Working Drummer

Matt Jorgensen was born and raised in Seattle and caught the jazz bug in high school. It sent him to New York in 1992 to study at the recently formed New School, after which he worked around town until 2002 when he returned to his hometown. He has since maintained an active performance schedule as a leader and sideman, playing with many modern jazz greats including Peter Bernstein, Reggie Workman, and Sam Yahel. He is also the cofounder of Seattle-based Origin Records and The Ballard Jazz Festival, and composes for recording projects, commercials, web series, films, and theatrical productions.

In this podcast, Matt talks about:

The influence of experiencing other art forms

How to bring a signature approach and voice to many different styles and genres

His experience at The New School, and how his career is still built on the relationships he formed there

Spending his 20s playing anything and everything in New York

What brought him back to Seattle, and how he has gotten to do more of what he wants to do there since.

Living and working in Seattle, before and after the tech boom

Working with public and private sponsors to get new music heard

How time spent away from the drumset on other responsibilities can “reset” his drumming and ideas

Composing for solo drumset/percussion

How finding his voice as a composer is just like finding his voice as a drummer – identifying strengths, playing to them, and being authentic

https://youtu.be/J8YeXU7Zsl0

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Robert Breithaupt is a veteran of over 40 years in music, as a performer, arts administrator, educator, author, musical contractor, entrepreneur, and visionary in the arts.

Breithaupt has performed in diverse solo, small ensemble and orchestral settings and has appeared with a virtual “Who’s Who” of great jazz talents and scores of other noted artists. As drummer/percussionist for trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling, Broadway star Sandy Duncan and other artists, he has performed with dozens of professional orchestras throughout the United States and abroad.

As Executive Director of the Jazz Arts Group of Columbus from 2001 until 2012, Breithaupt’s vision helped to shape the nation’s oldest not-for-profit jazz organization into a comprehensive, working model for performance, education, and community engagement. He developed the concept for the unique JAG Jazz Academy, a 5,000 square-foot facility dedicated to instruction of jazz and American music for all ages.   In 2011, JAG received the Columbus Foundation Award as the top non-profit organization in Columbus, and the first performing arts organization to have ever received this distinction.

In 1981, Breithaupt was a co-founder of Columbus Pro Percussion, Inc., recognized today as one of the nation’s top comprehensive retail percussion outlets; he served as Vice-President until 2006. He is also Past-President of the Percussive Arts Society, the world’s largest percussion membership organization. He has been a musical contractor for over 20 years, and is the President of RBMusic, Inc.

Breithaupt is recognized internationally as one of today’s leaders in percussion education, and has conducted workshops and clinics throughout the world on the subject. He is Professor of Music and Department Chair of Performance Studies at Capital University, and since 1978 has built what is viewed as one of the nation’s top undergraduate percussion programs. Breithaupt is the author of The Complete Percussionist (Barnhouse), one of the standard textbooks in percussion education, and the instructional DVD Snare Drum Basics (Hudson).

The recipient of numerous honors and awards, Breithaupt received Bowling Green State University’s Outstanding Graduate Award, was a fellow in the Jefferson Academy for Leadership and Governance, participated in the Stanford Graduate School of Business’ Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders in the Arts and was the founding chair of the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium (CCLC). He is currently a member of the board and executive committee of Experience Columbus, where he represents the viewpoint of the arts community in dialogue surrounding the role of arts and culture in economic development and civic value.

In this episode, Bob talks about:

Traveling to Beirut, Lebanon for a drum workshop

The way young students consume information

Recognizing the drum-set as a “folk instrument”

What lead to Bob teaching at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio

Creating and managing a diverse workload

Leveraging your skills into a lifetime career

How his teaching has evolved and changed over time

Drawing from your experiences when teaching

The love of teaching

Bob endorses: Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Remo drum heads and Innovative Percussion sticks

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Steve Fidyk’s career has been a balance between military service in the Army Field and Army Blues bands, civilian life as a member or leader of various creative projects, and academia as an author, clinician, and Artist in Residence at Temple University. The son of a weekend warrior sax player, Steve was encouraged to pursue music from an early age. He began sitting in with his dad’s band and by age 11, was getting called for gigs. He went on to study with Ed Soph and Joe Morello before winning the drum chair for the funk group in the Army Field Band and later the Army Blues big band. With Annapolis, MD as his home base, Steve has been able to maintain a presence in multiple east coast cities including Baltimore, Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York.

In this podcast, Steve talks about:

How orchestral training helped shape his drumset playing

Studying with Ed Soph and Joe Morello, who kept him focused on musical and technical development rather than professional ambition, and how their style of teaching lays the foundation for a student to pursue anything

Spending equal time developing mechanics and concept

Always viewing his music career through the lens of providing for his family

His career in the military, the single largest employer of musicians in the world

Working for an institution while avoiding an institutional mindset

How “staying current” outside his military gig kept him busy and motivated outside of it, and is making the transition away from it easier

Steve endorses Mapex drums, DW hardware and pedals, Zildjian cymbals, Remo drumheads, Vater sticks, and LP percussion.

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Originally from upstate New York, Seth began playing drums at the age of three. By age nine, he was sitting in with local bands and even backing up his elementary school choir. He’s been in the Nashville music scene for 15 years and is currently the touring drummer for Keith Urban.

Other artists Seth has worked for include Gary Allan, Joe Nichols, Phil Vassar, and Little Big Town. While with Little Big Town, Seth was given the opportunity to record on two records and work with producer Jay Joyce.

When Seth isn’t on the road, he is in the studio recording and collaborating with some of Nashville’s top writers, musicians, and producers.

In this episode, Seth talks about:

Working with Keith Urban and how the gig came about

Performing on “festival dates”

Getting let go from a gig and seeing it as an opportunity

Recording with Little Big Town and producer Jay Joyce

Creating unique sounds in the studio through non-traditional means

The influence of a musical family growing up

Studying with George Lawrence

Balancing family and touring

Seth endorses: Zildjian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion, Gibraltar Hardware and Gretsch Drums

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Justin Chesarek has lived in Atlanta for almost a decade, where he has played with various jazz artists including Gary Motley,Joe Gransden, and singer/songwriter Sam Burchfield. Justin also teaches at two area universities, Kennesaw State and Emory. He grew up near Pittsburgh which, despite its rustbelt identity, has always had a rich music scene and has recently evolved into a more cosmopolitan city. He stayed close to home for college, attending Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Grad school brought him to Atlanta in 2007 and he earned a master’s degree in jazz from Georgia State.

His recent trip to Alaska, and finding ways to put yourself in a good headspace to perform, especially while on the road

Creating jazz tunes with relatable titles and content

The early influence of The Beatles, and the first jazz records he listened to

His first performance experiences at age 12, sitting in with his teacher’s bands at bars on school nights

Notable jazzers from Pittsburgh including Art Blakey, Roger Humphries, Ahmad Jamal and Sean Jones

How the Atlanta scene, especially the drumming community, is very high level without being too competitive

Rediscovering his passion for rock drumming, and putting in the work to sound authentic on it

Transitioning out of a gig in a positive way when life moves in a certain direction

The differences between the two college programs he teaches in, and what each requires of him as an educator

His hobby of photography, and how it can further enrich the experience of traveling for music

Justin endorses Vic Firth Drumsticks

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Kyle Wilkerson is a well-versed and highly versatile drummer/percussion and film composer based out of Nashville, Tennessee. He has played/toured/recorded with many national artists and bands such as Maddie and Tae, Joshua Scott Jones (of Steel Magnolia), Kristen Kelly, Jillette Johnson, Michael Alvarado (of the duo US), Justin Adams, Logan Mize, Adam Sanders, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, The Lucky Few, North Carolina Dance Company, and many more. Kyle has toured all over the nation and has played the top music festivals in North America including Bonnaroo, CMAFest, and will appear in an upcoming episode of Bar Rescue on Spike TV. While home in Nashville, Kyle consistently works at the top live music venues and recording studios such as 3rd and Lindsley, 12th and Porter, Mercy Lounge, Darkhorse Studios, Blackbird Studios, Omni Sound, and Sound Emporium.

In addition to recording and performing, Kyle also composes and scores for film and video for the Bofars Production Company based out of Columbia, South Carolina. His music has been featured in the Nissan Innovation for Endurance campaign leading up to the 2012 Olympics and he will be scoring the full-legnth feature documentary, The 41st Day, about the top US Men’s Olympic Marathon runner Ryan Hall (www.ryanhallfilm.com).

Kyle also teaches, writes, and arranges for various high school marching bands in NC and TN. When he is not performing or composing, he is teaching/arranging percussion for the WGI Indoor Percussion Group Forza East Independent, based out of Greenville, North Carolina, which he is also the board of directors.

In this episode Kyle talks about:

Touring with Maddie and Tae

When to showcase your chops

What a radio tour is

How the Maddie and Tae gig happened

Creating real relationships

Writing music for film

Being prepared

T.V. performances

Answering a question from a listener

Kyle endorses: Gretsch, Zildjian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion, Evans Drumheads, Gibraltar hardware, and Big Fat Snare Drum

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Rafael Pereira was born and raised in Sao Paolo, Brazil. As a kid he began playing piano, guitar and percussion, and along with his brother, fell in love with the traditional Samba and Choro music of Brazil. He first came to the U.S. as an exchange student in high school, and spent a year in Idaho. After he returned to Brazil, his father got a business opportunity in Atlanta and Rafa made the move with him. In addition to Atlanta’s Brazilian community of about 60,000, Rafael found immediate opportunities to play all sorts of gigs on drums and percussion. He played percussion alongside two of the city’s most famous local heroes, Sonny Emory and Lil’ John Roberts, which led to his name being thrown into the hat when Janel Monae was forming a new band in 2010. He’s been part of her team ever since, playing for multiple recordings and tours. He also stays active at home in Atlanta with multiple projects including The ATL Collective, a pool of Atlanta musicians that convenes once a month to perform a classic album in its entirety.

