Shows / Working Drummer
Working Drummer
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…
Episodes
Working Drummer112 – Joe Gansas & Around The Kit: Online Drum Talk Radio Show, Asking Important Questions
Around The Kit with Joe Gansas For close to a year and a half, Joe Gansas has been hosting an online radio show focused on drummers and all things drums. This…
Working Drummer111 – Carter McLean: Drumming on Broadway, Playing Duo & Trio with Charlie Hunter, Running a Teaching Website
Carter McLean has been a New Yorker for most of his adult life. From his home base in Brooklyn, he commands a multi-pronged career as the drummer for The Lion…
Working Drummer110 – Russ Miller: Recording for Soundtracks, Touring With International Artists, Finding A Coach
Russ Miller is internationally known as one of the top drummers of today. As a Multi-Platinum recording artist, he has played on multiple Grammy award winning…
Working Drummer109 – YonRico Scott: Playing in The Derek Trucks Band, The Musical Legacy of Detroit, Approaching the Drumset with a Percussionist’s Mind
Yonrico Scott has been a fixture on the Atlanta scene and in Southern music in general for decades. He was born and raised in Detroit, where he began touring…
Working Drummer108 – Rob Mitchell: Drumming and World Traveling with Sixpence None the Richer, Staying Mentally Healthy on the Road
Rob Mitchell has built an impressive resume list of gigs throughout his decades in Nashville, Tennessee. Currently, Rob continues to hold down the drummers…
Working Drummer107 – Wayne Salzmann: Living and Drumming in Austin, Gigging Early and Often, Partnership Between College Program and Pro Scene, The Importance of “The Hang”
Wayne Salzmann has been at the top of the Austin scene for nearly a decade. Even before graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a Master’s…
Working Drummer106 – Nick Ruffini from Drummer’s Resource & WDP Host’s Zack Albetta and Matthew Crouse: Drumming Podcast Host Roundtable, Adapting to Major Life Changes and Transitions
In this episode Working Drummer hosts Zack Albetta and Matthew Crouse have a unique opportunity to join forces with Nick Ruffini from Drummer’s Resource to…
Working Drummer105 – Tony Austin: Playing with Kamasi Washington, The West Coast Get Down, Redefining West Coast Jazz
Tony Austin was born and raised in Los Angeles. He is one of two drummers (the other being Ronald Bruner Jr.) who are part of The West Coast Get Down, a…
Working Drummer104 – Black Drummers Of Nashville Round Table: Building Relationships Upon the Common Ground of Music, Creating a Support System
In this episode we have the opportunity to share the unique perspective of a group of talented black musicians who make their living in Nashville, Tennessee…
Working Drummer103 – Andy Sanesi: From Avant Garde Jazz to Pop, Altering Your Cymbals, Making the Most of a Steady
Andy Sanesi is a New York native who has spent the last decade in L.A. His time in New York was highlighted by playing with saxophonist John Zorn but the…
Working Drummer102 – Wil Easterwood: Drumming for Trick Pony, Expecting the Best From Yourself, Singing While Drumming
When not out touring with country duo Trick Pony, Wil Easterwood spends his time as a freelance drummer and vocalist for live performances and studio sessions…
Working Drummer101 – Gary Hobbs: Touring with Stan Kenton, Applying Jazz Training to All Music, Breaking Jazz Out of Its Own Box
Gary Hobbs resides just outside Portland, OR, literally steps from the house he grew up in. His father and grandfather were both semi-pro drummers, but the…
Working Drummer100 – 100th Episode Special: A Very Non-Serious Nashville Drummer Round Table
We are excited to share a special edition of our 100th episode by bringing you a fun round table discussion among a group of Nashville drummers, AKA “The…
Working Drummer099 – Pete Cater: Building on Legends’ Legacies, Big Band Drumming 101, Going Beneath the Surface of Buddy Rich
