Welcome back to The Drum Panel with me, Ben Hilzinger, alongside Eric Urrea and Kris Mazzarisi. We cover a lot of ground today, but most of our conversation centers around image—what it means, how it evolves, and why it matters. It’s a loaded topic that hits everyone differently, but we do our best to share honest takes from our experiences as working musicians. Think of it as equal parts peer therapy and real-world advice for drummers coming up in the scene.

-

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.

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

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.

Lately I’ve been fortunate to have guests who’ve already appeared in other drummers’ Big Fat Fives, and today’s guest is one of them: Terry Silverlight.

Terry’s career is so deep and wide-ranging that I almost don’t even want to start listing artists. His discography is massive — you can check it out on his website HERE and he’s still extremely active today. He was already recording at 14 on his brother Barry Miles’ record, and he hasn’t slowed down since. Along the way he’s worked with everyone from George Benson to Roberta Flack to Natalie Merchant, just to name a few.

This episode doesn’t veer from the Big Fat Five format, but Terry interleaves the records that shaped him with the way music has been ingrained in his life from day one. I mention this at the top of our chat, but it’s worth saying again here — the through-line of music in Terry’s story is undeniable.

Toward the end, I also ask him about a session that came up in Aaron Steele’s episode a while back, when Aaron brought up Terry’s work with the band Change. If you haven’t heard that one, go back and check it out — Aaron’s a young legend in his own right.

-

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.

SONGS PLAYED IN THIS EPISODE:

Artist – Barry Miles
Album – White Heat
Release Year – 1972
Key Track – "White Heat"
Drummer – Terry Silverlight

Artist – Max Roach
Album – Max Roach + 4 ... On The Chicago Scene
Release Year – 1958
Key Track – "Memo: To Maurice"
Drummer – Max Roach

Artist – The Tony Williams Lifetime
Album – Emergency!
Release Year – 1969
Key Track – "Emergency"
Drummer – Tony Williams

Artist – Ravi Shankar & Alla Rakha
Album – The Genius of Pandit Ravi Shankar
Release Year – 1990
Key Track – "Yaman - Gat in Matta Tal"
Tabla – Alla Rakha

Artist – Shakti
Album – Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live)
Release Year – 2025
Key Track – "5 In The Morning, 6 In The Afternoon"
Tabla – Zakir Hussain

Artist – McCoy Tyner
Album – Trident
Release Year – 1975
Key Track – "Elvin (Sir) Jones"
Drummer – Elvin Jones

Artist – Airto Moreira
Album – Fingers
Release Year – 1973
Key Track – "Fingers (El Rada)"
Drummers – Airto Moreira & Ivan Conti

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

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

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.

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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.

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

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. 

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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.

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

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!

-

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.

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

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:

-

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

-

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.

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

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:

-

Artist – Pearl Jam

Album – Vs.

Release Year – 1993

Key Track – “Go”

Drummer – Dave Abbruzzese

-

Artist – Owsley

Album – Owsley

Release Year – 1999

Key Track – “Oh No the Radio”

Drummer – Chris McHugh

-

Artist – Jeff Buckley

Album – Grace

Release Year – 1994

Key Track – “Mojo Pin”

Drummer – Matt Johnson

-

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

-

Artist – Dogs of Peace

Album – Speak Release

Year – 1996

Key Track – “The Truth”

Drummer – John Hammond

-

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.

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

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.

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

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

———

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.

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

Welcome back to The Drum Panel!

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

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.

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