Pete's Percussion Podcast - Pete Zambito

Pete Zambito
  • 5.0 (17)
  • Arts
  • Updated Biweekly

A place for long form talk with percussionists and other compelling people.

  1. 4h ago

    Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 498 - Sam Quinones

    Episode 498 - Sam Quinones Pete's Percussion Podcast Following Pete’s thoughts about his experiences at the Canadian Percussion Network’s “The Space Between V” conference, Author and journalist Sam Quinones (The Perfect Tuba) stops by to talk about Sam’s career in journalism, growing up in California, crime reporting, and writing about tuba players and band directors (06:05), his relationship with music, his love of various genres and styles, and his background in punk rock (16:20), his first jobs in writing and building his writing skill set, talking to interesting people, and some of his favorite writers (25:00), his early research on the book, Tuba Fats, and Robert Caro (36:05), the connections between addiction and fulfillment through hard work in music, along with the needs of bands directors to become advocates for their work (41:50), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, with segments on the challenges for young journalists today, The Godfather films, and great music from The Rolling Stones, Sun Ra, and Emmylou Harris (01:05:45). Finishing with a Rave on the Sam Quinones book The Perfect Tuba: Forging Fulfillment from the Bass Horn, Band, and Hard Work (01:20:10). Sam Quinones Links: Sam Quinones’ website The Perfect Tuba - Sam Quinones Other Links: The Stockton Record The Los Angeles Times June 17, 1994 trailer (The OJ Simpson chase) Folk Music Center “Carol” - The Rolling Stones “Mama Tried” - Merle Haggard “Stand By Your Man” - Tammy Wynette “Jambalaya” - Clifton Chenier “La Puerta Negra” - Los Tigres Del Norte “Sweet Emotion” - Aerosmith “What’s Your Name” - Lynyrd Skynyrd “Chain Saw” - The Ramones “Clampdown” - The Clash “California Uber Alles” - Dead Kennedys Killings - Calvin Trillin Robert Caro The Corpse Had a Familiar Face - Edna Buchanan On Writing Well - William Zinsser Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro The Godfather trailer The Godfather Part II trailer Goodfellas trailer “Me and Billy the Kid” - Joe Ely “Space is The Place” - Sun Ra Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town - Emmylou Harris Raves: The Perfect Tuba - Sam Quinones

  2. May 28

    Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 497 - Candice Hill

    Episode 497 - Candice Hill Pete's Percussion Podcast Kansas City-based freelancing percussionist, educator, Steel Pan artist, composer and arranger Candice Hill stops by to talk about her career in KC and getting started there, along with her time performing with the Kansas City Chiefs drumline (03:45), teaching and performing in town, arranging and composing, and her work “Red City Calypso” (21:30), growing up in Columbia (MO) and her family musical background (34:45), her undergrad years at Missouri State University, marching band and lessons, getting into steel pan performance, and Music Education vs. Music Performance degrees (44:55), attending Northern Illinois University for her master’s in Steel Pan Performance, studying with Liam Teague and Cliff Alexis, dealing with performance anxiety, and keeping up with her non-steel band percussion skills (01:04:15), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on being a woman in the field of percussion, Pete getting to work with Candice and Emily Lemmermann for the Missouri Mass Steel Band performance last month, Dirty Dancing, Crafts and Baking, experiencing Panorama in Trinidad and Tobago, bad cleaning jobs, and the excellence of Steel Band all over the world (01:27:20). Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 film Michael (01:54:30). Candice Hill Links: Candice Hill’s website “Red City Calypso” - Candice Hill Previous Podcast Guests mentioned: Emily Lemmermann in 2019 Julia Gaines-Montag in 2016 Scott Cameron in 2016 Liam Teague in 2025 Rich Holly in 2020 Raychel Taylor in 2020 Amanda Duncan in 2023 Elizabeth DeLamater in 2019 Other Links: Matt Arnet “Tornado” - Mitch Markovich John Patterson Blast! Al O’Connor Cliff Alexis “Because” - The Beatles “Island in the Sun” - Len “Boogsie” Sharpe Yuko Asada Mia Gormandy-Benjamin Robert Chappell Scott McConnell Dirty Dancing trailer Unheard Voices - Myrna Nurse Cricut crafts “Pan by Storm” - Skiffle Bunch Ben Yancey Raves: Michael trailer

