Greg Errico: The Backbone to Sly & the Family Stone Pt. 2
When you ask any drummer about their influences, the list of names is bound to include a one “Greg Errico” no matter what type of music they play. Errico, most famously the drummer for Sly & the Family Stone, baffled a lot of people in the industry—a white drummer in a multi-racial and multi-gendered band that seemed to defy every boundary they met. Our discussion with the San Francisco native continues with the aftermath of Woodstock, what happened to Sly Stone, and Errico’s later work with Betty Davis.
Jaimeo Brown: Spirituals, Tablas, & Transcendence
When Jaimeo Brown says his exploration of early American spirituals met his growing passion for Indian Tablas, jazz, and hip-hop he most certainly is not talking about any of it in a general sense. Beginning with a college thesis paper and evolving into a full album featuring his close friends JD Allen and Chris Sholar, Brown has delved into the musical, social, cultural, and intellectual factors that create the music he loves. Better yet, now he is ready to share that with the world. We sat down with Jaimeo Brown to discuss ‘Transcendence,’ his influence, and what he looks forward to accomplishing with his music.
Greg Errico: The Backbone to Sly & the Family Stone Pt. 1
When you ask any drummer about their influences, the list of names is bound to include a one “Greg Errico” no matter what type of music they play. Errico, most famously the drummer for Sly & the Family Stone, baffled a lot of people in the industry—a white drummer in a multi-racial and multi-gendered band that seemed to defy every boundary they met. We sat down with the San Francisco native to discuss what went on behind the scenes in developing some of the most timeless music with one of the most groundbreaking bands of all time.
José James & Taylor McFerrin: Collaboration At Its Best
José James and Taylor McFerrin have both been on the minds of music makers, consumers, and tastemakers for a while now. We sat down to take a look at how they have collaborated over the years, their friendship, common influences, and what comes next for the pair in our video feature below.
Rakim: In the Vein of John Coltrane
“One of the thoughts that I used to play with was trying to write in a John Coltrane solo style. That’s how a lot of my styles came up—in solo mode, you know what I mean? It’s just up and down the scale, any rhythm you want to hit, it don’t have to be no set rhythm throughout the whole song. It’s solo time, so I’m going to go where I want. That kind of created my writing style. I always thought I was writing in the vein of John Coltrane.”
Kendrick Scott: In Command, Out of Control
With Kendrick Scott’s latest Oracle record, ‘Conviction,’ topping the charts and making its way into iPods and computers around the world, we took some time to discuss the implications behind the meaning of the record as well as Kendrick’s entire perception of the drums as an instrument and more. Take a listen to the record, check out some of insight below, and grab yourself a copy today!
Hans Schuman Preserves & Accelerates with JazzReach
As Founder and Executive-Artistic Director of JazzReach, Hans Schuman has been the man behind educational programs in over 75 communities since the organization’s inception. Dedicated to the promotion, performance, creation and teaching of jazz music by way of “widely acclaimed live multi-media educational programs for young audiences, captivating main-stage concerts for general audiences and informative clinics and master-classes for student musicians and ensembles,” JazzReach has become a staple of the jazz community supported by both fans and artists alike. This Sunday 4/14/13, Chris Dave and the Drumhedz will be performing a benefit concert for JazzReach at the Highline Ballroom. Check out more about the concert and cause below as we discuss with Schuman.
Ben Wolfe Presents From Here I See at Dizzy’s
For bassist and composer Ben Wolfe, the core of all music lies within his relationships to his fellow musicians. This family of musicians has led him to be prominently featured on projects with Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Orrin Evans, Diana Krall, Benny Green, and many more. With his latest record, ‘From Here I See,’ Wolfe and crew took it deep into the realm of ballads featuring the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Macus Strickland, and Russell Malone accompanied by the core rhythm section of Orrin Evans and Donald Edwards. Ben Wolfe will also be at Dizzy’s 3/28-3/31 with Nicholas Payton for the record release and a celebration of new music.
