Working Drummer

Chad Cromwell is known as one of the most respected studio drummers in Nashville. Even before his move to Nashville, Chad had a strong history of live and recording experience with legends like Joe Walsh, Neil Young and Mark Knopfler.

Chad Started recording and touring with Joe Walsh in 1986. In 1987 as well as collaborating with songwriter Neil Young that lead to several recordings and tours with Neil. Chad appears on Neil Young albums such as Freedom (1989), Prairie Wind (2005) Living with War (2006) and Chrome Dreams II (2007). He has also appeared in Heart of Gold, a documentary capturing the debut of Neil Young’s album, Prairie Wind. 

Cromwell is also known for his contributions to Mark Knopfler’s solo albums Golden Heart (1996), Sailing to Philadelphia (2000), The Ragpicker’s Dream(2002) and Shangri-La (2004). He was also part of Knopfler’s band during the tours of his first solo albums.

He has also worked with many other artists including Dave Stewart, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Lady Antebellum, Diana Krall, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Boz Scaggs, Wynonna, Trisha Yearwood, Miranda Lambert, Bonnie Raitt, Peter Frampton, Allison Moorer, Chris Knight, Joss Stone, Rodney Crowell, Marty Stuart, and Stevie Nicks.

In this podcast, Chad talks about:

The impact that home studios have had on the music industry

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

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

Paul Griffith is a freelance drummer and writer based in Nashville, TN. As a musician, his unique, left-of-center style (the result of a New Orleans upbringing) has made him a first call for artists looking to add a laid back groove to their records and live performances. Combining the visceral, dance-oriented feel of New Orleans legends like Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste and Earl Palmer with the meticulous experimentation of session great Jim Keltner, Paul has found a home among some of the world’s most creative singer-songwriters, including Sheryl Crow, k. d. Lang, John Prine, Todd Snider, Cerys Mathews (Catatonia), Greg Brown and Jack Ingram. He has been recognized as “Best Hired Hand” by Nashville Scene magazine and was nominated for a Nashville Music Award in the drummer/percussionist category.

In this podcast Paul talks about:

Being a “Stylist”

Caring about the gig but not worrying about it

Dealing with your insecurities

Dealing with peeks and valleys in the music business

Managing expectations and diversifying

Asking what the gig pays

The right conditions for taking a gig

Click here for pictures

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

Giuliano Mingucci was born in Brazil but has spent almost his entire life in Kansas City, MO. He started playing professionally in high school and since then has been a member of Kansas City’s most beloved bands including Bixby Lane, The Barclay Martin Ensemble, and David George & A Crooked Mile. He attended college at The University of Missouri-Kansas City, but chose to get a degree in audio engineering rather than music performance. He has since made a name for himself around the region as a go-to in either discipline, and sometimes both.

In this podcast, Giuliano talks about:

How the jazz of his hometown and the Brazilian music of his family heritage has shaped his playing

Being the house drummer in a cabaret bar

Playing in a band with broad stylistic influences

Giving a producer musical control of an album

How drum tuning, room acoustics and drum mic’ing should be connected

Relying solely on drumming vs. having mulitple sources of income

Click here for pictures

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

Jim Reilley is a songwriter and producer in Nashville. Jim was also the co-founder of the late-lamented folk-rock “gangstas”, The New Dylans. Along with songwriting partner Reese Campbell, The New Dylans toured the country for 9 years sharing stages with The Band, Townes Van Zandt, Shawn Colvin, The Fleshtones, Superdrag, Syd Straw, The Silos, Steve Forbert along with old pals 10,000 Maniacs.

Reilley broke up The New Dylans and moved to Nashville in 1998, signing deal as a staff songwriter with Curb Publishing. In his 8 years at Curb, over 45 of Reilley’s songs were recorded by artists including Vince Gill, Hal Ketchum, Jack Ingram, Tim O’Brien, Sam Bush, Claudia Church, Joy Lynn White, Ronna Reeves, Cowboy Crush, Lisa Brokop, Ryan Tyler, Mustang Sally, Lauren Lucas, Susan Haynes, Amy Chappell and many others. In 2003, Reilley released his first solo album “The Return of Buddy Cruel” on Silent Planet Records.

Reilley recorded a second solo album (“Thank God I’m A Contrary Boy”) in 2004 with Grammy-winner Robert Reynolds (The Mavericks) co-producing and featuring a band consisting of Ken Coomer (Wilco/ Uncle Tupelo), Tom Petersson (Cheap Trick), Jen Gunderman (Jayhawks), Audley Freed (The Black Crowes), Al Perkins (Gram Parsons/Manassas), Paul Deakin (The Mavericks) and David Mead. In October 2012, Reilley signed a songwriting deal with Nashville based Rare Spark Media Group.

In April 2015, The New Dylans released “Meta”, their first new album in 18 years. The Tennessean, has documented the entire process of writing and recording of “Meta”.

In this podcast Jim talks about:

Producing

Producers and musicians working together to make the recording session happen

Using musical references to give direction

Ringo creating a musical landscape for pop music

Less recognized session drummers from the 50’s – 70’s

Audio examples of Keith Moon and Ringo Starr with the drums isolated

Getting the right drum sounds for recording

Click here for pictures

This interview was recorded January 3rd, 2016

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

Matt Johnson is a native of Southern California, where he still lives, plays and teaches. He is the drummer for the Tony Guerrero Quintet, which is also the backing band for actress and singer Jane Lynch. He is the director of drumset studies at Fullerton College in Orange County, where he created the “Digital Drumset Lab”, the largest drumset classroom of its kind.

In this interview, Matt talks about:

Getting his professional start at Disneyland

Playing multiple styles within one show

Choosing the right gear for the gig

Being an entertainer

Developing and executing a specific vision for your projects

Tailoring his teaching to a student’s goals

How creating personal relationships leads to professional work

Click here for pictures

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

Drummer Danny Young is my first interview of 2016. After an amazing 11 months on the road with the national tour of ‘Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You‘, Danny recently relocated back to Nashville where he has jumped into a variety of session work, and has also started working with a number of new and established artists in and out of town.

Prior to ‘We Will Rock You’, Danny was the drummer and drum book composer on the new Broadway bound show, ‘The Nutty Professor’; working with Jerry Lewis, Rupert Holmes and the late, great Marvin Hamlish. He also toured on Green Day’s ‘American Idiot‘, Mel Brooks ‘Young Frankenstein the Musical’, with the 80’s hair band Nelson, country artist Katie Armiger, The Platters, Derryl Perry, has made back-line appearances on NBC’s SMASH!, was the debut drummer of ‘Chicago’ and ‘Hairspray on the worlds largest cruise ships Oasis and Allure of the Seas and has many drum students. Danny has also made one time appearances with Shania Twain, Liza Minnelli, Ann Hampton Callaway, Lorna Luft, The Drifters, The Four Tops, Maureen McGovern, Andrea Clearfield and many more…

In addition to touring, Danny has also started a seminar with fellow drummer and friend, Danny Taylor, called ‘Beyond the Gig‘. The program focuses on the business, networking and promotion side of the music industry. By touching on topics that go beyond just “playing”, it offers students the knowledge and direction they need to be one step ahead of the game.

In this interview, Danny talks about:

Auditioning for Queen musical in front of Roger Taylor and Brian May

Playing Green Day musical while band members were on stage

Writing the drum book for Broadway show The Nutty Professor

Learning the music from the recordings

Not relying on charts alone

Being a music supervisor on cruise ships

Teaching others how to market themselves with “Beyond The Gig”

Applying large musical skill set to create work beyond drumming

Click here for pictures

this interview was conducted January 2nd, 2016

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

Chuck Tilley has worked with many artists over the years including the great Felix Cavaliere from The Young Rascals, Richard Marx, Lee Greenwood and most recently the country super group Alabama as of five years ago. Chuck’s own band Six Wire, competed in a reality show called the next great American band back in 2007. The talent and the work ethic of the band was quickly recognized as an asset that the producers felt like they could use for future shows and projects. Some of these shows include “Nashville Star”, “Can You Duet”, “Next Superstar” as well as many live award shows. This is one of the many examples of Chuck’s experience as the drummer for a “house band”. Chuck also has a reoccurring role as the drummer for the character Rayna Jaymes played by actress Connie Britton in the hit TV series “Nashville”. Along with touring, Chuck rounds out his busy schedule by staying active in the Nashville recording scene.

In this podcast, Chuck Tilley talks about:

playing drums on live award shows

working in house bands

interpreting artists’ needs

juggling many gigs

Chuck uses:

Pearl drums

Zildjian cymbals

Evans drum heads

Click here for pics

This interview was conducted November 30th, 2015

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

Tavis McNabb is perhaps best known as a longtime member of the band Better Than Ezra, although he has performed session and touring work with many acts during his career. Prior to joining Better Than Ezra in January 1996, McNabb toured with acts such as Vigilantes of Love, Beggars, and seminal Oregon-based punk rock band The Wipers.

In mid-2007, Travis became the full-time touring and recording drummer with Grammy-award winning Country/Bluegrass act Sugarland. After  Sugarland decided to go on hiatus in 2012, Travis continued to stay busy touring and recording with many artists including Kristian Bush, Big and Rich, Gavin DeGraw most recently up and coming country artist Frankie Ballard.

Travis also runs his own home studio called Wood Hill Recording where he puts his years of recording and engineering experience to use. Travis is very comfortable in the studio and you can hear him on Jennifer Nettles‘ most recent single, “Sugar” that was produced by Dann Huff.

In this podcast, Travis talks about:

Watching Jim Keltner in the studio and learning

Leaving a good impression

Balancing and mixing yourself

Bring your vibe to the session

Tracking with producer Dann Huff

Taking every gig seriously

This interview was conducted November 24th, 2015

Click here for pictures

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

Travis McNabb is perhaps best known as a longtime member of the band Better Than Ezra, although he has performed session and touring work with many acts during his career. Prior to joining Better Than Ezra in January 1996, McNabb toured with acts such as Vigilantes of Love, Beggars, and seminal Oregon-based punk rock band The Wipers.

In mid-2007, Travis became the full-time touring and recording drummer with Grammy-award winning Country/Bluegrass act Sugarland. After  Sugarland decided to go on hiatus in 2012, Travis continued to stay busy touring and recording with many artists including Kristian Bush, Big and Rich, Gavin DeGraw most recently up and coming country artist Frankie Ballard.

Travis also runs his own home studio called Wood Hill Recording where he puts his years of recording and engineering experience to use. Travis is very comfortable in the studio and you can hear him on Jennifer Nettles‘ most recent single, “Sugar” that was produced by Dann Huff.

In this podcast, Travis talks about:

Long unique audition for Ezra

Being replaced in the studio and learning from it

Watching and learning from Kenny Aronoff in the studio

Bring your vibe to the session

The influence of New Orleans on his playing

Being prepared

Balancing and mixing yourself

This interview was conducted November 24th, 2015

Click here for pictures

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