  3. May 21

    Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 496 - Terry Sweeney

    Episode 496 - Terry Sweeney Pete's Percussion Podcast Sandbox Percussion Member and Educator Terry Sweeney stops by to talk about his work with Sandbox, their teaching at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Mannes (NY), and the Bob Van Sice influence (03:50), the beginnings of Sandbox Percussion, Terry’s challenges of performing in Sandbox and finishing his master’s degree at the same time, the Brooklyn studio, and the challenges and workings of scheduling (19:40), growing up in Michigan, his drumset and drumline background, and connecting with Gwen Dease through Interlochen (57:00), attending Peabody Conservatory (MD) for undergrad and studying with Bob Van Sice, and heading to Yale University (CT) for grad school, continuing with Van Sice, and some of the other folks he worked with during his time there (01:11:00), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on working with Andy Akiho, training for triathlons, his fandom for popcorn, and the work Canto Ostinato (01:18:15). Finishing with a Rave on the band Sound Society (01:51:20). Terry Sweeney links: Sandbox Percussion Terry at Sandbox Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned: Victor Caccese in 2019 Ian Rosenbaum in 2025 Jonny Allen in 2026 Gwen Dease in 2017 Garrett Arney in 2019 Amy Smith in 2018 Julie Hill in 2019 Julie Davila in 2019 David Skidmore in 2025 Sean Connors in 2025 Peter Martin in 2025 Robert Dillon in 2025 Other Links: Robert Van Sice “Extremes” - Jason Treuting “Mallet Quartet” - Steve Reich “Drumming” - Steve Reich So Percussion Eighth Blackbird Pat Metheny Group Antonio Sanchez Interlochen “Porgy and Bess” xylophone excerpt Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibraphone - Morris Goldenberg Yale Percussion Group “Mirage” - Yasuo Sueyoshi Paul Berry “Time for Marimba” - Minoru Miki Aftersun trailer A Rainy Day in New York trailer My Struggle - Karl One Knausgard Canto Ostinato - Simeon ten Holt Raves: Sound Society

  4. May 14

    Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 495 - Genevieve Hilburn (Part 2)

    Episode 495 - Genevieve Hilburn (Part 2) Pete's Percussion Podcast California-based Percussionist, Educator, and Adjudicator Genevieve Hilburn returns for Part 2 of our conversation! She’s here to discuss getting into the Master’s Program at East Texas A&M University, studying with Brian Zator and his community of percussion experts, and the focus on developing young percussionists there (04:20), Genevieve’s experiences with the drumline at the school, her post-master’s degree plans, getting her jobs at CSU-Bakersfield and Bakersfield College, and her thoughts on the job considerations and preparations for graduate students (27:05), and she settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on counting rests, being a woman in the percussion world, “programmatic intent”, vintage clothing and furniture, Wes Anderson Movies, great books, Australia, the Blue Coats, and so much more (48:50). Finishing with a Rave on the books that supported Pete’s teaching of his Music and the Movies course at Mizzou (01:35:40). Genevieve Hilburn Links: Part 1 with Genevieve Hilburn Genevieve Hilburn’s Bakersfield College page Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned: Britton-René Collins in 2023 Brian Zator in 2017 Lauren Teel in 2017 The Vesna Duo in 2022 Louis Raymond-Kolker in 2024 Mark Ford in 2023 Julie Davila in 2019 Kathryn Irwin in 2024 Alexis C. Lamb in 2021 Gwen Dease in 2017 Casey Cangelosi in 2017 Kevin Bobo in 2017 Victoria Sparks in 2018 Other Links: Sean Clark Cavaliers 1995 DCI Show - “The Planets” Chad Floyd Pius Cheung Jeff Ausdemore Sandi Rennick Greg Power Matthew Howard Kenneth McGrath Nancy Zeltsman Ji Hye Jung Gunne Sax clothes Moonrise Kingdom trailer The Grand Budapest Hotel trailer The Royal Tenenbaums trailer Fantastic Mr. Fox trailer Star Wars, Episode 1: The Phantom Menace trailer To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer Dashner Design and Restoration The Crocodile Hunter H-E-B Tres Leches Cake TIERRAS South Texas Percussion Competition 2019 Blue Coats Warmup Raves: Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen - Michel Chion Reel Music: Exploring 100 Years of Film Music - Roger Hickman

  5. May 7

    Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 494 - Genevieve Hilburn (Part 1)

    Episode 494 - Genevieve Hilburn (Part 1) Pete's Percussion Podcast California State University – Bakersfield and Bakersfield College Percussion Professor Genevieve Hilburn stops by to talk about her teaching at both schools (04:20), the influence of DCI and WGI on teaching in California schools and the challenges of teaching in the performing arts (15:00), getting into the WGI judging circuit, her work with the Percussive Arts Society and her freelancing career (29:45), growing up in Southern California, her early years in music, and her time in the Girl Scouts (49:40), and her time in undergrad at the CSU – Northridge (01:01:50). Finishing with a Rave on a recent performance with the Missouri Symphony on their “Best of Broadway” concert (01:08:00). Genevieve Hilburn links: Genevieve Hilburn’s Bakersfield College page Previous Podcast Guests mentioned: Britton-René Collins in 2023 Brian Zator in 2017 Lauren Teel in 2017 The Vesna Duo in 2022 Louis Raymond-Kolker in 2024 Other Links: James Logan Band and Color Guard Sandi Rennick Jeff Ausdemore David Walker John Luther Adams Kai Strobel John Magnussen Aaron Smith Raves: The Missouri Symphony Orchestra

  6. Apr 30

    Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 493 - Jenna Duranko

    Episode 493 - Jenna Duranko Pete's Percussion Podcast Maryland-based Freelancing Percussionist, Recording Artist, Composer, Author and Admissions Counselor Jenna Duranko stops by to talk about her career, her seminary studies, playing in senior-living spaces, and her recent album Mosaic (04:20), growing up in Frederick (MD), her early musical background in choir, piano and French horn, and her time in the girl scouts (24:00), attending Radford University (VA) for undergrad, recent podcast guest Meridythe Witt, becoming a percussion major and starting from scratch, and majoring in Music Business (34:20), her 7 years working in radio, creating a career through solo marimba performance, how the pandemic changed her career and called her towards ministry, and her current composition project (53:40), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on why musicians always need to be paid, Tervis Tumblers, the band B*Witched, The Pittsburgh Steelers, library work, Macado’s Restaurant, and the Artemis II (01:12:40). Finishing with a Rave on Pete’s experiences with the 2026 Missouri Day of Percussion and co-leading the Mass Steel Band (01:38:15). Jenna Duranko links: Jenna Duranko’s Facebook page Jenna Duranko’s Instagram page Mosaic - Jenna Duranko Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned: Meridythe Witt in 2026 Jeff Calissi in 2017 Megan Arns in 2017 Emily Lemmermann in 2019 Brian Zator in 2017 Connor Viets in 2024 Other Links: Robert Sanderl Lancaster Theological Seminary Preaching and Music - Catherine Williams “Michi” - Keiko Abe “Wind in the Bamboo Grove” - Keiko Abe Taubmann Museum of Art National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Rizpah B*Witched Tervis Tumblers The Legend of Bagger Vance trailer Gone with the Wind trailer The Giver - Lois Lowry Ben Roethlisberger highlights Aaron Rodgers highlights Mike Tomlin Macado’s Highlander Pizza Raves: 2026 Missouri Day of Percussion

