Working Drummer - podcast cover

Working Drummer

Working Drummerwww.workingdrummer.net
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 covers it all with a dynamic range of pro drummers who represent many different genres and scenes. Each weekly interview features a different performer, sometimes with a less recognizable name, but always with an impressive and distinct body of work. This unique approach has garnered a loyal audience hungry for unfiltered stories about making a living as a musician today.

Episodes

478 - David Chiverton: Leading by Example, Double Drumming in the Band - Smoogies, Learning to Sound Like a Pro

David Chiverton is a Miami Florida native who continues to work and live in south Florida. The cultural diversity in Miami as well as his upbringing in the gospel church both played a heavy role in shaping him into the musician he is today. He has toured internationally with various major talents such as Lauryn Hill, Jon Secada, Donnie McClurkin and Sheila E to name a few. His range of musical versatility includes Jazz, Gospel, Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop, and the ability to freestyle on cue. Not only doe...

Jul 18, 20242 hr 38 minEp 478Transcript available on Metacast

477 - Charles Ruggiero: Playing Alongside Gadd, Maintaining Humanity and Individuality in the Digital Age, Sobriety and Creativity

Charles Ruggiero has been active since the early 90s, cutting his teeth on the New York jazz scene and landing his first big gig with Chuck Mangione. His New York cohort included such future giants as Joshua Redman, Peter Bernstein, Jane Monheit, Brad Mehldau, and Chris Potter, to name a few. In addition to his jazz exlpoits, Charles found a home on the metal scene as a member of Slunt, and replacing Matt Sorum in the supergroup Circus Diablo. He relocated to LA in 2007 and didn't miss a step, p...

Jul 11, 20242 hr 53 minEp 477Transcript available on Metacast

475 - Josh Bailey: His New Touring Gig with Ben Platt, Running Tracks and Ears from the Drum Chair, Studying with Dafnis Prieto

Josh Bailey has been in New York for ten years, with a wide variety of live and session work to his credit. He is on staff at Studio G (Brooklyn based recording studio), recording drums and percussion for industry and independent artists & producers, and is currently subbing on Broadway's & Juliet and The Outsiders. He has acted as music director and drummer for artists building, arranging & operating live backing tracks, running IEM mixes and contracting musicians. Josh was seen drumming on Sat...

Jun 27, 20241 hr 26 minEp 475Transcript available on Metacast

474 - Dre Energy: The Different Scenes in Las Vegas, Playing the Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam show, The Power of Relationships

Dre Energy is a native of St. Louis MO, and was inspired a very early age by friends and family at his church to play drums. When the opportunity struck, he found his way to Las Vegas and began performing with Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam show where he held the drum chair from 2010 to 2016. During that time he learned so much about the industry and toured the world. Dre discovered an affinity for performing as a clinician which took them to many places around the world, including China, South Korea...

Jun 20, 20241 hr 21 minEp 474Transcript available on Metacast

473 - Larry Aberman: Making a Late Move to Nashville, Ways to Stay Present, Getting Feel Right at the Source

Larry Aberman has achieved in-demand status in New York, LA, Las Vegas, and Nashville recently moved to Nashville after a 12 year stint on the Cirque du Soleil show Zoomanity. Since moving, he has gotten busy playing with jazz, country, and everything in between, with Mandy Barnett, Pat Coil and others. In this episode, Larry talks about: How the time to leave his Zoomanity gig after 12 years became clear quickly What social context means in music Tools to make yourself present How Southern musi...

Jun 13, 20241 hr 23 minEp 473Transcript available on Metacast

472 - Bart van der Zee: Host of the Drum History Podcast, Connecting with the Drumming Community, Meeting Charlie Watts

Drum History Podcast was created in October of 2018 and has been on a journey to document the history of the drums ever since. Topics range from the very early beginnings of man’s involvement with percussion up to modern day innovations that are changing the drum industry. The show has seen major growth since its launch and has become a resource for many drum historians and enthusiasts around the world. Bart van der Zee is a lifelong drummer with a deep passion for learning the full history of t...

Jun 06, 20241 hr 18 minEp 472Transcript available on Metacast

471 - Adam Marcello: The MD Role, His LA/Katy Perry Chapter, Splitting time between the US and Ireland, His New Teaching Role at Berklee

Rhode Island native Adam Marcello is a professional drummer, music director, educator, clinician, and programmer most notably recognized for his work with singer Katy Perry. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, his performances range from multiple world tours, the Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show, Saturday Night Live, and American Idol to recordings for numerous movies and TV shows including theme songs for Modern Family, Arrested Development, and Deadwood. As a clinician and artist for Roland D...