London-based drummer and bandleader Pete Cater has built on the traditions of Buddy Rich, Joe Morello, and many others to carve a niche for himself as the…
Working Drummer098 – Hubert Payne: Drumming for Little Big Town, “Stepping Out On Faith”, Rising Above Great Adversity, Building a Simple But Effective Recording Rig
Hubert Payne was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Although, he was heavily influenced by his father who was a professional drummer, he was encouraged to…
Working Drummer097 – Billy Freeman: Drumming for Dustin Lynch, Facing Your Doubts and Fears, Discovering Drums from an Early Age
A Native of Garland Texas, Billy Freeman grew up around local Opry houses and by the age of 12 took over the job as house drummer for the Garland Opry and…
Working Drummer096 – Herman Matthews: Being a Feel Specialist, Giving Each Groove its Due, “Have Drums, Will Travel”
Herman Matthews has been an L.A. fixture for almost three decades and his resume includes names such as Tom Jones, Kirk Whalum, Tower of Power, and Hugh…
Working Drummer095 – Garrett Goodwin: Drumming For Carrie Underwood, The Nashville Sampling Company, Less Than Conventional Set-up
While Garrett Goodwin began his career playing in the backdrop of worship movements across the country (Zoegirl, Jeff Deyo of Sonicflood, Lindell Cooley…
Working Drummer094 – Larry Aberman: 13 Years with Zumanity on the Las Vegas Strip, Taking Direction, Navigating the Vegas Scene
Larry Aberman was handpicked to be the drummer for Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity, a show specifically conceived to be featured in a 1,200 seat theatre at New…
Working Drummer093 – Steve Smith: Drum Legend, Touring Again with Journey, New Book: The Pathways Of Motion, Defining Drum Set Technique, Nashville Drummer Jam Tribute
Steve Smith‘s drumming, while always decidedly modern, can best be described as a style that embodies the history of U.S. music. His command of jazz, from New…
Working Drummer092 – Jamison Ross: Combining His Drumming and Singing Roots, Leading a Band from the Drums, The Importance of New Orleans’ Drumming Lineage
Jamison Ross is doing what no drummer has ever done – drumming, singing, composing (music and lyrics), and bandleading, all from the front and center of the…
Working Drummer091 – Pete Parada: Drumming for The Offspring, Working with Legends like Producer Bob Rock and Rob Halford of Judas Priest, Studying at M.I. in L.A.
Shortly after high school, Pete Parada moved to the west coast to study at the Musicians Institute (MI) where he took classes with greats like Joe Porcaro…
Working Drummer090 – Nick Mancini: Managing Creativity and Business in the 21st Century, What a Music College Should and Shouldn’t Do, Crafting Your Expression
Vibraphonist Nick Mancini has lived in LA for a decade, and a decade in New York before that. Self-diagnosed with “musical A.D.D.,” he has constantly been…
Working Drummer089 – Michael Robinson: Vice President of Marketing for KHS America, Insight into the Retail and Production Side of the Music Industry, KHS’s Relationship with the Music Educator Community
Michael Robinson is the Vice President of Marketing for KHS America. He leads the Branding, Marketing Communications, Product Management, Marketing…
Working Drummer088 – Kent Aberle: Touring with Kristian Bush, Building Your Reputation in Cover Bands, Owning a Drum Shop
Kent Aberle has been touring and recording with Kristian Bush for two years. He attended Eastern Illinois University as a Special Education major and began…
Working Drummer087 – Russ Whitman: Drumming for Craig Morgan, DCI, Teaching and Performing Experience, East Coast Beach Music
Russ Whitman began playing drums at the early age of 6 years old. From then on he always knew what he wanted to do with his life. Following in his father’s…
Working Drummer086 – Jan Faircloth: Being Part of a Tradition, Blues Innovators vs. Purists, An Audio Tour of Blues and Drumming in K.C.