In this podcast, Rafael talks about:

He and his brother getting into the Samba artists of their parents’ and grandparents’ generations

The blurred line between percussion and drumset in Brazilian music

Why he views the percussionist’s role as that of a copilot, and why he loves it

The parallels between American and Brazilian folk/roots music

Taking stylistic and rhythmic cues from guitarists

His involvement in The ATL Collective

Rafael endorses Pearl Drums and Percussion, Remo Drumheads, Sabian Cymbals, Innovative Sticks and Mallets, Cooperman Frame Drums, and Ultimate Ears In-Ear Monitors.

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Brian Ferguson is a studio and live Musician/Drummer/Producer based in Austin, Texas. He began playing drums and percussion at the age of 10 and has never looked back. A consummate student of the instrument and it’s significance to American Music, Brian can be found touring, recording and producing a wide variety of acts.

His deep knowledge of drumming and music allow him to contribute to any musical situation while inspiring the band to play their best. His light sense of humor and punctual professionalism make him an irreplaceable and key ingredient to a wide variety of musical projects.

Brian has performed/recorded/toured with a wide variety of artists including but not limited to: Robert Earl Keen, Pat Green, Jack Ingram, Cory Morrow, Aaron Watson, Stoney Larue, Eleven Hundred Springs, Hudson Moore, Zane Williams, Adam Hood, Jason Eady, Rob Baird, Curtis Salgado, Mike Morgan and the Crawl, Carter Beckworth and Bubba Hernandez.

Currently, Brian is drumming with Performing Artist/ Songwriter Cory Morrow, in addition to his own project The Harvey Kartel. THK is the creative outlet and side project of Brian and Steve Miller guitarist Jacob Petersen.

In this podcast, Brian talks about:

Touring with Texas artist Cory Morrow and dealing with a new born

Flying to China for a clinic tour for Dixon Drums

Trial by fire during his early years of touring

Defining the Texas country music scene and what makes it unique

Attitude!!!!!!

The importance of subtleties, nuance, touch and feel on the kit

Brian’s producing experience

Balancing artistic expression and being efficient in the studio

Knowing and developing your strengths

Brian proudly endorses Dixon Drums and Hardware, Paiste Cymbals, Western Audio Works Cases and Vic Firth Drum Sticks.

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Adam Goodhue has been busy on the Atlanta scene for the last four years. Before that, he spent 16 years in San Francisco where he played just about every type of music it had to offer. Adam grew up in Massachusetts where he was the beneficiary of a small but active high school music program. By his late teens, he was hooked on two things; drumming and snowboarding. For short time, he thought competitive snowboarding might be his focus, but a knee injury made that impossible, and he realized that snowboarding was a fun hobby, but drumming was what he really wanted to do for the rest of his life. He was in a band with some friends who made plans to move to San Francisco. He took advantage of the “in” and moved there in 1996. Although the band didn’t last very long after that, Adam had already fallen in love with the city and began getting work with other groups. He also got some formal training for free, when the University of California at Berkeley was in need of a drummer for their jazz program. Adam was allowed to play in some groups and audit classes without actually enrolling. By this time, he had also become obsessed with the music of New Orleans, discovered that it was a sister city to San Francisco, and found how much the two cities have in common musically.

Adam moved to Atlanta in 2013 where he has continued his love affair for the music of the South, performing with Col. Bruce Hampton, Grant Green Jr., Maria Muldaur, Tommy Talton and many others.

In this podcast, Adam talks about:

How his approach to teaching lessons has changed from the kind of lessons he took as a kid

The moment he got serious about pursuing music professionally

How discovering the music and drummers of New Orleans was a turning point for his playing

What brought him to the Bay Area, and the strong connections between San Francisco and New Orleans

Pursuing feel and tone rather than content

The Bay Area when he got there vs. when he left

What brought him to Atlanta, and what kept him there

Treating networking like a full time job when you’re new in town

His outlook as he pushes his career forward and makes plans to get married

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There are drummers and there is Sarah Tomek. With the rumbling authority of a John Bonham and the razor precision of a Keith Carlock, she has become one of the most in demand drummers today. Currently playing for Steven Tyler, Gretchen Wilson and the fast rising Americana band Loving Mary, Sarah Tomek commands a front row seat in the new class of top tier musicians.

Born and raised in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Sarah found herself behind the kit at an early age. Her father, Joe Tomek, a formidable drummer in the New York 70’s rock scene, inspired and shaped her natural talents. By her early teens, she was a club staple at world famous venues throughout NYC and NJ. By the time she was 20, she began making her name as a session player. Her precocious ability to play a multitude of genres with effortless pocket and feel made her the easy choice for many producers; recording for Maggie Rose, Glen Burtnik, Gedeon Luke, Lance Larson and Jon Bon Jovi, to name a few.

Sarah has been featured in Modern Drummer magazine and currently uses Ludwig drums, Paiste Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks and Kelly Shu drum mounts.

In this podcast, Sarah talks about:

The many projects Sarah is involved with

The reason she moved to Nashville

The influence of her father’s drumming on her

The idea of “drum ID’s” and adopting them in your playing

Positive attitude

The joy of proving skeptics wrong who doubt the abilities of a female drummer

Touring with Steven Tyler and Gretchen Wilson

Staying healthy on the road

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