Working Drummer

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Working Drummer episodes

August 12, 2021 331 - Music City Drum Show: "Flash Interviews" Featuring Former and Future Guests and Many More
August 7th, 2021 the first annual Music City Drum Show was held in Nashville Tennessee. Music City Drum Show was created to unite the drumming community in the Greater Nashville area and beyond. Organized by drummer Landon Hall, the Music City Drum Show was focused on drum displays, sales, networking, and clinics.
Big thanks to all who participated in our "Front line war correspondence recording". Not all the interviews were usable due to the volume in the room and it could be hard to listen to at times. But, we hope you enjoy this collection we created from what was a super fun weekend.
This episode features
JC Clifford, AJ Maland - (Recycled Rhythm), Drummers Hands, Sam Bacco, Dan Ainspan - (Nashville Drummer Podcast), Josh Touchton - (Ludwig), Rodney Edmonton, Chris from UFIP Cymbals, Kayleigh Moyer, Angela Lese, Mike McKee from Baldman Percussion, Bryson Nelson from Nelson Drumshop and Evan Hutchings
These fine people were interviewed but the recording didn’t work out due to external volume:
Vincent Dee, Brian Zach, Arjuna Contreras, Marshall Richardson, Jeremy McCormick, Dan Douchette, Jeff Brown, Po Shy from Po’s Percussion representing the Rogers Booth

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56 min
August 05, 2021330 - Aaron Serfaty: Playing With Your "Accent," A Universal Teaching Approach, Paying Attention to What Your Drums Tell You
Aaron Serfaty was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He began playing drum set at the age of fifteen and started to play professionally at seventeen. He did extensive work as a session and touring drummer from 1980 until 1991 with local and international artists. In 1991 he moved to Los Angeles to study Jazz and African American studies at the California Institute of the Arts. Aaron has also taken lessons with Peter Erskine, Joe LaBarbera, Jeff Hamilton, Jerry Steinholz, and Juan Oliva. Since his move to the US he has played with artists like Arturo Sandoval, Sergio Mendes, Jon Anderson, Oscar Hernandez, Otmaro Ruiz, Denise Donatelli, Kristin Korb, Kathleen Grace, Bill Cunliffe, Shelly Berg, and Alan Pasqua among many others.
He has taught at Los Angeles College of Music (1997-2014), at The California Institute of the Arts (2000-2014) and is currently on faculty at the University of Southern California (1997-present) where he conducts the Latin Jazz Ensemble, teaches drum set, and a Latin Percussion class.
In this episode, Aaron talks about:
Growing up in Caracas and the many types of music he was exposed to through his dad's business
His experience studying jazz at Cal Arts, and privately with Peter Erskine
Bringing your "accent" to every musical conversation you have
His teaching philosophy
His tuning approach

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1 hr 29 min
July 29, 2021329 - Nashville's Lower Broadway Roundtable: Kelly Bamberger, Eddie Bell, Billy Freeman, Jake Gammon, John Root & Derek Smith
This episode features six amazing drummers with a wide range of experience, discussing the many unique aspects of gigging in Nashville's downtown tourist district known as lower Broadway. Some have referred to it as "The Honkytonk Industrial Complex". This scene is not for everyone but, for those who are willing to slug it out in the trenches of lower Broadway and perform for a mostly over served audience, the money can be good, great music can happen and important connections can be made.
In this round table discussion, the group talks about:
Explaining what the lower Broadway scene is
The pros and cons of gigging on lower Broadway in Nashville
The unique skill set that’s needed to play lower Broadway
Advice for the player that wants to break in to the scene
Essential gear to carry with you when playing lower Broadway