Jan Faircloth grew up in western Kansas and moved to Kansas City in his early 20s. There, he found ample opportunities to pursue his love of Blues and Country…
Working Drummer085 – Kevin Rapillo: Band Leading for Rodney Atkins, Building Careers on Relationships, Staying Focused on Musical Goals
Kevin Rapillo was born in Trumbull, CT, just north of New York City. A combination of growing up just hours north of New York City and having a great uncle…
Working Drummer084 – Ed Breckenfeld: Making a Career in Chicago, Longevity In a Changing Music Industry, Thinking Like the Greats
Ed Breckenfeld was born and raised in Chicago and has lived and worked there all his life. He’s done it all, from devoting years of his life to a single band…
Working Drummer083 – Rob McNelley: ACM Guitar Player of the Year, Everything You Wanted to Know About Sessions (But Were Afraid to Ask), Recording with Buddy Guy, Need to Know Advice for Drummers
Rob McNelley is an accomplished session guitarist in Nashville who has landed a string of high-profile gigs and awards including “Guitarist of the Year” from…
Working Drummer082 – Lauren Kosty: Playing It All…From Percussion to Drumset, from Classical to Pop, from L.A. to London
Lauren Kosty is a classically trained percussionist who has been upping her drumset game in recent years. She spent her entire life in L.A. until she moved to…
Working Drummer081 – Wes Little: Backing Super Stars Like Sting, Stevie Wonder and Beyonce at Obama’s Inaugural Ball, Touring and Recording with Robben Ford, Building a Session Resume
On a historic night in the Winter of 2009, drummer Wes Little proved beyond any doubt that he is the nimble, adaptable, professional musician he wanted to be…
Working Drummer080 – Darren Stanley: Playing with Colonel Bruce Hampton, Letting Art Reflect Life, The New Breed, Goals vs. Expectations
Darren Stanley is one of the Atlanta area’s most established and well-liked drummers. His main gig is touring with Colonel Bruce Hampton, who is described by…
Working Drummer079 – Marcus Finnie: Drumming with Grammy Award Winning Kirk Whalum, Growing up Performing in the Church, Healthy Road Life
A Memphis native, Marcus Finnie has toured and recorded several years with Grammy winner Kirk Whalum. He has also toured the world with Grammy winning artists…
Working Drummer078 – Michael Duffy: Drum Corps Culture at North Texas, The Austin Scene, Gathering Info from Other Drummers, Making it Work in L.A.
Michael Duffy is an L.A. native, and has spent most of his career splitting his time between drumset and Latin percussion. He marched corps with Velvet Knights…
Working Drummer077 – Al Wilson: “Owning It” when Performing, Leaving Taylor Swift’s Gig After 6 Years to Focus on Family, Orchestrating Loops Organically
Originally from North Carolina, Al Wilson discovered his passion for drumming at the age of 18. Within a very short time, Al was learning “on the job” working…
Working Drummer076 – Matt Hankle: Playing on Broadway, Acting Like You Belong, Going All In On the L.A. Rock Scene
Matt Hankle grew up in New Jersey, the son of a classical flautist and a jazz trombonist. His first professional experience was at age 17 when he spent a…
Working Drummer075 – Peter Erskine: Jazz Legend, The Importance of the Space Between the Notes, Learning from Bad Performances, Working and Playing Well with Others, Drumming for Seth MacFarlane, Dr. Um
Peter Erskine has played the drums since the age of four and is known for his versatility and love of working in different musical contexts. He appears on over…
Working Drummer074 – Todd Strait: Studying with Ed Soph & Joe Morello, Cutting His Teeth in New York, Playing Behind Singers, Splitting Time Between Portland and Kansas City
Todd Strait was into jazz from the very start and has played with some of its biggest names over his a 35-year career. After studying with Ed Soph and Joe…
Working Drummer073 – Zack Albetta: Establishing Yourself in a New Town, Connecting With Your Audience, Creating a Network of Colleagues, Hosting a Podcast
Zack Albetta grew up in Santa Fe, NM, where he began drum lessons at age 8. Music was the focus of his high school years and he went on to earn a bachelor’s…
Working Drummer072 – Staff Sgt. Wes Anderson: L.A. & Disneyland as Stepping Stones, Stepping Up His Game with Eric Reed, Touring with The Army Jazz Ambassadors
Wes Anderson recently became the drummer for the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors, the military’s premier touring jazz ensemble. Born and raised in Phoenix, AZ, Wes…
Working Drummer071 – Dave Harrison: Touring & Recording with Edwin McCain, Managing Career Changes, Golf & Drums – The Parallels
Dave Harrison is a graduate of West Virginia University School of Music. He performed with the world famous Percussion ’90 under the direction of Phil Faini…
Working DrummerEp. 70 – Ryan Lee: Lessons from Bobby Watson, Cross-Genre Collaborations, Looking Beyond Your Local Scene
