485 - Sam Merrick: Playing "& Juliet" on Broadway, Touring with Jalen Ngonda and Celisse, Splitting Time Between New York and Nashville

John R. Beck, Professor of Percussion at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, also teaches at Wake Forest University. He is the principal percussionist of the Winston-Salem Symphony and is a member of the Greensboro Symphony, Brass Band of Battle Creek, and the Philidor Percussion Group. A former member of the United States Marine Band, for 10 years he performed regularly with the National and Baltimore Symphonies, Washington and Baltimore Operas, and the Theater Chamber Players of the Kennedy Center. Beck has toured the United States as a xylophone soloist with the Jack Daniel's Silver Cornet Band, Brass Band of Battle Creek, and the New Sousa Band. John is a Past President of the Percussive Arts Society and presents clinics endorsing Yamaha percussion instruments, Zildjian cymbals, Innovative mallets, and is a Remo Endorsed Drum Circle Facilitator in the Health and Wellness community. In this episode, John talks about: What it means to play credibly How his thoughts on versatility vs. specialization have evolved  Questioning the relevance of knowing how to read a big band chart How getting good at drumset gives percussionists a better sense of internal time The advantages and baggage that came with being John Beck’s son Valuing sound over everything, regardless of instrument or genre His time as president of PAS and helping the organization become more inclusive and outward-looking

As a performer, session player, instructor, producer and clinician, Matt Crowning is more than a "drummer's drummer.” He is a "musician's drummer" that brings a wealth of talent, experience, and style to each situation. Matt's diverse performance background ranges from Country, Pop, Rock, Big Band, Jazz and R&B. His work includes performances with various Curb Records, Disney Records / Disney Channel artists, Love and Theft, College 11, Kiki Sanchez, Vanilla Monk, Matt Farr and Kerrie Roberts. Currently, Matt is performing with Country Artist, Amber Leigh, on tour and in the studio. These shows include support act performances with Kenny Chesney, Trace Adkins, Lady Antebellum, Gloriana and many others. In this episode, Matt talks about:    Navigating the remote tracking world    Buying a house with a home studio built in    Playing drums with his wife Amber Leigh    Maintaining a family/work balance    Making a good impression as a sub    Running tracks in a live show    Using traditional grip Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

Originally from the Bay Area, Martin Diller spent over a decade on the LA scene, touring, recording and playing locally with a wide range of acts including Post Modern Jukebox and his own quartet. Over the pandemic, he went back to school and became a licensed therapist, and returned to the Bay Area where he still maintains an active performance schedule alongside his therapy practice. In this episode, Martin talks about: The 7-day-a-week grind of freelancing in LA Playing with Post-Modern Jukebox and other LA artists How his career shift coincided with a desire to relocate back home to the Bay Area How he incorporates music and drumming into his therapy practice Developing intentional ways of maintaining mental health and balance as a musician, especially on the road

World-renowned, Grammy-winning musician John "J.R." Robinson is widely considered the most recorded drummer in history, playing on albums that have sold well over 500 million copies. He is the drummer on 20 number-one pop songs by artists such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie and Steve Winwood, and has been the drummer on more than 100 Grammy-winning tracks. Rolling Stone Magazine featured J.R. in their list of The Top 100 Drummers of All Time. J.R. is the drummer on many other Top-40 hits with artists such as Madonna, Lady Gaga, Diana Ross, Daft Punk, David Lee Roth, Rufus & Chaka Khan, The Pointer Sisters, Wilson Philips, Peter Cetera, George Benson, and Quincy Jones. In this episode, JR talks about:    His new book “King of The Groove”    Reflecting back on his previous episode #424    The process of writing the book Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

Born and raised in Georgia, Marlon Patton is a New York-based drummer and music producer/engineer. Hailing from a long line of drummers dating back to his grandfather, Phil Patton who played in the Chicago big band circuit, Marlon keeps his schedule interesting and packed full of all types of music. He is the first call for so many musicians not just because of his impeccable time, but because of the incredible musicality of what he delivers. He plays within a huge dynamic range, making him the perfect match for quiet piano jazz performances to hard- hitting rock gigs. He can play with everything from precision to reckless abandon and make it truly his own. He currently is a member of Kenosha Kid, Weisshund, Nelson Patton, Lonnie Holley, The Trey Wright Trio and The Mace Hibbard Quintet. He has toured, performed and/or recorded with Liv Warfield, The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Jim White, Larkin Poe, Lonnie Holley, Jeff Coffin, Shahzad Ismaily, Col. Bruce Hampton, John Patitucci, Randy Brecker, Rufus Reid, Marcus Printup, and Wycliffe Gordon. He has recorded for labels such as Sony, Universal, Jagjaguwar, RH Music, Yep Roc, Ropeadope plus many more independent releases. His drumming has been in soundtracks on Adult Swim, ABC, and HBO.  In the studio, Marlon has carved a name for himself recording, mixing, and producing. Some recent projects he's worked on are Lonnie Holley’s MITH, Liv Warfield’s Live at Cafe Wha, Jim White's Where It Hits You, Leah Calvert’s Satellite, Daniel Clay's 10,000 Things, Kenosha Kid's Fahrenheit 451, ILL's Gotten Gains, and Blair Dunlop/Larkin Poe's Killing Time.  In this episode, Marlon talks about: Being willing to abandon "correct" technique in favor of a sound, feel, or idea How New York has changed his musical priorities and identity What true collaboration really means Improvising vs. "composing in the moment" Moving away from Atlanta with the goal of expanding, personally and musically Tapping into old relationships in a new place Sharing studio space with Jordan Rose and mixing Liv Warfield's latest record Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

