformation, You Know You Know

Drummer - Billy Cobham

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Album - Paranoid

Artist - Black Sabbath

Release Year - 1970

Key Track(s) - War Pigs, Rat Salad, Fairies Wear Boots

Drummer - Bill Ward

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Album - Red

Artist - King Crimson

Release Year - 1974

Key Track(s) - One More Red Nightmare, Starless

Drummer - Bill Bruford

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Album - Badmotorfinger

Artist - Soundgarden

Release Year - 1991

Key Track(s) - Rusty Cage, Slaves & Bulldozers

Drummer - Matt Cameron

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Album - Amputechture

Artist - The Mars Volta

Release Year - 2006

Key Track(s) - Tetragrammaton, Meccamputechture, Viscera Eyes, Day of the Baphomets

Drummer - Jon Theodore

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HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Band of Gypsys - Hendrix 

Presence - Led Zeppelin 

Bridge of Sighs - Robin Trower 

Tony Williams Lifetime: The Collection

Master of Reality - Black Sabbath

10,000 Days - Tool 

Deloused in the Commatorium - The Mars Volta

Down on the Upside - Soundgarden 

Gretchen Goes to Nebraska - King’s X

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

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Our guest today is none other than Jost Nickel, a renowned German drummer, composer, and educator. Jost is part of the golden generation of drummers from Germany, alongside his friends and fellow drumming legends Anika Nilles, Marco Minnemann, and Benny Greb.

Currently, Jost keeps busy with Jan Delay and Disko No. 1, but his talent has graced many hit records both in Germany and beyond. He's also had the privilege of playing with jazz greats like Randy Brecker, Jeff Lorber, Jimmy Haslip, Barry Finnerty, and many more.

In addition to his impressive performance career, Jost has authored four highly successful instructional books: Jost Nickel’s GROOVE BOOK, Jost Nickel’s FILL BOOK, Jost Nickel’s SNARE BOOK, and Jost Nickel’s BEGINNER BOOK.

I absolutely love Jost’s playing. It's always so crisp, clear, snappy, and incredibly creative, yet it always feels good. Today, we're diving into the five records that have helped shape Jost Nickel into the phenomenal drummer 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.

JOST'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - The Dream of the Blue Turtles

Artist - Sting

Release Year - 1985

Key Track - Shadows in the Rain

Drummer - Omar Hakim

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Album - Master Plan

Artist - Dave Weckl

Release Year - 1990

Key Track - Tower of Inspiration

Drummer - Dave Weckl

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Album - True Colors

Artist - Level 42

Release Year - 1984

Key Track - Kansas City Milkman

Drummer - Phil Gould

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Album - This Time

Artist - Al Jarreau

Release Year - 1980

Key Track(s) - Spain (I Can Recall)

Drummer - Steve Gadd

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Album - Synchronicity

Artist - The Police

Release Year - 1983

Key Track - King of Pain

Drummer - Stewart Copeland 

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

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This week's guest is Nick Wilkerson. For the past decade, Nick has been the drummer for the critically acclaimed Louisville, KY rock band, White Reaper. Recently, he decided to embark on a solo journey as an independent artist, and I’m eager to see what he creates next.

I always invite drummers on this show who truly move me with their playing. I discovered Nick’s videos on Instagram and was immediately impressed before I even realized he was the drummer for White Reaper, a band I really admire. Check out his videos, and you'll understand why.

I was stoked to have this conversation with Nick, and it’s moments like these that make me love what I do. Now, enjoy as we explore the five records that helped shape Nick Wilkerson into the musician 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.

NICK'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 Soundtrack

Artist - Various

Release Year - 2001

Key Track(s) - Boy Who Destroyed The World (AFI), If You Must (Del The Funkee Homosapien), Amoeba (Adolescents)

Drummer - Various

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Album - American Idiot

Artist - Green Day

Release Year - 2004

Key Track(s) - Jesus of Suburbia, St Jimmy, Homecoming

Drummer - Tre Cool

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Album - Bad Brains

Artist - Bad Brains

Release Year - 1982

Key Track(s) - Attitude, Banned in DC, Big Takeover

Drummer - Earl Hudson

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Album - Live At Leeds

Artist - The Who

Release Year - 1970

Key Track(s) - Heaven And Hell, Can’t Explain, Happy Jack

Drummer - Keith Moon

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Album - Wonderful Rainbow

Artist - Lightning Bolt

Release Year - 2003

Key Track(s) - Assassins, Two Towers, Crown of Storms

Drummer - Brian Chippendale

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

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This week's guest is Isaiah Weatherspoon, a Philadelphia-based drummer who started playing at the age of four. He went on to graduate from Berklee College of Music in 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in Music Production and Engineering. Over the years, Isaiah has performed with an impressive roster of artists, including Lizz Wright, Greg Phillinganes, Lauren Talese, Leehom Wang, Justin Timberlake, Sister Sledge, and many more.

I first noticed Isaiah when I saw a video on Instagram of him using one of our Big Fat Snare Drum Steve's Donuts on his floor tom during an outdoor concert. He was going crazy on the drums, and I was truly impressed. His positive energy and outlook made this conversation a real pleasure. Plus, we dive into a fascinating topic: synesthesia, a perceptual phenomenon that Isaiah proudly embraces.

So, without further ado, here are the five records that have shaped Isaiah Weatherspoon into the musician he is today. Cheers!

Check out his book: MUSIC IS COOL! Music Coloring Book for Kids

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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.

ISAIAH'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - Not Guilty

Artist - John P Kee

Release Year - 2000

Key Track - Rain On Us

Drummer - Calvin Rodgers

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Album - Purpose By Design

Artist - Fred Hammond and Radical For Christ

Release Year - 2000

Key Track - Jesus Be a Fence Around Me

Drummer - Marvin McQuitty

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Album - In A Dream

Artist - Gretchen Parlato

Release Year - 2009

Key Track - Butterfly

Drummer - "No drums on this record. But I believe Kendrick Scott plays on album"

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Album - Ten Summoner's Tale

Artist - Sting

Release Year - 1993

Key Track(s) - Seven Days

Drummer - Vinnie Colaiuta

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Album - Choose Your Weapon

Artist - Hiatus Kaiyote

Release Year - 2015

Key Track - By Fire

Drummer - Perrin Moss

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

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