Ryan Lee was born and raised in Kansas City, MO, and earned a bachelor’s degree in music from The Conservatory at The University of Missouri-Kansas City. New…
Working Drummer069 – Scot Corey: Symphonic Percussionist, Keeping a Full Calendar as a Multi-Percussionist, Educator, Drumset and Steel Drum Player
Scot Corey is a freelance drummer/percussionist who has performed as an ‘extra’ with the Nashville Symphony for over 17 years, including NSO’s Carnegie Hall…
Working Drummer068 – Jamey Tate: Tough Love from Erskine, Recovering from a Professional Setback, The Good/Bad/Ugly of Smooth Jazz
L.A.based drummer Jamey Tate has been solidly busy for almost 15 years. He studied under Peter Erskine as a grad student at USC and has put Erskine’s lessons…
Working Drummer067 – Eddie Bayers: Studio Legend, Drumming on Over 300 Gold & Platinum Records, ACM Drummer of the Year 14 Times
Establishing himself in Nashville as one of the top studio drummers, Eddie Bayers has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including…
Working Drummer066 – Marlon Patton: Genre-hopping, Building a Home Studio, Searching for Sounds
Marlon Patton was born and raised in the Atlanta area, attended college down the road at The University of Georgia in Athens, then returned home to Atlanta…
Working Drummer065 – Rick Malkin: Photography and Drumming, Photographing Famous Drummers, Drumming in Musical Theater
Rick Malkin has made a career for himself by combining his passion for drumming and photography. Growing up in Pittsburgh, Rick learned photography at an early…
Working Drummer064 – Josh Heffernan: Freelancing vs. being in a band, making a live album, the balance between vintage and modern
Josh Heffernan is the drummer for Dustbowl Revival, an eight-piece outfit based in LA. Their most recent album, With A Lampshade On is their biggest yet, and…
Working Drummer063 – Troy Luccketta: Tesla, Keith Emerson Tribute, A Song For Wellness
Troy Luccketta entered his musical career at 17, and by the time he was 23 he was touring with The Eric Martin Band (lead singer for Mr. Big), and found…
Working Drummer062 – Colin Agnew: Creating Coordination for Musicality, Incorporating Latin Sounds into Other Music, Finding the Right People in the Right Town
Using ever-changing combinations of drumset and hand percussion, Colin Agnew has developed an earthy, organic signature sound that has made him indispensable…
Working Drummer061 – Ben Jackson: Operating a Successful Home Studio, Drumming & Producing, Building Ableton Live Rigs for Major Tours
Ben Jackson is a Nashville based drummer/producer, primarily working in Nashville’s top studios, as well as touring with a wide variety of artists and…
Working Drummer060 – Dan Schnelle: Learning From Four Masters, Playing In the Moment, Practicing vs. Listening
Dan Schnelle was born and raised in New York and came to LA to attend college at USC. While in school, he studied with an impressive succession of teachers…
Working Drummer059 – John Root: Understanding Styles, Diversifying Your Workload, Playing Lower Broadway Gigs in Nashville,
John defines what it means to be a working drummer in Nashville Tennessee. Since his move to Nashville in 1993 from Connecticut, John has covered it all from…
Working Drummer058 – Charles LaMont Garner: Growing Beyond his Gospel Roots, The Importance of Mentorship, Building a Career Through Good Relationships and Good Character
“My father’s side was musicians, my mother’s side was singers and preachers.” This sums up Charles LaMont Garner’s musical pedigree. The Charleston, SC native…
Working Drummer057 – Reggie Jackson: Drumming for Dr John, Exuding Joy While Performing, Applying Experience to the Gig
Based in Columbus Ohio, drummer Reggie Jackson built a reputation from an early age as a powerful drummer who could cover many styles such as be-bop, latin…
Working Drummer056 – Kassandra Kocoshis: From Classical to Flamenco to Pop, A Percussionist’s Journey to A Busy L.A. Career
As a freshman in high school, Kassandra Kocoshis was studying classical percussion in a collegiate program, and went on to DePaul University in Chicago to…
Working Drummer055 – Jack White: Drumming for Rick Springfield, Ike and Tina Turner, Facing Your Fears Head On
Originally from Detroit, Jack White is best known for his work world wide with singer/songwriter Rick Springfield in 1976, 1980-84, and 1990-2002. In the 40…
Working Drummer054 – Willie McNeil: From Punk to Reggae, from Salsa to Burlesque…Putting on a Show for 35 Years
Willie McNeil came to LA barely out of high school in the early 1980s. He got busy quickly and hasn’t stopped since, playing with bands across the musical…
Working Drummer053 – Marshall Richardson: Touring with a “Legacy Artist”, Garnering Recording Tips from Pro Engineers, Taking Recommendations Seriously
Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Marshall Richardson moved to Nashville in 2000 after graduating from the University of North Texas with a BA in Music. As a…