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With over 450 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.
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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, versatility, and professionalism have also allowed him to work with many different world-renown artists across multiple genres such as Keith Urban, Raphael Saadiq, Moses Sumney, Lupe Fiasco, NIIA, Gallant, Chris Bullock of Snarky Puppy, and many more. Some of his most recently completed projects include recording drums on John Legend’s A Legendary Christmas album (2019) and the entirety of jazz-pianist Mark De Clive Lowe’s double album Heritage (2019). He’s also put his hands into music production, co-producing the song “Famous” off of The Internet’s Grammy-nominated album Ego Death (2016).
In this episode, Brandon talks about:
Covering the many vibes and sonic palates in Leon Bridges' evolving catalogue
Getting on the same page about drum sounds with FOH sound people
Archiving snare sounds in his studio
Organic relationships leading to his best and biggest opportunities
Studying with Ndugu Chancler and others at USC
What it means to know a whole song
His thoughts on Nashville vs. LA
His outlook as he's about to become a dad -
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, Justin has performed and recorded with Jim Lauderdale (Late Night with Conan O’Brien), Laura Cantrell, Michelle Wright, The Wild Iris Brass Band feat. Jeff Coffin, Dennis Crouch, Milan Miller, Mike Farris, Layton Howerton, Tommy Womack, Chris West and many more. Justin maintains an active performing and recording schedule working at some of Nashville’s most prestigious studios like Blackbird, Creative Workshop and the Hen House as well as venues like The Bluebird, The 5Spot, The Exit/In and Roberts Western World.
In 2024 Justin released a collection of traditional hymns re-imagined as world beat instrumental duets called LIFE IN GROOVELAND - The Hymnal. Each track features a different instrumentalist.
In this episode, Justin talks about:
Heeding the call to do your own thing
The origin of his new record: LIFE IN GROOVELAND - The Hymnal
Creating your own opportunities
Jump starting the creative process
The inspiration of Drum and Fife
Practicing movement and visualization as a technique -
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 all types music, musicians, and music fans
What makes a good organ drummer - "don't panic"
Moving from Seattle to LA to Nashville, and the differences between those scenes
Finding different versions of yourself while still being yourself -
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 as well as the overwhelming support from the Nashville drumming community. Beyond providing professional drum services, he actively contributes to the community by hosting drummers' hangs, fostering networking, and uplifting fellow musicians.
In this episode, Finch talks about:
Managing your time as a self employed person
Utilizing your network to get things done
Always learning new skills
Being ready when shit goes wrong on stage
Reviewing five different drummers he’s teched for
Creating financial security
Focusing on physical and mental health -
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 well as at the collegiate level.
In this episode, Steve talks about:
His fully remote college gig
Touring with The Four Phantoms
Why he loves rehearsing
The mentorship and influence of Matt Wilson and Bill Drummond
How cutthroat attitudes are mostly gone
His love of accompanying singers -
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 love with the art of live performance and foster a new generation of percussionists.
Yamil tours nationally and internationally bringing educational lectures on the conga drum and salsa music. He is currently the percussionist and DJ for Country artist Frank Ray. Yamil rounds out his calendar performing with corporate bands as well as performing as a soloist as a drumming DJ.
In this episode, Yamil talks about:
Diversifying your "portfolio”
Being proactive with your daily activities
The evolution of the drumming/DJ thing
Playing with artist Frank Ray
Lecturing on the origin of the conga in American music
The influence of his father’s legacy
Percussion advice for drum set players