Big Fat Five: A Podcast Financially Supported by Big Fat Snare Drum Ben Hilzinger

This week's guest is Megan Spencer, a talented young drummer and educator from just outside Los Angeles. Megan recently caught my attention with her amazing cover of Marques Murrey's Million Dollar Baby remix, and I was instantly drawn to her unique tones and vibe. So, I’m excited to have her on the show!  I'm always grateful for the opportunity to connect with new drummers who inspire ME and learn about the drummers who inspired THEM, in hopes of inspiring YOU. Thanks for hanging around. Today, Megan will share the five records that have significantly shaped her journey as a drummer. Enjoy the episode! Cheers!
MEGAN'S BIG FAT FIVE:
Album - Innervisions
Artist - Stevie Wonder
Release Year - 1973
Key Track - Higher Ground
Drummer - Stevie Wonder
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Album - Bad
Artist - Michael Jackson
Release Year - 1987
Key Track - Smooth Criminal, Bad, Dirty Diana, Man in the Mirror
Drummer - John (JR) Robinson
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Album - Ten Summoner’s Tales
Artist - Sting
Release Year - 1993
Key Track - Seven Days
Drummer - Vinnie Colaiuta
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Album - Alive in South Africa
Artist - Israel Houghton & New Breed
Release Year - 2005
Key Track - Turn it Around, Still Standing
Drummer - Mike Clemmons
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Album - Loopified
Artist - Dirty Loops
Release Year - 2014
Key Track - Hit Me, Rolling in the Deep
Drummer - Aron Mellergard

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

This week's guest is Chris Fryar, primarily known for his work with the Zac Brown Band. He has also worked with Oteil and the Peacemakers, led by bassist Oteil Burbridge of the Allman Brothers Band, as well as with Victor Wooten, John Popper, Steve Bailey, and many more.
Chris is powerful, creative, and consistent, yet very reactive and conversational with his playing. I was so happy to chat with him. I'll be honest—I haven't really said this in an intro before, but this conversation is what I envisioned when I started this podcast. Chris is incredible at sharing his story through his choices and offers invaluable advice along the way.
This is hands down one of my favorite episodes. Please enjoy my chat with Chris Fryar about the five records that shaped him into the musician he is today. And make sure you check out his honorable mentions. He's got plenty, and they'll all make you a better player. I promise.
Cheers!

CHRIS' BIG FAT FIVE:
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Album - Zenyatta Mondatta
Artist - The Police
Release Year - 1980
Key Track(s) - Shadows In The Rain, Driven To Tears, When The World Is Running Down
Drummer - Stewart Copeland
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Album - Ten Summoner's Tales
Artist - Sting
Release Year - 1993
Key Track(s) - Seven Days, St. Augustine in Hell, She's Too Good For Me, Shape of My Heart
Drummer - Vinnie Colaiuta
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Album - Kind of Blue
Artist - Miles Davis
Release Year - 1959
Key Track(s) - So What, All Blues, Freddie Freeloader
Drummer - Jimmy Cobb
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Album - Live and In Living Color
Artist - Tower Of Power
Release Year - 1976
Key Track(s) - Knock Yourself Out (live), What Is Hip (live)
Drummer - David Garibaldi
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Album - Robben Ford & The Blue Line
Artist - Robben Ford
Release Year - 1992
Key Track(s) - You Cut Me To The Bone, Real Man, Prison Of Love
Drummer - Tom Brechtlein

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Aja - Steely Dan
Big Swing Face - Buddy Rich Big Band
TOTO IV - TOTO
Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin
Moving Pictures - Rush
Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack - various artists
Life On Planet Groove - Maceo Parker
At Fillmore East - Allman Brothers Band
HELP! - The Beatles
Rubber Soul - the Beatles
Revolver - the Beatles
John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman
Apple Juice - Tom Scott
Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit
Heavy Weather - Weather Report

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

This week’s guest is Mark Guiliana, a visionary drummer and solo artist known for his eclectic style that blends jazz, electronic, and experimental music. He’s worked with artists like David Bowie, Brad Mehldau, St. Vincent, and has his own projects such as the Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet and Beat Music.
Mark continuously pushes the boundaries of rhythm and sound, earning him a reputation as a trailblazer in contemporary music. This is a condensed version of my conversation with Mark from early 2021. With his new album, Mark, coming out in July 2024, I wanted to highlight his insights and present an episode that fits better with our current format.
Instead of a top 5 list of records, I gave Mark a set of prompts to choose from, and we went from there. There’s so much wisdom in this chat, so even if you heard it before, give it another listen. I definitely learned new things the second time around.
Concierto de Osain del Monte VIDEO
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram. 

