KRCB-FM: Percussion Discussion

Will Clipman began playing his father's drums and his mother's piano at the age of three, and has, since then, mastered a pan-global palette of percussion in addition to the traditional drum set. He has recorded over fifty albums, including twenty-one for Canyon Records, where he is regarded as the house percussionist.

Will's music has received many honors, including six Grammy nominations, and three Native American Music Awards. While he is not an officially enrolled member of any tribe, Will acknowledges his family's indigenous heritage by identifying himself as as a Saamokee, a word he coined combining his Cherokee lineage on his father's side with his Saami lineage on his mother's side. This deep ancestral influence infuses Will's recordings and live performances, and informs his approach to the drum as both a musical instrument and a shamanic implement.

Daniel Glass is an award-winning drummer, author, historian and educator. He is widely recognized as one of today's foremost authorities on classic American drumming. A member of the pioneering swing group Royal Crown Revue since 1994, Daniel has recorded and performed all over the world with many top artists, including Brian Setzer, Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli and KISS frontman Gene Simmons For the past two years, he has been voted one of the top five R&B drummers in the world by readers of Modern Drummer and DRUM magazine.

As an educator, Daniel has published five books and three DVDs, including the multi-award winning titles The Century Project, and The Commandments of Early Rhythm and Blues Drumming. He is a regular contributor to publications like Modern Drummer, DRUM and Classic Drummer. He performs clinics and master classes globally, appearing at many of the world's top drumming festivals. His acclaimed clinics focus on the evolution of the drum set and the impact that this unique instrument has had on American popular music.

Think some of your favorite records from the 1960's and 1970's were really recorded by the bands credited? Think again. Percussion Discussion interviews Denny Tedesco, director of the music documentary "The Wrecking Crew" - the group of studio musicians who really recorded the music on many great records of the sixties and seventies rather than the bands credited. There were many members of the "Wrecking Crew", but some notables are Hal Blaine (drums), Leon Russell (keyboards), Glen Campbell (standup bass), Carole Kaye (electric bass) and Jim Gordon (who co-wrote "Layla).

Part two of "The Wrecking Crew" interviews focuses on Hal Blaine, perhaps the most prolific drummer in rock and roll history. Hal has played on more hit records than any other drummer in the rock era, including 40 #1 singles and 150 that made the Top Ten.

Director Tedesco's father was a guitar player for the group. Get the real story on this fabulous music.

Think some of your favorite records from the 1960's and 1970's were really recorded by the bands credited? Think again. Percussion Discussion interviews Denny Tedesco, director of the music documentary "The Wrecking Crew"- the group of studio musicians who really recorded the music on many great records of the sixties and seventies rather than the bands credited. There were many members of the "Wrecking Crew", but some notables are Hal Blaine (drums), Leon Russell (keyboards), Glen Campbell (standup bass), Carole Kaye (electric bass) and Jim Gordon (who co-wrote "Layla).

Director Tedesco's father was a guitar player for the group. Get the real story on this fabulous music.

“To play the unplayed”, that is the self proclaimed lifelong aspiration of multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, educator, and award winning drummer Thomas Lang. Thomas has dedicated his life to the exploration of all things drum. A native of Vienna, Austria, Thomas took up the drums at the tender age of five. He is the founding member of the Los Angeles-based progressive/avant garde metal trio, Stork.

As a session musician, Thomas has played for such artists as Falco, John Wetton, Peter Gabriel, Tina Turner, Kelly Clarkson, Mick Jones, The Commodores, George Michael and Bonnie Tyler just to name a few.

Despite his grueling touring and rehearsal schedule, Thomas remains committed to a rigorous daily practice schedule. “I religiously follow a constantly evolving practice routine. It’s not glamorous, but for me daily practice is a principle source of growth and inspiration in my playing,” says Lang.

Arturo Rodriguez is a percussionist currently based in Seattle. Arturo shares his passion for percussion with the Pacific Northwest and beyond. An accomplished musician, author and teacher, Arturo has performed worldwide, sharing the stage with music legends that include Tito Puente, Paul Horn and Pete Escovedo.

Arturo has several projects in the works, not the least of which include his own companies: "Interact and Learn" drum and percussion classes and lessons, which offer self-study courses, workshops and public and private training for beginner through advanced students. Arturo authored three books in his "Ethnic Percussion Series" and is involved with the "Rhythm Ambassadors" created to bring cultural awareness, specifically the Latin culture on American music.

Arturo recently participated in the "Celebrate World Music" project and concert that featured original works by eight composers with eleven solo artists playing traditional instruments from around the world. Arturo participated in four of the eight compositions on percussion.

Dion Dublin is a retired footballer (soccer player) from England. As an athlete, Dublin achieved much success during his career playing with a variety of teams. Underlying all of this was the desire to make music a bigger part of his life. During one game, Dublin began to formulate the idea of making a new percussive instrument. After retiring from the sports world, and 8 years later, Dion Dublin has introduced "The Dube" to the drumming and percussive world.

The Dube is a wooden cube that is available in four sizes, and different colors. Primarily a hand percussion instrument, a player can also use mallets or sticks to play it. Playable on four sides, it produces sounds similar to a bongo, conga, cajon, all on a wooden playing surface. It can be played acoustically, or each model comes equipped with an internal microphone with a pickup that can be attached to an amplifier for those "electronic" gigs.

Endorsed by such names as drummer Thomas Lang and percussionist Luis Conte, The Dube is sweeping Europe and the USA as the newest in innovative musical instruments. Learn what The Dube is all about-its uses, its cost, and its qualifications to be part of a musicians arsenal.

An interview with acclaimed drummer, composer, producer and bandleader Billy Cobham. Founding member of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and artist with a powerful, complex style of play that has exerted a strong influence on the course of jazz and jazz fusion.

Cobham is also one of the first drummers to play open-handed lead: a drummer that plays on a right handed set, but leads with his left hand on the hi-hat instead of crossing over with his right hand (and also has his ride cymbal on the left side, instead of the traditional right.) He typically plays with multiple toms and double bass drums, and was well known in the 70's for his large drum kits.

Cobham has played with such notables as Miles Davis, John Abercrombie, Peter Gabriel, Carlos Santana, Buddy Miles, and many, many more.

Billy Cobham is an instructor with ArtistWorks, an interactive video school.

Mike Dolbear is an accomplished drummer and advocate for the drumming and percussion industry. In addition to starting the web site mikedolbear.com that has over 85,000 pages of drumming information on musicians, equipment, reviews, etc., Mike was chosen as the integral person to audition, train and coordinate the 1000 drummers that opened the celebration festivities at the 2012 London Olympics.

Mike heads charities and competitions for the drumming world from his business and residence location in England, and is an international ambassador regarding the world of drummers and percussionists.

This interview focuses on the London Olympics and the method by which the drummers from around the world were chosen for the opening ceremonies of this all important event.