May 30, 20241 hr 9 minEp 471Transcript available on Metacast

470 - Piero Perelli: Touring with The Swell Season and Glen Hansard, Growing up in a Small Town in Italy, Solo Record “Notte”

Italian Drummer, Sound Explorer, music maker Piero Perelli is a musical maverick whose skills stretch from free improvisation to film scores, to performances with international artists and musicians, both live and in the studio. His original style is grounded in his journey as a musical explorer, touring around places like the United States, Europe, Africa and India. Engaged both in the service of songs and in experimentation, Perelli maintains the creative center of his activity in the Tuscan c...

May 22, 20242 hr 35 minEp 470Transcript available on Metacast

469 - Brandon Combs: Playing with Leon Bridges, Studying with Ndugu Chancler, Nashville vs. LA

Brandon Combs is a drummer, programmer, and producer hailing from Lansing, Michigan. Destined to be a great musician, Brandon has been involved with the Grammy Foundation since the young age of 15, attending their Grammy Camp programs in 2009 and 2010 via full ride scholarship. Now living in Nashville, Brandon recently obtained his BM in Popular Music Studies from the University of Southern California (2015). Currently on tour with Grammy Award-winning artist Leon Bridges, Brandon’s skill, versa...

May 16, 20241 hr 10 minEp 469Transcript available on Metacast

468 - Justin Amaral: New Record: LIFE IN GROOVELAND - The Hymnal, Practicing Movement and Visualization as a Technique, Creating Opportunities

Justin Amaral first made a name for himself touring the country in the jam band scene, leading to shows with Mike Gordon of Phish and a profile in Modern Drummer’s (April, 2004) “On The Move” column. After world tours with alt-country guit-steel legend Junior Brown, Justin relocated to Nashville and quickly became first call for many of Nashville’s finest players and songwriters including Paul Burch, Tim Carroll, Fats Kaplin, Jon Byrd, Charles Butler and the late, great David Olney. In addition,...

May 09, 20242 hr 37 minEp 468Transcript available on Metacast

467 - Ty Bailie: B3 Organ and All Things Keys from Seattle to LA to Nashville, Buying Into an Artist's Vision, Being Musically Agnostic

Ty Bailie is currently on tour with Mitski playing keys and organ. He moved to Nashville in 2021 after a stint in LA where his main gig was touring with Katy Perry. Since coming to Nashville, he has also performed with Joss Stone, Don Felder, Tanya Tucker, Wilder Woods, and his own group Uncle Bronco featuring Petar Jancic on drums and Adam MacPhail on guitar. In this episode, Ty talks about: Touring with Mitski, and buying into at artist's vision Being musically agnostic and seeing validity in ...

May 02, 20241 hr 23 minEp 467Transcript available on Metacast

466 - Finch: FDS Drum Services, Managing your Time as a Self Employed Person, Learning New Skills

Born in Northern New Jersey, Finch grew up with an unwavering love for drums that shaped his life's path. Before his eventual move to Nashville Tennessee in late 2020, Finch spent time in the US Army as well as working in the insurance world. Shortly after his move to Nashville, his dream was realized by the founding of FDS Drum Services, a drum tech service that includes repairs, restorations, custom heads, tour teching & so much more. FDS quickly gained recognition through Finch’s dedication a...

Apr 25, 20242 hr 42 minEp 466Transcript available on Metacast

465 - Steve Picataggio: Straddling the Worlds of Jazz and Musical Theatre in NYC,

Steve Picataggio has lived in New York for over a decade and has stayed busy on the jazz and musical theatre scenes there. He has toured with The Hot Sardines, The Four Phantoms, and others, and is active on the New York jazz scene playing everything from trio to big band. He is a graduate of University of North Florida where he studied with Danny Gottleib and Ulysses Owens Jr., and NYU where he studied with Billy Drummond. He is also active as an educator, with students from age 4 to adult as w...

Apr 18, 20241 hr 27 minEp 465Transcript available on Metacast

464 - Yamil Conga: Playing with Artist Frank Ray, Diversifying your Portfolio, The Origin of the Conga in American music

Yamil Conga is a percussionist and drummer with over 20 years of experience playing a vast array of musical genres in live venues, music videos and in the studio. A native of Puerto Rico and a current resident of Nashville, Yamil has benefitted from a vast array of musical influences. Salsa runs in Yamil’s blood due to his father, singer songwriter, Eladio Jimenez, who wrote and produced for several Latin giants. Knowing that music has no boundaries, Yamil’s mission is to make people fall in lov...

Apr 11, 20242 hr 33 minEp 464Transcript available on Metacast

463 - Tom Jorgensen: Playing on the "Beetlejuice" Tour, Studying with Michael Carvin, A Sound-Oriented Approach

Tom Jorgensen is an active and highly-requested drummer, session musician, composer, and mixing engineer based in New York City, currently on the first national tour of the Beetlejuice Broadway musical. Tom is a graduate with a BFA from The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC, where he studied with jazz legends such as Reggie Workman, Charli Persip, and privately with Master Drummer Michael Carvin, with whom a mentorship continues to this day. Tom frequently performs with the inter...

