Drummers Pathway Podcast

For this episode, I welcome Dave Stark and Paul Quin back to the podcast for a roundtable discussion on the factors to maintaining a professional career.  Based in Florida, Dave is a freelance drummer and educator who is highly regarded for his expertise and mentorship, and Paul is an entertainment lawyer and professional drummer who has dedicated his career to educating creative artists in naviga...

For this episode, I welcome back Mickey Curry for his second appearance on the podcast. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Mickey has worked with artists including Bryan Adams, Hall & Oates, The Cult, Tom Cochrane, Alice Cooper, and many more, earning his place among the most respected drummers in the business. In this episode, we reflect further upon his experiences working with m...

This episode features my conversation with Peter Von Althen. Based in Ottawa, Peter is an in-demand drummer who has collaborated with artists including Kathleen Edwards, Skydiggers, Starling, Fred Eaglesmith, and more.  In this episode, we talk about how his early inspirations influenced his musical approach, the importance of sonic exploration when recording in the studio, and why embracing a pro...

This episode features my conversation with drummer Aubrey Dayle. Based in Toronto, Aubrey's career has spanned jazz, blues, funk, and rock. Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Montreal, he started on accordion at age five before turning to percussion, eventually earning a Bachelor of Music in classical percussion performance from McGill University, then continuing his studies at the Manhattan...

This episode features my conversation with drummer Tony Braunagel. Tony is an award-winning drummer, producer, and songwriter who has brought his signature grooves to Blues, R&B, and Rock records for over five decades. Born and raised in Houston, Texas and currently based in Los Angeles, he’s worked with artists like Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy, Eric Burdon, Rickie Lee Jones, Bette Midl...

This episode features my conversation with drummer Curt Bisquera, also known as "Kirkee B." Curt is a Grammy-nominated session and touring drummer who's been laying down grooves for some of the biggest names in music for over three decades. Born in Santa Maria, California, Curt started drumming almost as soon as he could walk and later studied at the Percussion Institute of Technology, where he cr...

This episode features my conversation with drummer Fred Eltringham. After moving to Nashville in 2007, Fred quickly established himself as a sought-after session musician, recording with hundreds of artists, including Willie Nelson, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Tears for Fears, Vince Gill and more. Fred has been playing with Sheryl Crow since 2012 and has previously toured with a wide range...

This episode features my conversation with drummer Herman Matthews. Born and raised in Houston,Texas, Herman began his musical journey at age seven and went on to become one of the most in-demand drummers in the business. Now based in LA and celebrated for his powerful and soulful groove, he is known for his work with Tom Jones, Tower of Power, Kenny Loggins, Timothy B Schmit, Hugh Laurie, Richard...

This episode features my conversation with Bucky Berger. As an in-demand freelance musician in the Toronto music scene for over 5 decades, Bucky has collaborated with a wide range of local and international artists. In this episode, we talk about his early musical inspirations, the importance of being adaptable to any musical scenario, and reflect on some of the experiences that have shaped his pa...

For this episode, I welcome back Rich Redmond for his second appearance on the podcast, and this time, he is joined by Jon Hull, his drum tech of more than 15 years. Rich is a drummer, educator, and motivational speaker based in Nashville and Los Angeles. Working alongside country superstar Jason Aldean for over 20 years, his professionalism, positivity and relentless work ethic has made him one o...

For this episode, I welcome back Tim Carman for his second appearance on the podcast.  Tim recently relocated to Nashville, where he continues to be an in-demand touring and session musician and bandleader. He is also a member of the bands Parlor Greens and Canyon Lights. As an educator, he is the author of 5 books including the highly regarded Haynes-ISM & Philly-ISM methods. His forthcoming...

This episode features my conversation with Richard Millsap. Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas and currently based in Los Angeles, Richard is an in-demand musician who has recorded numerous records as a multi-instrumentalist. He was a member of the Band of Heathens for a decade, and is currently the drummer with music icon John Fogerty. In this episode, we reflect on the recent passing of drummi...