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1 hr 39 min
July 22, 2021328 - Rod Elkins: Playing with Tyler Childers, Overcoming Anxiety Issues, Staying in His Small Hometown
As the touring drummer for Childers, Rod Elkins is the heartbeat of a rhythm section that includes Elkins’ high-school friends and college bandmates who’ve been playing together for the past 10 years. That band, The Food Stamps, has performed sold out concerts around the world, including a headline debut at Red Rocks Amphitheater, concerts at the Ryman Auditorium, The Grand Ole Opry, Mountain Stage, and festivals around the world including Bonnaroo, Stagecoach, Lollapalooza. The band also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and has opened for everyone from Willie Nelson and The Raconteurs to Guns N’ Roses. Rod still lives in his hometown of Huntington, West Virginia, where the band was formed.
In this Episode, Rod talks about:
How his existing band became the backing band for Tyler Childers, and how they caught the attention of Sturgill Simpson
What he learned from the Nashville musicians who have recorded Childers' albums
Finding ways to create variety in songs with the same groove at the same tempo
How his lifelong anxiety showed up in his playing, and how he dealt with it
Why he stays in Huntington, WV, where he grew up and where the music and bands he's a part of were cultivated

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1 hr 9 min
July 15, 2021327 - Blake Fleming: Quality Over Quantity, The Book of Rhythm, Speaking Honestly About the State of Music and Drumming
Blake Fleming is a percussionist known for his involvement with several influential experimental bands and has recently written his first book, The Book of Rhythm, an unprecedented collection of 5,096 meticulously organized rhythms for all instruments. His drumming has been written about in such major publications as The New York Times, NPR.com, Spin, Rolling Stone, MOJO, Modern Drummer, DRUM!, Dangerous Minds, and Pitchfork. He was included in SPIN’s 100 Greatest Drummers of Alternative Music and has recorded and toured extensively, working with luminaries in the jazz, rock and avant-garde worlds. Alongside a variety of studio work, he also enjoys teaching students worldwide with live online lessons and is an adjunct professor at The State University of New York at Oneonta.
In this episode, Blake talks about:
Quality over quantity
A homogenization of music and drumming
Early experimental bands
His book: The Book of Rhythm
Asking yourself “Why?” And being self aware

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1 hr 56 min
July 08, 2021326 - Joe Bergamini: The Working Drummer's Chart Book, "Knowing the Job," Remembering His Friend Neil Peart
Joe Bergamini maintains a diverse career as a drumming performer and educator. Joe is constantly behind the kit for everything from prog rock to Broadway to his touring gig, The Doowop Project. He stays equally busy as the drum editor for Hudson Music, where he has overseen the creation and production of countless books and videos featuring many of the world's greatest drummers. He is also an author in his own right, having authored or coauthored over a dozen books.
In this episode, Joe talks about:
How to demonstrate that you "know the job" and instill trust in those you're working with
What a drum editor does, and how he came to that job with Hudson Music
His latest book, The Working Drummer's Chart Book
Collaborating with Steve Gadd on Gaddiments
His relationship with Neil Peart which began as a professional collaboration and evolved into a friendship

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1 hr 7 min
July 01, 2021325 - Stephen Bidwell: Playing with Black Pumas, Studying with Johnny Vidacovich, "I'm Not Here to be Drummer Guy"
Stephen Bidwell was born in Washington, DC and grew up in nearby Reston, Virginia. Since being first handed drumsticks in the late 80s he has studied and lived in West Virginia, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and New York but has called Austin, Texas home since 2005. Somewhere in those travels he earned a Bachelors degree in classical percussion and a master’s degree in jazz studies. Since early 2018 he has been the drummer for the Grammy nominated Black Pumas, a psychedelic soul group known for incendiary live shows. When not on tour with Black Pumas, Stephen plays in several diverse projects (Hard Proof, The Calm Blue Sea, Azmaris, the Mood Illusion), works in any genre you can think of as a sideman, and teaches lessons at his home studio in Austin.
In this episode, Stephen talks about:
How Johnny Vidacovich trained him to rely on instinct, not charts
The sustaining gigs he did during his first few years in Austin
How a prior ongoing relationship with Austin guitarist, producer, and Black Pumas founder Adrien Quesada led to getting the drum chair
Still working a day job during the first 1-2 years of Black Pumas activity
Chasing gigs vs. chasing the dream
The grooves and tones on The Black Pumas record