This week’s guest is Porter Bliquez, a young American drum prodigy from San Francisco. Despite his age, Porter has already recorded and performed with award-winning producers and musicians associated with Kevin Gates, Olivia Rodrigo, Haan, Andy Prado Jr., and more.
While still attending USC, Porter manages to carve out time to make a significant impact in both the LA and online drum communities. At my ripe old age of 37, it's refreshing to connect with the younger generation of drummers and see what’s happening in their world. Porter is destined for the biggest stages globally, so I'm thrilled if this is the episode that introduces you to him. Please enjoy the records that helped shape Porter into the exceptional drummer he is today. Cheers!
Eric Harland - Zildjian Performance Video HERE

PORTER'S BIG FAT FIVE:
Album - Homey
Artist - Chon
Release Year - 2017
Key Track(s) - Sleepy Tea / Water slide
Drummer - Brian Evans
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Album - Black Focus
Artist - Yussef Kammal
Release Year - 2016
Key Track(s) - Strings of Light / Wingtai Drums / Joint 17
Drummer - Yussef Dayes
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Album - Chon
Artist - Chon
Release Year - 2019
Key Track(s) - Peace / Pitch Dark
Drummer - Brian Evans
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Album - Two Star & The Dream Police
Artist - Mk.gee
Release Year - 2024
Key Track(s) - Rylee & I / Dream Police / DNM / How Many Miles
Drummer - Micheal Gordon
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Album - Misadventures
Artist - Peirce the Veil
Release Year - 2016
Key Track(s) - Song For Isabel / Texas is Forever / Phantom Power / Ludicrous Speed
Drummer - Mike Fuentes

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram. 

This week's guest is Wiktoria Bialic. Wiktoria has been nominated for four Grammy awards for her recordings on Allison Russell's album, "The Returner." She has also recorded drums for Grammy-winning musicians like Ondre J. Pavic, Alex Marley, Maati Baani, Ralph Kaminski, SARSA, and various other artists and producers from Britain, India, Scotland, Poland, America, and Puerto Rico.
Wiktoria collaborated with Zildjian Artist Ash Soan on the single "Dark Dark Days" by Black Dog All Starsand often fills in for other well-known drummers in Poland. She won the Hit Like A Girl contest in 2021 and has performed at prestigious drum festivals such as PASIC, Bag Show, The UK Drum Show, and Silesia Drum Festival.
You can find her Instagram HERE and listen to a Spotify playlist featuring many of her recordings HERE. Wiktoria offers a great perspective on excelling as a studio musician, so get ready to improve your drumming skills. I hope you enjoy the recordings that shaped Wiktoria Bialic into the musician she is today.

WIKTORIA'S BIG FAT FIVE:
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Album - Exodus
Artist - Bob Marley
Release Year - 1977
Key Track(s) 0 Three Little Birds / One Love / Whole Record :)
Drummer - Carlton Barrett
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Album - The Returner
Artist - Allison Russell
Release Year - 2023
Key Track(s) - Stay Right Here / Springtime
Drummer - Wiktoria Bialic
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Album VoodoO
Artist - D'Angelo
Release Year - 2000
Key Track(s)
The Root
Drummer - Questlove
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Album - Feats Don't Fail Me Now
Artist - Little Feat
Release Year - 1974
Key Track(s) - Skin It Back
Drummer - Richie Hayward
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Album - 7
Artist - Seal
Release Year - 2015
Key Track(s) - Redzone Killer
Drummer - Ash Soan
 
For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

This week’s guest is Brandon Combs. Brandon is a drummer, programmer, and producer hailing from Lansing, Michigan. Brandon obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in Popular Music Studies from the University of Southern California in 2015 and is currently based in Nashville, Tennessee. He’s worked with so many amazing artists, including Grammy Award-winning artist Leon Bridges, Joy Oladakun, John Legend, Raphael Saadiq, Moses Sumney, Tori Kelly, Greyson Chance, Chris Bullock of Snarky Puppy, and many more. He’s got a lot of energy and his choices center around very hirable theme. I hope you enjoy the records that helped shaped Brandon Combs into the artist he is today. Cheers!

BRANDON'S BIG FAT FIVE 
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Album - Perpetual motion
Artist - Dave Weckl Band
Release Year - 2002
Key Track(s) - Child's play
Drummer - Dave Weckl
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Album - Heavier Things
Artist - John Mayer
Release Year - 2003
Key Track(s) - New Deep / Something's Missing,
Drummer - Steve Jordan
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Album - Somethin' Bout Love
Artist - Brian Culbertson
Release Year - 1999
Key Track(s) - Do you Really Love Me?
Drummer - Chris Miskel
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Album - Mixtape - Volume One
Key Track(s) - Movin / Nine
Drummer - Ben Jones
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Album - Opal / Brunei
Artist - Vinyl Williams
Release Year - 2018 / 2016
Key Track(s) - Lansing / Feedback Delicates

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.