  7. Apr 23

    Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 492: Caitlin Cawley

    Episode 492 - Caitlin Cawley Pete's Percussion Podcast New York City-based Freelancing Percussionist, Teacher and Composer Caitlin Cawley stops by to talk about her professional life and her work with the percussion groups Talujon and Mantra Percussion (04:20), growing up on Long Island, her musical beginnings, and her time in the Juilliard pre-college program (22:00), attending Boston University and Manhattan School of Music for her undergrad and grad career, and how the pandemic and a health scare changed the scope of her percussion future (47:40), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of her experiences in the percussion world as a woman, great science-fiction books and series, New York Pizza, the New York Rangers, great visual art, and KPOP Demon Hunters (01:17:20). Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 documentary film Thank You Very Much (01:44:40). Caitlin Cawley Links: Caitlin Cawley’s website Talujon Mantra Percussion Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned: Mika Godbole in 2026 Ian Antonio in 2023 Maria Finkelmeier in 2018 Pablo Rieppi in 2024 Other Links: Bash the Trash Greg Jukes The Spence School Brass Queens Dewa Alit La Mama Michael Lipsey David Cossin Christopher Graham “Get Off of My Cloud” - The Rolling Stones “Honky Tonk Women” - The Rolling Stones “Sonic Meditation 1” - Pauline Oliveros Hypermobility Jonathan Haas Greg Giannascoli Sam Solomon Tim Genis Matthew Pellegrino The Fifth Element trailer Whiplash trailer The Great Cities - NK Jemisin The Dune Series - Frank Herbert Ursula K. Le Guin The Daevabad Trilogy - S.A. Chakraborty The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi - S.A. Chakraborty Empire AI - Karen Hao R.F. Kuang Katie Ledecky New York Rangers 1994 Stanley Cup Joe and Sal’s Pizza KPop Demon Hunters trailer Raves: Thank You Very Much trailer

  8. Apr 16

    Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 491 - Bob McCormick

    Episode 491 - Bob McCormick Pete's Percussion Podcast Current Tampa-based Percussion Freelancer and Educator and Retired Director of Percussion Studies at the University of South Florida Bob McCormick stops by to talk about his current life and how he stays healthy (03:40), growing up in Cleveland and Southern California, his early musical influences and his time in undergrad (10:55), his work with the Army band and getting his master’s degree (27:30), his year of playing in Harry Partch’s Ensemble (36:15), teaching briefly at Florida State University before heading to USF, building the program there, literature choices in the early years, and the importance of investing in recordings (45:00), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including his feelings on current percussion literature, the PASIC New Music/Research Day, the musical landscape during the first half of the 20th century, Tony Cirone’s “Symphony Special”, and so much more! (01:19:20) Finishing with a Rave about Pete performing How to Train Your Dragon live in concert with the Missouri Symphony (01:39:05). Bob McCormick Links: McCormick Percussion Group Homepage Previous Podcast Guests mentioned: Lee Hinkle in 2026 Kevin von Kampen in 2024 Neil Grover in 2023 Jeff Moore in 2023 Andrea Venet in 2018 Chrissie Souza in 2024 Sarah Hasekamp in 2024 Other Links: Harry Partch Danlee Mitchell Tony Cirone Gene Krupa Buddy Rich Forrest Clark “Zyklus” - Karlheinz Stockhausen Tom Siwe Paul Price Nancy Zeltsman Leigh Howard Stevens Emil Richards Vic Firth “Canaries” - Elliott Carter Ed Thigpen Larry Austin Stuart Saunders Smith Thad Anderson Svet Stoyanov “Synchronisms No. 5” - Mario Davidovsky “Marimbastuck” - Maki Ishii Payton MacDonald Baljinder Sekhon Michael Colgrass 2001: A Space Odyssey trailer The Sound of Music trailer Artful Noise - Tom Siwe The Rest is Noise - Alex Ross Pierrot lunaire - Arnold Schoenberg Wozzeck - Alban Berg Raves: How to Train Your Dragon in Concert

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A place for long form talk with percussionists and other compelling people.

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