For most of us, Steve Smith needs no introduction. He’s simply one of the most influential drummers of our time. 

• He was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame for his work with Journey
• He’s also considered one of the top jazz and fusion drummers
• He’s led his own group Vital information for more than 40 years
• On top of all that he’s produced some of the best educational books and videos for drummers - I’m currently obsessed with the brush video he did with Adam Nussbaum where they sit down with Billy Hart, Eddie Locke, Joe Morello, Charlie Persip and Ben Riley who demonstrate their technique. It’s incredible.

Anyway, it’s a huge deal that I got to talk to Steve. I’ve been a fan since I was a teenager. 

Before we get going I want to give a big thanks to friend of the show Scott Amendola for connecting us. And of course, I have to thank Steve for being so generous with his time. 

As always, I'll put links to everything we talk about in the show notes and on the blog at practicing drummer.com and with that let's get right into it with Steve Smith.

https://www.vitalinformation.com/

https://www.instagram.com/stevesmithdrums/

https://www.youtube.com/stevesmithchannel

The music included with this episode is Sumo by Vital Information.

Full show notes and links:
https://www.practicingdrummer.com/podcast-e15-steve-smith

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Recorded June 2025

Ron Tierno's name first came up in my interview with Hank Allen-Barfield, who mentioned studying The Melodic Snare Drummer—a book by Ron—while working with Billy Drummond at Juilliard.

Ron has spent his entire career based in New York, where he did some recording and worked extensively as a Broadway musician. He played on the first national tour of CATS and later joined the show's long-running Broadway production.

These days, Ron teaches out of Good Hands Drum Shop in Manhattan and continues to take on some freelance gigs. For the past decade, he’s also performed in holiday concerts with the Boston Pops. While he still enjoys playing, Ron now primarily identifies as a Broadway veteran and educator, drawing on his decades of experience.

https://www.rontierno.com

Ron's Broadway Drumming 101 interview

Ron's Books

The Melodic Snare Drummer

The Hip-Hop Snare Drummer

The Swingin' Snare Drummer

Good Hands Drum Shop in New York City

https://goodhandsdrumshop.com

Other Links

Andy Lalino – Sit In And Play Along On Drums

Jim Chapin – Profile Of A Jazz Drummer: Skin Tight

Music Minus One – For Drummers Only

The Sons of Champlin - Follow Your Heart

The music included with this episode is The Old Man by Frank Weber.

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Recorded June 2025

Drummer Mark Ferber appears on more than 200 recordings and remains active with several ongoing projects, including ECM artist Ralph Alessi’s This Against That, the Marc Copland Quartet, the Brad Shepik Organ Trio, and the Grammy-nominated big band and nonet led by his twin brother, Alan Ferber.

He maintains a full schedule, performing regularly in jazz clubs and recording studios across Los Angeles and New York, as well as touring internationally. His past collaborations include tours and recordings with a wide range of artists such as Lee Konitz, Gary Peacock, Jonathan Kreisberg, John O’Gallagher, Don Byron, Fred Hersch, Tony Malaby, Anna Webber, Mark Helias, Pete McCann, Matt Pavolka, Michael Attias, and Billy Childs, and many others.

In addition to his work as a player, Mark also teaches at Cal State Fresno and in the Masters program at Musicians Institute in Hollywood.

https://www.markferber.com

Elvin Jones - Different Drummer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igdN9kFCM-s

Charlie Parker Omnibook
https://amzn.to/4eiNDtu

Dave Weckl - Contemporary Drummer + One
https://amzn.to/3TCREPY

Mark Ferber - Anemone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK15bQ6gGK8

Spotify Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Qr8yzWpyj5aSGyUyWnkcT?si=c4fd160435ad45f1

The music included with this episode is the song Spinning Things by Marc Copland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxOK8dXrPXw

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Recorded February 2025

Hank Allen-Barfield is a young drummer living in New York City who recently graduated from Juilliard. 

In college Hank has studied with people like Kenny Washington, Billy Drummond, Paul Wells, and Joe Farnsworth. You can catch Hank playing regularly in New York City or out on the road with Stella Cole.

https://hankallenbarfield.com
https://www.instagram.com/hankallenbarfield

Stella Cole Tour Dates
https://www.stellacole.net

Nica's Dream at Emmet's Place
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB7yhEZ7ccg

Love Walked In at Emmet's Place
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hux2KoN0x74

Tim Metz
https://www.timmetz.com

The Melodic Snare Drummer by Ron Tierno
https://www.rontierno.com/publications

Billy Drummond interview
https://www.practicingdrummer.com/podcast-s1-e3-billy-drummond

George Fludas interview
https://www.practicingdrummer.com/podcast-s1-e4-george-fludas/

The music featured in this episode is from Hank's appearance at Emmet's Place.

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Recorded January 2025

Scott Amendola is a drummer who grew up on the east coast and made his way to the Bay Area after his time at Berklee in Boston. With a career spanning more than three decades, he’s an ambitious composer, bandleader, electronics explorer, first-call accompanist, and educator. 

As a sideman, Scott has performed and recorded with people like Bill Frisell, Regina Carter, John Zorn, Mike Patton, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Laurie Anderson, and many others. 