This episode represents a milestone for me as I celebrate the 100th episode of the Drummers Pathway Podcast and I want to take a moment to thank everyone for all of your encouragement and support throughout this journey. To mark this occasion, I wanted to do something special, something that reflects what this podcast has always been about, which is bringing creative artists together to share thei...

This episode features my conversation with Wilson Laurencin. Wilson has been a fixture in the Toronto music scene for decades. In addition to his television work on Open Mike with Mike Bullard & Canadian Idol, he is active on the theatre scene and has been involved in productions including & Juliet, Lion King, Wicked, MJ The Musical, and more.  He is also an in-demand freelance musician ha...

This episode features my conversation with Luke Renshaw. Luke has been a fixture in the Victoria, BC music scene for years and is known for his work with the Juno-nominated band Jets Overhead. Recently diagnosed with ADHD and with 6 years recovery time from drug and alcohol addiction, Luke is an advocate for neurodivergent and mental health awareness, sharing his experiences to empower others. In...

This episode features my conversation with Johnny Rabb. Based in Indiana, Johnny is the drummer for Collective Soul, a position he has held since 2012. He is also highly regarded as an educator, clinician, product developer, electronics specialist, and in-demand session drummer.  He is the author of the books The Official Freehand Technique and Jungle Drum ‘N’ Bass for the Acoustic Drum Set. In Ap...

This episode features the return of Matthew Crouse and Zack Albetta from the Working Drummer podcast for another roundtable discussion. With over 500 episodes, the Working Drummer Podcast has become an essential source for those interested in what it’s like to have a career as professional drummer.  Renowned for their in depth interviews with an emphasis on telling the stories of the artists who m...

This episode features part two of my conversation with Justin Faulkner. Best known as the drummer for the Branford Marsalis Quartet, a seat he has held since the age of 18, Justin has built a remarkable career as a musician, educator, and philanthropist, devoted to honouring the lessons of those who came before him while mentoring the next generation by giving back to his community. In part two of...

This episode features my conversation with Justin Faulkner. Based in Philadelphia, Justin is a drummer, composer, and educator whose passion for music began early on. Starting formal training at age 7, he studied classical music, jazz, and percussion at the Settlement Music School and the Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts, while also receiving instruction from the Principal Timpanist of the Ph...

This episode features my conversation with Chip Ritter. Based in Arizona, Chip is a professional drummer recognized for his versatility and showmanship. In addition to maintaining an active freelance career, he has a passion for education and is a co-founder of the Drummers Education Connection Podcast. Highly regarded for his showmanship, Chip is best known for being the first drummer in history...

For this episode, I was joined by renowned session drummer Ash Soan and the legendary David Garibaldi for a roundtable conversation exploring the factors in creating a musical groove. It was a great opportunity to explore the ideas and perspectives behind what makes music feel good and why that matters so much to the people who dedicate their lives to it. In our conversation, we talk about the mus...

This episode features my conversation with Rick Stojak. Based in San Diego, Rick is a professional drummer and educator recognized for his versatility across different genres. He remains an active presence on the local music scene while maintaining a thriving private teaching studio. He is the author of the book series “How To Build A Drum Groove” and is a co-founder of the Drummers Education Conn...

This episode features my conversation with drummer Ben Hilzinger. Based in LA, Ben’s career spans over two decades as a touring and recording drummer who has worked with artists such as Eve 6, Cannons and many others. He's also the Director of Artist/Client Relations for Big Fat Snare Drum. Ben is the host of the podcast "Drummers on Drumming" where he has established a community of like minded mu...

This episode features my conversation with drummer Ash Soan. From his roots in the UK to studios and stages around the world, Ash has laid down the rhythmic foundation for some of music's biggest names including Adele, Robbie Williams, Del Amitri, Squeeze,Tori Amos, Snow Patrol and countless others across different genres. Known for his impeccable groove, musical sensitivity, and ability to serve...

This episode features a roundtable discussion with drummer Jake Sommers & bassist Mat Maxwell. Both musicians are key members of country superstar Luke Combs' touring band and have established themselves as highly respected freelance professionals in the Nashville music scene. Mat is also the co-author of "Hired Musician: A Guide to Getting and Keeping Gigs", a comprehensive resource for build...