Ken Coomer is a producer best known for his drumming in Uncle Tupelo and later Wilco. He was the drummer and co-founder of the Nashville-based band, Clockhammer, in the late 1980s/early 1990s. As a member of Wilco, Coomer has performed on A.M., Being There, Summerteeth, and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Ken has also played on or produced albums by Steve Earle, Frontier Ruckus, Arlo McKinley, Sons of Bill, Tim Finn, Will Hoge, Jars of Clay, Emmylou Harris, Toy Horses, Malcolm Holcombe, Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal and Shaver. In this episode, Ken talks about:    Drumming skills that hold value in the studio    Why drummers can make great producers    Touch and feel over fancy gear    How he started producing    Working with latin artists    Mixing remote tracking with in-person recording Staying focused on the future Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

Sam Merrick is a Nashville based drummer, currently holding the drum set chair at & Juliet on Broadway at the Sondheim Theater in New York City. Previously, he spent nearly five years and played over 1200 performances with the national tour of Hamilton: An American Musical. He has also recorded and/or performed with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Toots and the Maytals, Jalen Ngonda, Saun & Starr (Daptone Records), The Denver Symphony, People's Champs, Kendra Morris (Colemine Records), and many more. Commercial clients include HBO, Levi Strauss, Chase, AT&T, and This American Life Podcast Network. In this episode, Sam talks about: Balancing maintaining a Broadway chair with other musical opportunities Relearning how to trust his instincts outside the highly controlled environment of a Broadway show Moving from the note-for-note specificity of Hamilton to the longer leash of & Juliet Working with producer Max Martin Maintaining a "healthy ecosystem" of subs

Joel Rothman is the renowned author of almost 100 drum and percussion method books, many of which are among the most popular books used by teachers in private music studios as well as schools and universities worldwide. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Joel studied drums and percussion, as well as piano, with well-known teachers such as Sam Ulano, Ed Shaughnessey, Jim Chapin, Joe Morello, Saul Goodman, and others. He first opened his own private drum studio, then later, after graduating from university, he taught in the New York City school system for many years. During that time Joel was a free-lance drummer playing with various bands and orchestras at private functions, nightclubs and musical shows. Writing his first book at fifteen, Joel also established his own highly successful publishing company JR Publications, which has been going for over half a century. In this episode, Joel talks about:    The inspiration for writing drum books    Using humor when writing    Joel’s System(s) for teachers to use    How he started    Studying with Ed Shaughnessy    Connecting with teachers Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

Dave Brandwein is a drummer, originally from Chicago, who spent 4 years in Los Angeles, CA and has now relocated to Nashville, TN. Dave's current main gig is with pop artist Forest Blakk (drums/playback) with whom he played a 2022 theater run supporting Dean Lewis, various fly dates/festivals throughout the same year, and headlining US/Canadian tours in 2023. Dave has also spent the last 12 years playing drums, running playback, and doing session work for various other artists. Dave teaches private lessons to students of all ages, and does session work, tracking remotely from his studio in Nashville or in-person at studios around the country. How playing for great songs usually means you can do less Coming up in Chicago, spending some time in LA, and ultimately landing in Nashville  The pros and cons of his collegiate jazz experience The first eight years of his career after college, on the grind in Chicago  When and why he started to think and look beyond the Chicago scene His experience in LA, and the difference between posing and assimilating  The song-learning value in wedding gigs, and treating those gigs like “going to the gym” Being in a relationship with another musician and how that’s only right for some musicians Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage

Chuck Fields launched his musical career playing rock, blues, and R&B all while studying jazz at the University of Memphis. In the early 90’s he moved to Nashville and landed his first touring gig with Paul Brandt. Through the years Chuck has toured with several of Nashville’s recording artist such as, Martina McBride, Keith Anderson, Michelle Wright, Mark Selby, Johnny Reid and Terri Clark. In this episode, Chuck talks about: Touring Canada Putting your own stamp on the artist music Being able to write and read charts Touring routine Traditional grip Drumming for country superstar, Terri Clark Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage