Contraption Podcast

Contraption: The Drummers' Podcast features interviews with professional drummers and drum educators who share their expertise with new and returning drummers. Host Mike Kassel is a returning drummer who explores the stories and approaches of famous drummers, as well as the unsung heroes of all things drums.

Tom Lonardo 02/15/2020

Tom Lonardo Memphis based drummer and drum educator Tom Lonardo has a wonderful approach to drums - play fearlessly and realize the drums are a place of peace. The son of a bass player and music store owner, much of Tom's life has been devoted to music. Learn about his path to the drums, his own drum education and his thoughts on approaching the drums. Deep stuff here, I promise! /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/13166783

Stanton Moore 11/15/2019

Stanton Moore Whether you know him as the drummer for Galactic or other bands and projects, as a drum educator and founder of the Stanton Moore Drum Academy, as a clinician, or for his signature Crescent cymbals or his own snare drum, Stanton Moore is the drummer’s drummer. In this interview, we talk about drum education and equipment while getting wonderful tips on timing, the jazz ride pattern and a definition and demonstration of “playing in the cracks.” /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/12045473

Ulysses Owens Jr. 11/06/2019

Ulysses Owens Jr. Ulysses Owens Jr. has firmly established his place as a drummer, drum educator and, now, author. Lauded in publications like Jazz Times, All About Jazz, and The New York Times, the Grammy Award winner's reputation is well deserved and firmly secured. /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/11935691

Cindy Goldberg 11/01/2019

Cindy Goldberg Artist, writer, musician, drummer and now filmmaker, Cindy Goldberg is getting great reception for her new feature length documentary, "Beat Keepers: Women with Rhythm." Exploring the challenges and prospects women face in the drum community. Cindy was kind enough to talk with us about her film, her path to drums, and her own empowering ideas for new and returning drummers. /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/11865923

Sarah Thawer 10/06/2019

Sarah Thawer Toronto-based drummer, Sarah Thawer, brings Indian rhythms infused with her incredible talent and energy, to numerous stage and recording projects. Sarah studied jazz and world music at York University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She received the Oscar Peterson Scholarship, the highest award given by York. For all her academic achievement, Sarah, like so many of the drummer’s we’ve talked with this first season, started playing at a very young age /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/11536013

Tony TC Coleman 07/29/2019

Tony TC Coleman He's the drummer for the best of the blues, from Albert Collins to Albert King to B.B. King. Tony TC Coleman talks about how he came to appreciate the blues and how aspiring drummers need to approach playing it. A self-confessed natural, Tony has mastered the "less is more" style, placing groove above all and making it pay off in a wonderful career that continues to keep him one of the busiest blues drummers around. A living legend in a no holds barred interview! /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/10687187

Tony Bartone 06/13/2019

Tony Bartone Tony Bartone has been playing drums most of his life. His early training in rudiments definitely paid off as he grew to become a working professional with some pretty high profile gigs, including a year on the set of Everyday with Joan Lunden. Today, Tony teaches a wide variety of students in his home state of New Jersey; he’s also an accomplished piano player and vocalist who gigs weekly. Hear Tony discuss his path to drums, his professional experience, and his advice to new and returning drummers. /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/10143619

David Anderson 05/29/2019

David Anderson Inspired by his brother, the late William Salter -- a professional drummer twenty years his senior -- David Anderson made it out to LA, where he is still flourishing as a working drummer and drum educator since the 1990s. David has toured and recorded with incredible musicians, including Eddie Harris, Dionne Warwick, Tom Scott, Hubert Laws, Chaka Khan, and Larry Carlton. Recently, David talked with us about his history, work with and approach to drums. /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/9970295

Craig Pilo 05/17/2019

Craig Pilo Drummer/drum educator Craig Pilo, a graduate of the famed UNT drum program, has been a working LA musician since 1996. After working with jazz great Maynard Ferguson, he's also performed with Pat Boone, Edgar Winter and was on tour for several years with Frankie Valli. Craig continues to work with the group "Little Fish," as well as "Player," and currently keeps a busy schedule recording and teaching, including a faculty position with the California School of Music. /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/9826670

Jeremy Bout 05/17/2019

Jeremy Bout Filmmaker Jeremy Bout, founder of Edge Factor, talks with us about his incredible film, "Masters of Resonance," which tells the story of John Good of DW drums and the journey of a centuries old log from river to rock stage. But it's not just about building a great DW kit for famed drummer Neil Peart, but an inspiring story of following one’s passion, whether that be drumming, drum making, or any other thing you call your own. /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/9826643

Sean Dobbins 04/12/2019

Sean Dobbins Michigan jazz drummer/educator Sean Dobbins has been playing most of his life. He was fortunate to study early under Louis Smith, an amazing trumpet player and Blue Note artist. Influenced by drummers Ed Thigpen, Elvin Jones and his favorite – Art Blakey - Sean has performed with an amazing number of artist over the years, including Bennie Golson, Frank Morgan, Tad Weed and Mose Allison. Sean is Applied Professor of Jazz Percussion at Wayne State University and Director of Ann Arbor's Summer Jazz Pro /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/9371093

Ra-Kalam Bob Moses 02/18/2019

Ra-Kalam Bob Moses In this very special episode of Contraption, I am honored to talk with Ra-kalam Bob Moses, who shares stories of his past, news of his current and upcoming work, and his overall “drum wisdom.” The godson of drummer Ed Shaugnessey, young Bob Moses grew up in the same building with Max Roach, Art Blakey and Elvin Jones. Author of the seminal "Drum Wisdom," Moses has played with countless jazz greats, and is drummer on Pat Metheny's classic debut album "Bright Size Life," also featuring Jaco Pastorious. /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/8691803

Gina Knight 02/12/2019

Gina Knight Gina Knight is an incredible drummer, amazing teacher, and, by day, a super real estate agent. But she's also YouTube’s Drum Lessons Girl whose half-time shuffle video has netted nearly 700k views. /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/8616473

Ed Soph 01/20/2019

Ed Soph Ed Soph's work as a drummer, clinician, and ground-breaking college professor has made him one of the most respected people in drumming today. After a 20-year career /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/8327510

Johnny Vidacovich 01/10/2019

Johnny Vidacovich Johnny Vidacovich - a living legend who infuses every song he plays with a musicality that transcends drums and touches those he plays with and for. Johnny credits his ability to growing up in New Orleans and the sounds and beats of the bands that passed his modest childhood home. It began during his infancy; part of his DNA. But it didn't come easy. Johnny's worked very hard for his legendary reputation. Johnny talks about his career, thinking musically and learning to listen and react. /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/8208410

Mark Lanter 11/30/2018

Mark Lanter Mark Lanter has been a working musician since 14, with a steady schedule of touring, recording, and teaching. In addition to his work with Black Jacket Symphony, which performs covers of iconic albums, Mark teaches private lessons out of his Birmingham, studio, jazz studies at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and his own music appreciation class at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Among other things, Mark talks about the importance of getting your "10,00 hours" and "swinging the band." /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/7722152

Bob Everett 11/16/2018

Bob Everett Bob Everett, owner of Beat It Music, Ltd., Canada's biggest vintage drum shop, has worked as a touring pro since he was twelve years old and is a part of the famed Canadian group, Done on Bradstreet. Bob’s Calgary, Alberta store is a cross between vintage drum shop and museum. Bob and I recently had a wonderful, rolling conversation about vintage drums, his career, his playing, the line of Agean cymbals he carries, his advice to new and returning drummers AND the key to perfect drum tuning. /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/7589558

Paul Wertico 11/13/2018

Paul Wertico Famous for his work with the Pat Metheny Group, Paul Wertico is a seven-time Grammy Award winning drummer. In addition to performing, Paul is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Roosevelt University Chicago College of Performing Arts. In this episode of Contraption, Paul talks about his path to drums, his career, his philosophy of drums, his new book, "Turn the Beat Around: A Drummer's Guide to Playing Backbeats on 1 and 3" (Alfred Music 2017), and his successful battle with prostate cancer. /episode/index/show/contraptionpodcast/id/7513409

Contraption Podcast

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