Info

Discussions in Percussion

A podcast hosted by Damon Grant and Marcos Torres, two NYC based percussionists interviewing other musicians who have the view from behind. Guests will be mostly other percussion players and anyone else who hits, scratches, and shakes things for a living.
RSS Feed
Discussions in Percussion
2024
March
February
January


2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: 2017
Jul 4, 2017

Marcos & Damon wish America a happy 241st birthday and interview Kit Karlson in part 2 (of 3) of setting up your home studio. You get to hear what the engineer likes to receive as well as some hints to make your home studio better for recording. Damon and Marcos also talk music news, and educational spotlight, some great handmade African drums and more!

Jun 27, 2017

Damon interviews Ryan Gruss, who is a drummer, producer, as well as the owner and founded of the Loop Loft. They talk about his background as well as what the company offers, and some hints at the future. Damon and Marcos also talk about some music news, a few different product reviews, some summer music conferences to attend, a new recording with upcoming tour, an African American Music Appreciation moment, and an educational spotlight. 

Jun 21, 2017

Damon and Marcos welcome summer by celebrating 25 episodes strong. They open up the mailbag and dedicate the episode to answering listener letters about career and life choices, improvising, social media and music marketing. They also have music news and an iconic recording. Huge THANK YOU to everyone who has listened so far!

Jun 14, 2017

Damon and Marcos pick up where they left off talking to Camilo and his studies at the Harbor Boys School, competing in the Thelonious Monk competition at 10yrs old, traveling to Cuba, Bata drumming, living in San Fran, how he got the Eddie Palmieri gig and more! Theres also music news, and education spotlight and an iconic recording. 

Jun 7, 2017

Damon and Marcos interview conga great Samuel Torres. They talk about his classical upbringing in Bogotá, Colombia, his move to Miami and then to NYC. They talk about different musical adventures he's had and explain traditional Colombian music (including Cumbia). There's also plenty of music news, a new product review and info on Make Music Day 2017.

May 31, 2017

Damon and Marcos interview Marcie Chapa and talk about her upbringing in Houston, her move to the West Coast, her time with Beyoncé, as well as stints with Juvenile, CeeLo and others. There's a bunch of music news, product reviews, a tribute to Gregg Allman and more!

May 23, 2017

This is the first half of the interview with Camilo. They talk about him playing with Eddie Palmieri and their residency at Subrosa, How influential his mom was as well as his start at the Boys Harbor School in Harlem. They also talk about music news, the Billboard Music Awards and the new Facebook and Instagram algarhythms. 

May 17, 2017

Damon and Marcos interview Eguie Castrillo and talk about him growing up in Puerto Rico with other master percussionists, teaching at Berklee and his Latin Big Band. They also shoutout the percussion ensemble Nexus, review a new music reader from Japan, talk music news and answer a listener letter. 

May 10, 2017

Damon interviews Stefon Harris, and talks about his Harmony Cloud App, his new position at the Manhattan School of Music, his new album he's currently recording and more. Damon and Marcos, talk about music news, and an iconic recording, as well as a new product review. 

May 2, 2017

Damon interviews Andy Tamulynas, the Category Manager of both Vic Firth and Zildjian drumsticks and mallets. They talk about how the sticks are made, packaged and shipped, how they are reducing their carbon footprint and more. Damon and Marcos talk about how NPR and PBS are saved from budget cuts, NoLa Jazz fest, Cinco de Mayo, the Kentucky Derby, Spotify, the failed Fyre Festival, the new Remo Bucket Drumheads and other music news. 

Apr 25, 2017

Damon interviews Sarah Hagan in Norwell MA at Zildjian Headquarters, Damon and Marcos talk music news, and wish Tito Puente a Happy Birthday, They also talk about the March for Science, the new Drem Trigger, how Beyonce is starting a scholarship, and they answer listener letters.

Apr 18, 2017

Damon and Marcos interview Valerie Naranjo. Talk about SNL, her role with the Lion King as well as her travels to Ghana to learn about the Gyil. They also talk about Coachella, the DIY Musician Conference, Kenny Aronoff's new book, a quick review of Reflexx practice pads and traveling to Cuba for music.

Apr 12, 2017

Damon and Marcos interview Dominique Thomas before he leaves for tour with John Legend. They talk about his influences (people & music), mentors, & gigs he's had. Dom talks about studying in Africa, preparing & auditioning as well as staying motivated with navigating challenges in the music industry. Damon and Marcos also talk about some percussionists on the scene today, music news, an iconic recording and a tribute to Kim Plainfield. 

Apr 4, 2017

Damon and Marcos interview Fausto Cuevas III who is the percussionist for J. Lo, Stevie Wonder, Britney Spears, Julio Iglesias, Queen Latifah and so many more. A special music business segment is an interview with Ari Herstand of the Blog Ari's Take. Damon and Marcos also do some music news, answer some questions and more. 

Mar 28, 2017

Damon and Marcos talk about essential apps for the working drummer/percussionist, Spotify news and interview Dr. Julie Hill. Julie is the chair of the department of music and percussion faculty of the University of Tennessee at Martin, past president of PAS and a member of the X4 Percussion Quartet and Caixa Percussion Trio and more!

Mar 21, 2017

Damon and Marcos interview multi-percussionist and cajon great Kassandra Kocoshis. They talk about her Flamenco background and transition from Chicago to L.A. They talk about the proposed budget cuts to the NEA/NEH and how to help out with trying to keep them from being eliminated. They talk about Chuck Berry, the Giovanni Hidalgo benefit this week, and some women's history.

Mar 15, 2017

Damon and Marcos interview Glenn Robertson & Rob Marino who are both Sargent First Class percussionists with the Army Field Band. They talk about the inauguration, musical careers in the military, as well as basic training. They talk music news, the Giovanni Hidalgo benefit concert, and why ATL might be the place to move to for music and the arts. 

Mar 7, 2017

Damon sits down and interviews Aaron Draper in Philly. They talk about the recent Grammys, as well as Aaron's musical background and previous gigs. Damon and Marcos talk about Women's History Month, Music News featuring Chance the Rapper, Gary Burton and the Grammy's Educator of the Year award. They also talk about the benefit for Giovanni Hidalgo in the Bronx coming up this month.

Feb 28, 2017

This week, Damon and Marcos talk about the Oscars, Mardi Gras, & Sergio Mendes, as well as other music news. Damon sits down with Scott Kettner. Scott is the founder of different musical groups with Brazilian influences, specifically the rhythm Maracatu. He also is starting a new World Drum Lesson online site, and hosting a spring Carnival Caravan Retreat in May.

Feb 22, 2017

Damon and Marcos talk to Master Sargent Mark Reilly about the history of rudimental drumming, what the U.S. Army "Old Guard" is all about and other rudimental styles from around the world. They talk about military musician as a career option. Questions are answered from listener letters, some music news and a quick recap of the Grammys.

Feb 14, 2017

Damon and "Kilo" talk to Marcos about different music from Puerto Rico, as well as his influences and teachers. They also talk about his various gigs from Lila Downs, Thalia, Max Weinberg, Gilberto Santa Rosa and even when he was younger in groups like N'Klabe and La Timbistica. 

Feb 7, 2017

Damon and Marcos discuss the Superbowl, Beyonce and follow up on the NEA before interviewing Martin Cohen (Founder of LP and Congahead) and Javier Raez (Producer of Congahead content and winner of YouTube's Next Up award). They talk about Martin's 78th birthday, how he started LP and how he and Javier continue to put out top content through Congahead.

Feb 1, 2017

In addition to Hands On’Semble, Randy has also worked with an extensive array of artists including: reggae superstar Ziggy Marley (on the Grammy winning album Fly Rasta); pianist Larry Karush; The Lian Ensemble (including the Pangea Project with Djivan Gasparyan and Swapan Chaudhuri; and the 2009 UCLALive production of Medea starring Annette Bening); percussionist Adam Rudolph’s “Go: Organic Orchestra” and world percussion group Vashti; projects with Indian slide veena virtuoso Chitravina Ravikiran (including a concert tour of India that also featured Brazilian pianist Jovino Santos Neto and master African drummer Alfred Ladzekpo); a Balkan/Indian collaboration with maestros Aashish Khan, Swapan Chaudhuri, Miroslav Tadic, Vlatko Stefanovski; Romanian pan flute virtuoso Damian Draghici; overtone singer David Hykes; Turkish musician Latif Bolat; Vinny Golia’s Large Ensemble; Persian pianist Ardeshir Rohani; pianist Dan Siegel; and South Indian percussionist Poovalur Sriji to name only some.  Randy has also contributed percussion for film soundtracks by composers Danny Elfman, Harry Gregson-Williams, and Gary Chang; for television series’ such as Fear Factor; video games such as Uncharted 3 for Sony Play Station; recorded music for the American Conservatory Theater; Southwest Chamber Music (Lou Harrison); and has recorded several extensive percussion sample libraries for software companies such as: Apple (Garage Band), Ilio, and Native Instruments.

Randy Gloss has been on the faculty at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Valencia California since 1999, where he oversees the M.F.A. World Percussion Program and is the current Chairman of the World Music Program.  Randy has also taught at UCLA and LA Music Academy (LAMA), and has been a visiting artist/lecturer/clinician at many universities, music schools and conservatories in the U.S. and abroad. 

Jan 25, 2017

Paulo Stagnaro has established himself as an innovative voice in today's generation of creative young artists. Hailed by jazz great Ralph Peterson as "a young master percussionist," Stagnaro has been a force on the ever-evolving New York scene since moving to Brooklyn in 2012. This year alone, he has performed and/or recorded with NEA Jazz master Paquito D'Rivera, Grammy-Winner Angelique Kidjo, Jazz Legend Dave Liebman, and formed part of the all-star rhythm section for Sting’s 25th Anniversary Rainforest Fundraiser at Carnegie Hall featuring James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Stephen Stills.

 

Jan 17, 2017

This episode (#3) features an interview with Thom Hannum. Percussion faculty at Umass Amherst, founder of the Mobile Percussion Seminar, & Carolina Crown Drum Corps Captionhead, In the past he was also the writer & arranger for Blast!, Star of Indiana, Brass Theater, The Cadets and Crossmen. Thom is a die hard Phillies and Eagles fan, father or two and percussion clinician for Pearl/Adams, Vic Firth, Zildjian, and Evans Drumheads. Thom has written two books and isn't slowing down anytime soon!

« Previous 1 2 3 Next »