Working Drummer

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Working Drummer episodes

June 02, 2022371 - Jerry Pentecost: Drumming for Old Crow Medicine Show, Dealing with Systemic Racism, Traditional Country Drumming and Serving the Song
Drummer and Nashville native, Jerry Pentecost has played with John Prine, Brent Cobb, Amanda Shires, Caitlin Rose, Aaron Lee Tasjan, and many others. In 2018 he became only the second drummer ever nominated for the Americana Music Association’s Instrumentalist of the Year award.
Since around 2019, Jerry has been the drummer for the Grammy award winning group, Old crow Medicine Show.
In this episode, Jerry talks about:
   Loyalty over pay when juggling multiple gigs
   Playing the Medallion Ceremony at the Country Music Hall of Fame honoring Eddy Bayers
   Drumming for Old Crow Medicine Show
   Covering many roles with OCMS including playing mandolin, bones and singing
   Recording the latest OCMS record, Paint This Town
   Two op-eds he wrote for the Tennessean focusing on Black History
   Dealing with systemic racism
   Traditional country drumming and serving the song

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1 hr 38 min
May 26, 2022370 - Eric Slick: Playing with Dr. Dog and Waxahatchee, Building Songs Around Drum Sounds
Eric Slick is a product of the Philly area where he began touring with Dr. Dog. After relocating to Nashville in 2018, he continued that gig until the band’s recent hiatus, and has gone on to perform with Waxahatchee and The Crooked Rhythm Band among others. He is also a singer, songwriter, and producer in his own right, his latest release as a solo artist is an album of ten original songs called Wiseacre.
In this episode, Eric talks about
His ongoing studio learning process
The power of "no" - filling your schedule vs. being fulfilled
Playing with the Crooked Rhythm band and digging into the Fela Kuti/Tony Allen stuff
His interest in late 70s/early 80s drum machines and productions
Wrestling with drums and mics vs. wrestling with the computer
How Nashville is becoming a place for everyone, musically and otherwise
His "jazz damage"

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1 hr 19 min
May 19, 2022369 - Al Murray: The British Drum Company, His 2nd WW podcast: We Have Ways of Making You Talk
Al Murray is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of the British Drum Company
He is also one of the UK’s most recognizable comedians! In his guise as the Pub Landlord he has played drums with the likes of Phil Collins and Queen as well as touring the world appearing on TV and radio.
Al has published books and is planning a movie, but his first love is drums. A keen and enthusiastic drummer, Al has played since he was a kid, and is currently active in the band 'Fat Cops'.
Lastly, Al and historian James Holland discuss all matters Second World War with their immensely popular podcast, We Have Ways of Making You Talk. The podcast is a bi-weekly show exploring the war in close up and James and Al have a stunning knowledge of the subject.
In this episode, Al talks about:
   His podcast, “We Have Ways of Making You Talk”
   His interest in the 2nd World War
   The British Drum Company
   The variety of snare drums that The British Drum Company offers
   His full time gig as a touring comic act, the Pub Landlord
   How the history of drum manufacturing is also the history of manufacturing

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1 hr 6 min
May 12, 2022368 - Danny Paschall: From Metal to Mainstream to Experimental, Playing with Col. Bruce Hampton and Brent Hinds
Danny Pachall has been active on the Atlanta scene for nearly 20 years with gigs ranging from the most precise metal to the most experimental improvisation. He toured with "blues surrealist" Col. Bruce Hampton and was part of the long-standing jam session hosted by bassist Kevin Scott. He has also toured and recorded with metal guitar heavyweight Emil Werstler, Zappa alum Ike Willis, tribute outfit Georgia Players Guild, and many others. He is currently in the house band for "Metalsome Mondays," a live band metal karaoke show, and most recently he was tapped to perform live and record for a new side project by Mastadon's Brent Hinds.
In this episode, Danny talks about
His view of the current metal landscape
His "Jim Keltner" approach to Brent Hinds' project
Recording and touring with Emil Werstler's metal project "Verlorener"
The influence of bassist Kevin Scott, and the role Kevin's experimental jam session on the Atlanta creative scene
Playing with Col. Bruce Hampton
Being capable of the precision of metal and the freeness of experimental music, sometimes simultaneously
Getting over imposter syndrome - being a jack of all trades vs. needing a musical home

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1 hr 14 min
May 05, 2022367 - Jim Brock: Developing Your Own Voice with Percussion, Recording in the Pre-Digital Era
Jim Brock has proven to be an innovator in the world of drums and percussion. Within his forty five year career he has appeared on literally hundreds of recordings with artists such as Joe Walsh, Joan Baez, Kathy Mattea, Joe Cocker, Janis Ian, River Phoenix, and James McMurtry. With five solo recordings and a DVD entitled The Nature Of Drumming, Jim Has traveled the world extensively with performances on The Tonight Show, A Prairie Home Companion, Good Morning America, MTV, and multiple appearances on The View, just to name a few. Among these include a concert at the White House for President Clinton in 2000. In 2007, Jim was asked to compose the music for the documentary "The Spirit of Sacajawea". For this work he is the recipient of the prestigious Telly award, and was nominated for an Emmy award in the category of Composer/Arranger.
In this episode, Jim talks about:
   Learning to develop his own voice with percussion
   When and when not to use traditional patterns and feels
   Recording with Joe Walsh
   Recording in the pre-digital era
   Living and working in Charlotte NC
   The recording scene in Charlotte
   The rhythm of life itself
   Recording with Steve Gadd, Alex Acuna, Mel Lewis and others

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1 hr 23 min
April 28, 2022366 - Brian Steever: Finding and Exploring His Unique Voice in Kansas City, Letting Sounds and Ideas Guide The Way
Brian Steever is a drummer on a mission to inject joy into every musical situation that he finds himself. One of the most in-demand drummers on the Kansas City scene, the drums have been his passion since he was born. He began his studies with Loyd Warden in Columbia Missouri and is an alumnus of UMKC where he studied with Doug Auwarter, Brandon Draper, Curtis Lundy, Michael Carvin and Bobby Watson. Brian enjoys many performance opportunities in the Kansas City area and beyond. He can be seen around town with Mike Metheny, Matt Otto, Bob Bowman, Jeff Harshbarger, and Hermon Mehari. Brian has also had opportunity to play with musicians from all over the world including Ben Allison, Javon Jackson, Deborah Brown, Bob Sheppard, Tony Tixier, Shunzo Ohno, and Sam Newsome among others.
In this episode, Brian talks about:
Having the three strong influences of a mentor, a peer, and a community all before he left high school
How the Kansas City jazz scene is supportive of everyone's unique voice
His experience at University of Missouri-Kansas City
The influence of Matt Wilson - being effortless and intentional
Exploring sounds and ideas vs. practicing drums
The never-ending matched vs. traditional conundrum

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1 hr 13 min
April 21, 2022365 - Shannon Forrest: Performing With Spirit and Intent, The Confidence of Jeff Porcaro, Staying in Contact With Your Muse
As a session drummer, Shannon Forrest has contributed to the work of many well-known artists, including Brooks & Dunn, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Chieftains, Willie Nelson, Ricky Skaggs, Trisha Yearwood, Lee Ann Womack, Jerry Douglas, Merle Haggard, and many others. Shannon is also a producer and engineer.
Born in Easley, South Carolina and now living in the countryside just outside of Nashville, Shannon's recording career is unparalleled. In his twenty-plus years as one of Nashville’s top session drummers, he's constantly in demand for practically every top artist that town produces. The list includes mega stars Brooks & Dunn, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith, Faith Hill, Sugarland, Tracy Lawrence, LeAnn Rimes, The Chieftains, Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson, Alabama, Art Garfunkel, Ricky Skaggs, Trisha Yearwood, Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack, Gretchen Wilson, Merle Haggard, Trace Adkins…and countless others. Shannon Forrest is a recipient of the Academy of Country Music’s Top Drummer/Percussionist Of The Year.
In this episode Shannon talks about:
   The confidence of Jeff Porcaro
   The “inter-dynamics” of the Rosanna shuffle
   What separates the “session musician” from others
   The intent of building his own studio
   The production of the Tom Bukovac record - Plexi Soul
   Performing with spirit and intent
   Developing a good working relationship with the click
   Recent recording project - Judson McKinney and the Wanderers
   Shannon’s YouTube channel

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1 hr 44 min
April 14, 2022364 - Corey Fonville: The "SuperBlue" Project with Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter, Playing with Butcher Brown, Evolving Through Self-Acceptance
After spending the first part of his career in the New York-based jazz world, Corey Fonville has evolved into playing and producing more groove-based music. With his band Butcher Brown and most recently with Charlie Hunter and Kurt Elling on new album SuperBlue, Corey is exploring playing and tones that are firmly in the supporting role rather than the more explosive/interactive jazz role. Corey is the product of a couple of non-traditional educational environments; The New School in New York and the Dave Brubeck Institute in Stockton, CA, and his jazz resume includes Christian Scott, Nicholas Payton, Jacky Terrasson and many more. But he has found himself moving past that world in search of drumming and music that's more true to his musical identity and values.
In this episode, Corey talks about:
How the SuperBlue project came about, and how Charlie and Kurt turned to him to help shape it
Being a bridge between Kurt's energy and Charlie's energy
Being influenced by Kareem Riggins, Kendrick Scott, Obed Calvaire, and other New York jazz drummers
How sounding like other drummers is a step in the journey to sounding like you
Ways he's thinking about combining his new musical identity with the jazz world he used to inhabit, and approaching jazz with a production mindset
How turning something down or moving away from a certain music requires self-acceptance

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1 hr 8 min
April 07, 2022363 - Nate Felty: Being Yourself on the Session or Gig, Seeking Out New Music and Experiences, Teaching and Learning
Originally from Syracuse, New York, Nate Felty is an experienced live/session drummer and educator who enjoys performing a wide range of musical styles. Nate has been living and working in Nashville, Tennessee since 2012 and earned his Masters in Commercial Music at Belmont University in 2014.
Nate is the drummer for Nashville-based, nationally touring country/roots artist, Kelsey Waldon. With Waldon, he has shared the stage on tour with Grammy Award-winning artists such as Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, and John Prine.
Since his arrival in Nashville, Nate has performed and recorded with notable touring bands from Nashville. Among these are The Amanda Broadway Band, Abby Anderson, Devon Gilfillian, Dan Smalley, Marquee Mayfield, and a 9-piece funk/fusion group Dynamo. While with Dynamo, the group earned Nashville Industry Music Awards (NIMA's) in 2015 for "Best Funk/Fusion Band" and "Album of the Year" for their 2015 release, Find Your Way.
When not on tour, Nate is an adjunct professor of drum set at Sewanee University of the South. Nate continues to make his imprint on Nashville's local music community, performing with notable musicians such Roy Agee (Prince), Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band), Micah Hulscher (Margo Price), Jay White (Amos Lee, Cory Henry), Mike Hicks (Rascal Flatts), David Rodgers (Keb Mo), De Marco Johnson (Marc Broussard) and Paul Horton (Alabama Shakes).
In this episode, Nate talks about:
   Being yourself on the session or gig while paying reverence to the genre/style
   His early influence and exposure to jazz
   Following his “North Star” and seeking out new music and experiences
   Playing in the house band for “The Pitch Meeting”
   Understanding musical references when creating parts
   His award winning band Dynamo
   Teaching and learning
   Recovering after snapping a tendon in his left hand

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1 hr 35 min
March 31, 2022362 - Jordan Perlson: An East Coaster Finding His Way in Nashville, Being Intentional About Saying Yes or No,"Async" Drum Coaching
Jordan Perlson has spanned about as wide a stylistic reach as one can imagine. Be it with jazz legends Seamus Blake and Gary Burton, folk heroes Alison Brown and Missy Raines, reggae giants Matisyahu and Trevor Hall, cutting edge music innovators like Becca Stevens, Snarky Puppy, and Jeff Coffin, progressive innovators Adrian Belew or Kaki King, or fusion megastar Hiromi, Jordan has become a known force in these many circles. With credits on 100+ recordings, including national and international ad campaigns, Jordan is as at home in the studio as he is on stage. Having taught at prestigious institutions such as Berklee College of Music, New York University and masterclasses all over the world, Jordan is a passionate educator. An author of 2 books for Mel Bay publishing, Jordan’s books have been translated into several languages and are used the world round by teachers and students of many levels.
In this episode, Jordan talks about:
Why he moved to Nashville after 12 years in New York
Curating musical situations that line up with momentum in a direction, even if the end goal is abstract
Being more intentional about not just what he says yes to, but why he says yes
How New York shaped his personality, and how that shapes his musical identity
Trusting that his instincts and intentions will make good music, even if the execution isn't quite perfect
His "asynchronous" drum coaching approach to private teaching

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1 hr 11 min

About Working Drummer

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With 500 episodes and counting, Working Drummer Podcast is the source for those interested in what it’s like to be a professional drummer. Hosted by Matthew Crouse and Zack Albetta, Working Drummer…