With his own projects, some of his closest musical associates include guitarists Charlie Hunter, Nels Cline, and Jeff Parker, Hammond B-3 organist Wil Blades, violinist Jenny Scheinman, saxophonist Phillip Greenlief, clarinetist Ben Goldberg, bassists Trevor Dunn, and Todd Sickafoose.

https://scottamendola.com
https://www.instagram.com/scottamendola

The music featured in this episode is from the song Skip a Stop from the SticklerPhonics album Technicolor Ghost Parade.

Full show notes available at https://practicingdrummer.com/podcast-e11-scott-amendola/

SticklerPhonics at Bird & Beckett
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oLpfEJ8MwI

Fade to Orange (orchestral project)
https://scottamendolamusic.bandcamp.com/album/fade-to-orange-feat-nels-cline-trevor-dunn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd1kkv7pyBo

Pete Engelhart Sapo Bell
http://www.peteengelhartmetalpercussion.com/sapo.html

Red Panda pedals
https://www.redpandalab.com/

Drolo pedals
https://drolofx.com/

ZT guitar amps
https://www.ztamplifiers.com/

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Recorded November 2024

Joe Dyson is a drummer from New Orleans who now lives in New York City. His album Look Within has been out for a few years and he hinted at a new solo project and another Bridge Trio album coming in 2025.

Joe has worked with Pat Metheny, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Donald Harrison, Nicholas Payton, Joel Ross, David Weiss, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott), and many others.

Links

https://www.joedyson.com/
https://www.instagram.com/joe_dyson/
https://joedyson.bandcamp.com/album/look-within

Qarkabeb - Moroccan hand cymbals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHQL0js9pSw

Roland SPD
https://www.roland.com/us/categories/drums_percussion/percussion/

Pearl DjemBass
https://www.steveweissmusic.com/product/pearl-djembass/world-percussion-hardware

Cecile McLorin Salvant
https://www.cecilemclorinsalvant.com/

Sullivan Fortner
https://www.sullivanfortnermusic.com/

Joel Ross
https://www.iplayvibes.com/

Donald Harrison
https://donaldharrison.com

Immanuel Wilkins
https://www.immanuelwilkins.com/

Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott)
https://www.chiefadjuah.com/

Bridge Trio
https://thebridgetrio.com/

The music featured in this episode is from the song Fleeting Faith his album Look Within.

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Recorded June 2024

Jeremy Dutton is drummer from Houston who now lives in New York City. He was featured in Modern Drummer magazine last year and his first album as a leader, Anyone is Better Than Here, has been out for almost exactly a year. Aside from his solo projects, he plays regularly with Joel Ross, Vijay Iyer, James Francies, and many other great artists.

Links:

• imjeremydutton.com
• Instagram
• Jeremy Dutton @ stephan's basement
• Jeremy Dutton x Cycle Studios: Solo Sessions
• James Francies - Levitate
• James Francies - My Favorite Things

The music featured in this episode is the song Waves from his album Anyone is Better Than Here.

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Recorded April 2024

Colleen Clark earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas and after living in NYC for many years, she’s now an Assistant Professor of Jazz at the University of South Carolina. 

In addition to her role at USC, Colleen has several musical projects and the recent album with her band Alliance received a 4 star review in Downbeat. She is also the founder and artistic director of USC’s Jazz Girls Day.

Links:

• colleendrums.com
• Instagram
• Alliance
• Jazz Girls Day
• Gordon Stout
• Good Hands Drum Shop
• Steve Maxwell Drums
• Frank Pepe
• Sally's Apizza

The music featured in the episode is the song Wingspan off of Alliance's latest album.

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Recorded March 2024

Geoff Clapp spent the majority of his career in New Orleans where he was mentored by Ellis Marsalis, Herlin Riley, Shannon Powell, and many others. He has a couple of great albums out as a leader and has played with Dianne Reeves, Benny Green, Charlie Hunter, Sam Fribush, Wynton Marsalis, Nicolas Payton, and many others.

Links:

• Geoff Clapp - Instagram - Hit him up for lessons!
• Percussionist Alexi Marti live on WWOZ
• Johnny Vidacovich
• Herlin Riley live with Emmett Cohen
• Shannon Powell on jazz funeral drumming

The music featured in the episode comes from the Geoff Clapp Trio live at Monk's:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rouDlx_kTjw
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSVaSac4Gtg
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHMFtr0PdRU

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Recorded March 2024

From performing with Duke Ellington at just nine years old, having his own band with Marcus Miller and Kenny Kirkland, to playing with Sonny Rollins, Pat Metheny, McCoy Tyner, and countless others, Ronnie has had a really impressive career. 

He's currently staying busy teaching, working with his non-profit called World Rhythm Academy, and playing with his band, Holographic Principle. 

Links:

• ronnieburrage.biz
• Instagram
• World Rhythm Academy
• Holographic Principle live at Clement's Place
• Ronnie with McCoy Tyner

The song featured in this episode is Village of the Darned from the album Neohippus by Jack Walrath. 

My blog post that I mentioned at the top of the episode:
A Hearing Test Saved My Life

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.