Terri Lyne Carrington Presents Money Jungle at Dizzy’s
Fresh off of her Grammy-award winning ‘Mosaic Project,’ Terri Lyne Carrington went straight back into the studio to create another project of equal quality and substance. ‘Money Jungle’ was originally recorded in 1962 by Duke Ellington, Max Roach, and Charles Mingus. Just over 50 years later Carrington brings back the raw tension evoked by Ellington, Roach, and Mingus with her own trio filled out by Christian McBride and Gerald Clayton and featuring additional guests Clark Terry, Herbie Hancock, Tia Fuller, and more. Check out what Carrington had to say about the record before you see her perform it at Dizzy’s this week!
E.J. Strickland: A Different Energy
E.J. Strickland will be bringing his dynamic quintet to the Generations of the BEAT Festival this weekend for a set that is sure to bring the heat. We caught up with Strickland to discuss his unique development as a musician, his various methods of composition, and more. Be sure to catch the E.J. Strickland Quintet at 8pm on Day 1 of our drummer festival this Saturday 3/23/13.
Getting Personal with Jeff “Tain” Watts
A veteran of both the music and film worlds, Jeff “Tain” Watts is one of the most renowned drummers playing today based on both the scope and quality of his work. Appearing on literally every Grammy-winning record won by both Branford and Wynton Marsalis set him aside as one of the best, but for Watts that was only the beginning. We got Jeff to take some time away from his busy schedule preparing for the Generations of the BEAT Festival to discuss his role in Spike Lee’s ‘Mo’ Better Blues,’ his role as both a sideman and bandleader, and more.
Lenny White: A Kaleidoscope of Music
Before there was this obsession with jazz and hip-hop, there was a different intersection of music happening on the streets on New York, LA, and other cities around the nation. 24 hours after Jimi Hendrix played his first notes at Woodstock, Miles Davis called his musicians — Lenny White included — into the studio for what would become the ‘Bitches Brew’ sessions and that would be the beginning of a sound and approach to music that White would come to define. The marriage of these rock and jazz aesthetics brought us groups like Return to Forever, Tony Williams’ Lifetime Band, and more. Read along as we delve into the roots of this style, White impact on the history, and where he sees the music going today.
Michael Feinberg PresentsThe Elvin Jones Project ft. Billy Hart
If you get into a room with some of the most amazing drummers alive, who is the luckiest person in the place? I’d say the bass players for one and that is exactly where Michael Feinberg will find himself this weekend at the Generations of the BEAT Festival. Leading a project of his own origination in tribute to the late-great Elvin Jones is one feat, but Feinberg didn’t stop there. Bringing in one of the baddest drummers alive in Billy Hart has proved to bring the Elvin Jones Project to a whole new level. Read on below as we discuss the project and more!
Mark Whitfield Jr.: Internalizing the BEAT
Mark Whitfield Jr. comes from a dynasty of incredible musicianship and that has most certainly left a mark on his life as a musician. Beginning on the drums before even he could remember, Whitfield Jr. grew up shuffling around gigs with his father always eager to hop on stage and hold down the beat. Mark will be at the Generations of the BEAT Festival with his quartet for the first time on March 24th and he’s turning 23 that day too! Check out what he had to say about the upcoming festival, advice for developing drummers, and his experience growing up in a musical dynasty.
Paquito D’Rivera: To Bird With Strings
Paquito. The Paq-Man. Paqmaninov. As we continued to exchange the familiar emails back and forth trying to match my schedule with that of the ten-time Grammy-Award-winning musician, it occurred to me that with every unique sign-off Paquito D’Rivera chose, he was bringing to my attention — whether intended or not — the complexity of his own career. Becoming renowned for his work with Latin music, jazz music, classical music, and everything in between is something that we must cherish for what it is: an unbridled and almost lustful pursuit of satisfying his musical urges, no matter where they may lie.