Apr 04, 20241 hr 12 minEp 463Transcript available on Metacast

462 - Matt Muckle: Drumming for Kingdom Come, Shedding Negative Energy from your Life, Finding Your Own Voice

Matt Muckle is a Pittsburgh based drummer who has worked with and toured with acts such as Paul Gilbert, Lynch Mob, Buckcherry, John Waite and many others. He is currently recording with and preparing to tour with the band Kingdom Come. This legendary rock band formed in the late 80’s and with Matt as their new drummer, continues to entertain their committed and string fan base. In this episode, Matt talks about: Who inspired him to pursue a career in music Working and recording with Kingdom Com...

Mar 28, 20241 hr 3 minEp 462Transcript available on Metacast

461 - The Hampden Brothers, Iajhi and Brevan: Their Parents' Musical Legacy, Playing in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill "Triangle," Iajhi's LA Chapter, Brevan's Neurodivergent Journey

In this episode, Iajhi and Brevan talk about: Their parent's musical legacy Growing up in the Triangle area in North Carolina, and the music scene there Attending North Carolina Central University, an HBCU and the only college in the state that offered a jazz degree at the time The ill-fated gig that brought Iajhi to LA Brevan's experience with being diagnosed as neurodivergent, and how that has changed how he approaches life and music Creating structure for yourself to avoid getting "emotionall...

Mar 21, 20242 hr 43 minEp 461Transcript available on Metacast

460 - Miles Stone: Drumming for Cody Johnson, Balancing Life at Home and on the Road, Getting the Big Gig

Hailing the small south Texas town of Poth, Miles was destined to drum. His mama felt him moving to the music before he was even born. At three years old he sat behind his first drum kit, and by age 5 he was banging out some version of "Under The Bridge" by TheRed Hot Chili Peppers. In junior high he joined the school band and began to study percussion formally. From marching band to snare drum solos, Miles took any and every drumming opportunity. He turned that into an affinity for marching, an...

Mar 14, 20241 hr 25 minEp 460Transcript available on Metacast

459 - Obed Calvaire: Playing with Wynton Marsalis & The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Commemorating Max Roach, Expressing His Hatian Heritage on His New Record

Since 2021, Obed Calvaire has been in the drum chair for Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra, with whom he recently curated and directed a series of concerts celebrating the centennial of the great Max Roach. His New York jazz career spans over two decades and includes jazz legends such as Dave Holland, Kurt Rosenwinkle, The Mingus Big Band, Joshua Redman and many others. His new album, “150 Million Gold Francs” will be released April 12th and draws heavily on his Haitian he...

Mar 07, 20241 hr 5 minEp 459Transcript available on Metacast

458 - Richard Martinez: The Wilson/Spivack Method, Adapting to the Ever Changing L.A. Scene

Richard Martinez grew up in Los Angeles, CA and has performed around the world. He has studied privately with Chuck Flores, Larry Troxel, and for 12 years with Richard Wilson. Richard’s television credits include The Dolly Parton Show, Baywatch Nights, The Joan Rivers Show, and Seinfeld. He has performed with Sam Harris, Keb’ Mo, Allen Frew and with Tony Award winners Linda Hopkins, Betty Buckley, Bebe Neuwirth & Roger Rees. He has recorded with Julian Lennon, Mighty Mo Rodgers, Christoph Bull a...

Feb 29, 20242 hr 32 minEp 458Transcript available on Metacast

457 - Dave Elitch: His New Course (Not Just for Drummers), Avoiding Compartmentalization, Good vs. Better (Not Right vs. Wrong)

Dave has been teaching privately for over 20 years and has developed a reputation as the technique/body mechanic specialist for drum set. He has helped many of the world's best players as well as top educators "get out of their own way" by being as efficient as possible in regards to conservation of motion and energy. He has toured and/or recorded with Weezer, Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake, The Mars Volta, and many others. The importance and benefits of a full-body warm-up How to literally cool...

Feb 22, 20241 hr 25 minEp 457Transcript available on Metacast

456 - Emmanuel “E-MAN” Cervantes: Inspiring the Next Generation, Drumming for Andy Grammer, Creating a Loop Library

Emmanuel “E-MAN” Cervantes is a Los Angeles based drummer who discovered his calling when he first picked up a pair of drumsticks at age three and later booked his first major studio session at the age of 12. E-MAN is currently touring with pop singer Andy Grammer. He has had the privilege to work with a wide range of artists such as Gwen Stefani, Lukas Nelson, Cody Simpson, Cameron Rafati, Elan, Son of Levi, Tyrone Wells and many more. EMAN played on a record with Joseph Williams, who is the si...