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1 hr 16 min
June 24, 2021324 - Jim White: The Importance of Mentorship, Overcoming Cancer, Life Experiences that Inspires Our Drumming
Drummer Jim White is an active performer and educator. His first musical experiences took place in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, where he studied percussion with Paul Yancinch, Mike Cebulski, Sonny Emory, and Jeff Sipe. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Jazz Studies/Composition from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Texas.
While a student at the University of North Texas, White performed with the renowned “One O’clock Lab Band” for three years. In 1992, Maynard Ferguson recruited White for his “Big Bop Nouveau” band with which he toured internationally. White is featured on Ferguson’s recording, Footpath Cafe. In 1995, White moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he remains active as a performer and studio musician. His versatility and unique sound have been r featured on many jazz, pop, and country recordings. White’s performance and recording credits feature a diverse array of artists including J.D. Souther, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Crystal Gayle, Jerry Douglas, Curtis Stigers, Charlie Peacock, Jack Pearson, Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan, and Willie Nelson. In addition, he has performed with many top jazz artists including Dick Oatts, Terell Stafford, Joey Defrancesco, Pat Bianchi, Greg Gisbert, Jim Ferguson, Chris Potter, Annie Sellick, the North German Radio (N.D.R.) Big Band, and many others.
As an educator, White has performed clinics at universities and jazz festivals throughout the country. In 2005, he joined the faculty at the University of Northern Colorado, where he currently serves as Professor of Music, Jazz Studies. He directs UNC’s Lab II Big Band, supervises the jazz combo program, teaches jazz history, as well as applied drum set students. He currently co-leads the Colorado Jazz Orchestra, a big band featuring many of the finest jazz musicians in the Northern Colorado area.
In this episode, Jim talks about:
Bringing his personality and style to Nashville
The importance of mentorship
Being diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and over coming it
How his fight with cancer changed his perspective on life
Life experiences that inspires our music

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1 hr 20 min
June 17, 2021 323 – Roundtable with Nick Ruffini

Once a year, we sit down with our buddy Nick Rufinni of Drummer’s Resource to shoot the shit. Each of our careers and podcasts are always on the move, heading in different directions with different challenges, and it’s good to unpack things and talk about what’s coming at us and how we’re moving through it.

In this episode, Matt, Zack and Nick talk about

* Social media strategies* Re-entering gig life* How remote recording does and does not deliver a fulfilling musical experience* Answering the question “why does this feel good?” when listening to other drummers* Recalibrating priorities and ambition as we come out of the pandemic

This episode is sponsored by Sonitus.

Keith Dudek Recovery Fund

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1 hr 35 min
June 10, 2021 322 – Jeff Fabb: Drumming for Black Label Society, Employable Skills Beyond Your Playing, Overcoming Physical Barriers

Originally from a small town in Long Island, New York, Jeff Fabb made the move to Los Angeles shortly after high school at the age of 18. Jeff moved to L.A. looking for more opportunities in music and that’s just what he found. The journey was slow, answering classified ads—everyone that placed ads said they were going to be the next big thing, but he just wanted to get out there and play. After a few years playing the L.A. club scene, Jeff came into contact with members of female-fronted metal/rock band – In This Moment, including guitarist Chris Howorth and former Five Finger Death Punch bassist Matt Snell, who had a project together. Around the end of 2011 and three records later, Jeff decided to move on from ITM.

Other bands and artists he found himself working with include James Durban (American Idol), Sixx:A.M. (with Nikki Sixx) and Filter. Jeff is currently the drummer for Black Label Society.

In this episode, Jeff talks about:

* Overcoming physical issues* Questions by Nashville drummer Danny Douchette covering range of topics* Moving to L.A. at 18 and the things he learned* The events that lead to his gig with Black Label Society * Employable skills beyond your playing

Jeff endorses Drums, Meinl, Vic Firth and Evans

This episode is sponsored by Sonitus.

Keith Dudek Recovery Fund

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1 hr 20 min

About Working Drummer

From the publisher's feed

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…