Working Drummer

Born in Brooklyn, New York Rick Dior began his professional music career at the age of thirteen, freelancing in and around the metropolitan area in various small ensembles, orchestras and theater productions. He is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with timpanist Fred Hinger and jazz composer Bob Mintzer. He also studied extensively with famed jazz drummer Joe Morello. Rick has performed as a percussionist with a variety of superb artists in many musical genres including James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Al Jarreau, Roberta Flack, Martina McBride, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Linda Rondstadt, Glen Campbell, Bobby McFerrin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Randy Newman, and Marvin Hamlisch. He has added his drum set talents to performances with many great jazz artists including Marvin Stamm, Bill Watrous, Rich Perry, Harold Danko, Clark Terry, Red Rodney, Chris Potter, Lionel Hampton and Russell Malone. Rick also has an extensive orchestral percussion background and has performed as principal percussionist, section percussionist and timpanist with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Charlotte Ballet and Opera Carolina since 1990. As a first-call theater percussionist and drummer in Charlotte NC, Rick has performed in dozens of Broadway show tours. They include Chorus Line, Jesus Christ Superstar, Wicked, The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Spamalot, Hairspray, South Pacific, West Side Story, 9 to 5, Mary Poppins, Bring It On, Newsies, and Beautiful. His recording credits are extensive and include CD releases, movie soundtracks and commercial radio/television spots. As an engineer and producer Rick has been involved in hundreds of recordings. These include recording projects with artists such as Branford Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis, Ed Thigpen, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Spiro, Joey Calderazzo, Michael Carvin, and Jimmy Cobb.

Rick is also a very active educator and has served as the Professor of Percussion at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte since 2001. He also maintains a busy private and online teaching studio.

In this episode, Rick talks about:

⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage

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

Tim Carman is a Nashville-based drummer, author, and educator known for his deep pocket, soulful touch, and command of blues, soul jazz, and roots music. Originally from the Boston area, Carman built his reputation on the New England music scene as a first-call sideman and session musician. From 2018 to 2024, he toured internationally and recorded with GA-20, a three-time Billboard #1 blues artist on Colemine/Karma Chief Records, helping the band earn repeated Boston Music Awards for Blues Act of the Year.

Now based in Nashville, Carman records and tours with Parlor Greens, an organ trio on Colemine Records, and continues to be an in-demand session drummer and bandleader. His playing draws on vintage electric blues grit, organ-jazz lineage, and a shuffle vocabulary that has made him a go-to voice for artists seeking deep feel and stylistic authenticity. Alongside performing, Carman is an active educator, offering lessons, clinics, and online content that connect technique to real-world musical situations for working drummers and emerging players alike.

Carman is the author of six drum books, including The Shuffle Book Vol. 1 (2026), Philly-ISM (2023), and Haynes-ISM (2022), with the latter two nominated by Modern Drummer for Educational Product of the Year. His other titles include Groove Systems (2021), Shape Beats (2020), and Shape Beats for Kids (2017).

In this episode, Tim talks about

Here's our Patreon

Here's our Youtube

Here's our Homepage

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

Evan Hutchings was Born and raised in Arkansas, Evan grew up playing drums at his dad’s church in Fort Smith. He was the kid that would sit behind the drummer during church and soak in every detail and nuance. Once church let out, he’d jump up on the kit and play, until the next church service started a few hours later.
Evan got his first drum set at the age of 8 and began serenading his whole

In this episode, Evan talks about:

Here's our Patreon⁠

⁠Here's our Youtube⁠

⁠Here's our Homepage

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

Sterling Laws is a well-established drummer in LA, having toured and/or recorded with Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, producer Dan Nigro, Natasha Bedingfield, and many others. He is a graduate of Musicians Institute in LA where he studied with Stewart Jean and Kevin Stevens.

In this episode, Sterling talks about:

Here's our Patreon

Here's our Youtube

Here's our Homepage

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

Jeff Brown started his musical journey in Southern California, eventually moving to Nashville, TN when he was 19 years old. He cut his teeth touring and recording with rock bands throughout his 20s, working as a hired gun for both studio sessions and touring artists across many different genres. His resumé includes Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie/The Cure), Paramore, Steve Cropper, Phil Vassar, Thomas Rhett, Casey James (American Idol), Steel Magnolia (Can You Duet), Bucky Covington (American Idol) and many more. His home studio, Shrug Sound Studio is where he records drum tracks remotely and mixes songs for clients all over the world. He also engineers tracks for fellow drummers that don’t have a space to record. Repeat clients Ed Toth (The Doobie Brothers) and Kevin Murphy (Tonic/Jon Pardi), among others, rely on his accessibility, professionalism, and quick turnaround times. His studio is a comfortable and enjoyable place to record music.

In this episode, Jeff talks about:

⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage

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

Gustavo Cortiñas was born and raised in Mexico City. His interest in drumming and jazz took him to Loyola University in New Orleans where he studied with Johnny Vidacovich, and on to Northwestern University in Chicago, where he has lived and worked since. His sixth album as a leader is entitled "The Drum Also Sings."

In this episode, Gustavo talks about:

Gustavo’s new record

Here's our Patreon

Here's our Youtube

Here's our Homepage

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

Chase Adam's musical journey started when he was just three years old, collaborating with his father Thurman in the field of music. He spent many years performing in church and later pursued music education at school, specializing in various genres like concert, symphonic, jazz, and marching percussion. Throughout his early years, he played a significant role in establishing the Indianapolis Colts Drumline and the Indiana Pacers "High Octane" Drumline, while also sharing his expertise with local high school drumlines and offering private lessons. As a skilled freelance drummer living in Nashville with his wife and son, he divides his time between touring with The Frontmen, entertaining audiences at local clubs, and making valuable contributions to recording sessions.

In this episode, Chase talks about:

⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage

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

Chris Draper is a drummer, author, and performance coach based in London. After coming up on the city's Jazz and Fusion scene as the drummer in the house band at the legendary Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, Chris began getting opportunities in musical theatre, culminating in landing the drum chair on the West End production of Hamilton.

His new book, "The Inner Athlete: A Musician's Guide to Performance Conditioning," is the result of what Chris learned through rehabilitation after sustaining two traumatic brain injuries and subsequently getting certified as a personal trainer.

In this episode, Chris talks about:

Here's our Patreon

Here's our Youtube

Here's our Homepage

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

Reuben Spyker is a master technician who has built his career as an educator, artist, and innovative drummer.  Reuben has developed teaching programs that emphasize efficient playing, critical observation, and creativity.  Most recently, Reuben has combined his obsession with detail and interest in art to create an original signature snare drum with the help of master snare builder Ronn Dunnett.  

In this episode, Reuben talks about:

    The many facets of Reubens career

    Using curiosity as inspiration

    Finding joy in things like drawing, building things and Davinci

    Working closely with Ronn Dunnett to build a custom snare drum

    The importance of critiquing yourself

    The power of focus

    Reuben’s different teaching courses

⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage

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

Ross McReynolds has toured and recorded with artists such as Katie Pruitt, Maia Sharp, Juan Solorzano, The Muddy Magnolias, Dynamo, Cory Wong, Kelsey Waldon, Caleb Groh, Jess Nolan and many more. He attended Belmont University in Nashville and lived and worked there for many years after, but recently made the move to LA.

In this episode, Ross talks about:

Here's our Patreon

Here's our Youtube

Here's our Homepage

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