Feb 15, 20242 hr 32 minEp 456Transcript available on Metacast

455 - Rob Perkins: From Touring Drummer to Music Contractor, The Best Ways to Say Yes and No, Studying with Ndugu Chancler, "You're In the People Business"

How he got into the booking game through the USC music school as a freshman Struggling with the decision to ramp down performing/touring and ramp up booking Seeing the opportunity to improve stability in live music Bridging the gaps and establishing trust between musicians and the people who hire them How to make the most out of a $50 gig offer, no matter where you are in your career Making your interactions about the relationship first and the gig second Studying with Ndugu Chancler Michael Car...

Feb 08, 20241 hr 23 minEp 455Transcript available on Metacast

454 - Matt Iceman: Working with David Nail, Home Recording Techniques, Expanding Your Skillset

Matt Iceman is currently the touring drummer and band leader with Grammy nominated country artist David Nail. He has toured/performed/recorded in the past with artists such as Eric Paslay, Francesca Battistelli, Shelly Fairchild, Lizzy McAvoy, Timothy Paul, T.J. Hitt and Tom Schreck, and bands such as BlackJack Billy, Spyderwulf, The Chris Weaver Band, and Liquid Earth. In this episode, Matt talks about: What he’s been up to since we last spoke in 2015 New responsibilities as band leader for his...

Feb 01, 20242 hr 55 minEp 454Transcript available on Metacast

453 - Davide DiRenzo: Working with Larry Klein, Staying Open When Collaborating, The Conundrum of In-Ears

Davide DiRenzo is one of the most versatile and in-demand drummers in Canada, with an equally strong profile in the jazz, rock, pop and R&B scenes coast-to-coast and beyond. With years of studio experience under his belt working with some of the world’s top artists, Davide is now also working as a producer out of his home studio (Studio 86) in Toronto, Ontario. From there, he also records and sends drum tracks to artists and producers all over the globe. Davide has performed and recorded extensi...

Jan 25, 20242 hr 30 minEp 453Transcript available on Metacast

452 - Brian Doherty: Drumming For They Might Be Giants, Pre-Social Media “Networking”, Cymbal Hacks for the Studio

Brian Doherty is best known as a drummer for groups like They Might Be Giants, RCA Recording artists, The Silos, XTC, Freedy Johnston, and Ben Folds In the early 90s, Brian was recruited by They Might Be Giants. For three years Brian and TMBG recorded albums, wrote songs, and relentlessly toured the world. In 2001, Brian went back to graduate school and became a New York City school teacher as part of the New York City Teaching Fellows program. As well as teaching, he remains professionally acti...

Jan 18, 20242 hr 34 minEp 452Transcript available on Metacast

451 - Ulysses Owens Jr.: His New Jazz Drumming Course on Drumeo, Jazz Representation on Social Media

In this episode, Ulysses talks about: Relocating back to his homestate of Florida after 20 years in New York How he moved from his gospel roots to jazz as a teenager, and the commonalities and differences between the two His Drumeo video playing Nirvana's "In Bloom" His jazz drumming video on Drumeo unpacking the nuts and bolts of jazz drumming The various misrepresentations of jazz drumming His philosophy for learning jazz drumming, and why he believes it's best to start at the beginning of its...

Jan 09, 20241 hr 15 minEp 451Transcript available on Metacast

450 - Dan Shinder: Drum Talk TV, The Challenges of Content Creating, Upcoming “Brilliance” Platform

In 2013, Dan Shinder started Drum Talk TV, an online experience that has brought drummers, musicians, and music lovers together. Drum Talk TV is an online show showcasing insightful interviews in the world of drumming. These unique interviews from all over the drumming world feature all genres and cultures. They talk with live and session masters, legends, educators, hidden gems, prodigies, drum heroes, fitness experts, techs, producers, manufacturers, and more. Drum Talk TV also provides a seri...

Jan 04, 20242 hr 42 minEp 450Transcript available on Metacast

449 - Davide DiRenzo: What "Presence" Really Means, Opting Out of Social Media, Reconnecting with Toronto,

Davide DiRenzo is one of the most versatile and in-demand drummers in Canada, with an equally strong profile in the jazz, rock, pop and R&B scenes coast-to-coast and beyond. With years of studio experience under his belt working with some of the world’s top artists, Davide is now also working as a producer out of his home studio (Studio 86) in Toronto, Ontario. From there, he also records and sends drum tracks to artists and producers all over the globe. Davide has performed and recorded extensi...

Dec 21, 20231 hr 29 minEp 449Transcript available on Metacast
Working Drummer podcast - Listen or read transcript on Metacast