Alicia Olatuja: A Whole New Sense of Time
Alicia Olatuja came to national prominence with her solo for President Obama’s most recent inauguration with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, but with Olatuja the music goes a whole lot deeper than simply that performance. Between gigs with her husband, Michael Olatuja, as the Olatuja Project and backing up artists like Chaka Khan, Somi, and Christian McBride on vocals, Olatuja has crafted a unique space for her own music which she will releasing this Spring. Be sure to check out her process behind recording the album, working with incredible musicians, and more as we discuss her music.
David Weiss Leads Point of Departure
David Weiss is one of those unsung musicians on the scene in New York who has an eye for talented musicians and a penchant for fostering that talent. You can find him any number of nights frequenting jam sessions at Smalls, gigs at Le Poisson Rouge, and rehearsals in Midtown. A quick peek at his discography unveils names like Robert Glasper, Jeremy Pelt, and Marcus Strickland (all of whom he’s produced), Freddie Hubbard, Charles Tolliver, and the Cookers (whom he’s performed with), as well as the New Jazz Composers Octet and Point of Departure (both of which he leads). Point of Departure, his current focus, will be releasing their record and performing at DROM on Wednesday 3/6/13. Check out the concept behind Point of Departure and more!
NEXT Collective: Chris Dunn (Producer)
Leading up to the February 26th release of ‘Cover Art,’ we are bringing you interviews with the musicians and previews of the songs each one arranged for the record. Our last interview is with Chris Dunn, Senior A&R at Concord Records and Producer of the NEXT Collective.
NEXT Collective: Christian “aTunde Adjuah” Scott (Trumpet)
Leading up to the February 26th release of ‘Cover Art,’ we will be bringing you interviews with the musicians and previews of the songs each one arranged for the record, so check back with us often! Christian Scott brought one of the heaviest tunes to ‘Cover Art’ in arranging “No Church In The Wild” off of Jay-Z & Kanye’s ‘Watch the Throne.’ As a special guest and “quasi-producer,” Scott brought us some insight and storytelling from the process in a style very much his own. Check out what he had to say.
NEXT Collective: Matt Stevens (Guitar)
Leading up to the February 26th release of ‘Cover Art,’ we will be bringing you interviews with the musicians and previews of the songs each one arranged for the record, so check back with us often! This past week we spoke with guitarist Matt Stevens who arranged “Oceans” by Pearl Jam for ‘Cover Art.’
NEXT Collective: Gerald Clayton (Piano)
Leading up to the February 26th release of ‘Cover Art,’ we will be bringing you interviews with the musicians and previews of the songs each one arranged for the record, so check back with us often! Today we have a great interview with Gerald Clayton, one of two pianists on the record, who arranged D’Angelo’s “Africa” for ‘Cover Art.’
NEXT Collective: Walter Smith III (Tenor Sax)
Leading up to the February 26th release of ‘Cover Art,’ we will be bringing you interviews with the musicians and previews of the songs each one arranged for the record, so check back with us often! Check out tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III who arranged Bon Iver’s “Perth” for ‘Cover Art.”
Teddy Campbell: From The Church to Network TV
Teddy Campbell has made a career out of molding his gospel upbringing and feel into an unmatched versatility that brought him gigs as a longtime musician on shows like ‘American Idol’ and ‘Don’t Forget The Lyrics’ as well as his current gig as drummer for ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.’ Moreover throughout his career Campbell has recorded with the likes of George Duke, Stevie Wonder, Kelly Clarkson, Kirk Whalum and more as well as serving as music director and touring with the Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Bette Midler, and Queen Latifah among many others.
NEXT Collective: Jamire Williams (Drums)
Leading up to the February 26th release of ‘Cover Art,’ we will be bringing you interviews with the musicians and previews of the songs each one arranged for the record, so check back with us often! Today we’re interviewing drummer Jamire Williams who arranged “Refractions In The Plastic Pulse” by Stereolab for ‘Cover Art.”
