The Drum Shuffle

April Samuels is the Founder and CEO of Breast Cancer Can Stick It Foundation and a fantastic drummer.  She spent her entire life playing and recording with numerous bands in the Dallas area.  In 2010, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, so she did what any drummer would do...She decided to fight the disease not only for herself, but for everyone else as well using the tool...

John Aldridge is truly an artisan in the drumming world.  John resurrected the artform of hand-engraving drums for many major drum manufacturers.  He learned engraving techniques during his search for a vintage engraved snare drum.  Since essentially teaching himself how to engrave metal drums, he has performed work for Ludwig, Slingerland, Gretsch, Drum Workshop, Joyful Noise, A&F and others.  He...

Brad Morgan has been manning the drum throne for Drive-By Truckers for the past 20 years.  His first album with the band was the critically-acclaimed double-record, Southern Rock Opera.  That release set the Truckers' career into overdrive in 2001 and they haven't slowed their recording or touring habits since.  On episode 036, Brad joins Jamie while on a short break between wrapping up tracking t...

Sasha Mashin is THE premiere jazz drummer in his native Russia.  On episode 035, Sasha takes some time from his vacation to catch up with Jamie and talk about his career.  Growing up in Saint Petersburg, Sasha recalls getting his first drum set, practicing in the stairwell of his apartment building and getting his hands on new music via the neighborhood record collector dubbing cassettes for him. ...

On episode 034, Jamie is joined by jazz-master Jay Lawrence.  Jay has played with a stunning collection of icons in the entertainment world.  From Sammy Davis Jr. to Loretta Lynn, he has been there.  He has also recorded percussion parts for some of the biggest Hollywood films of the last two decades.  Now residing in Utah where he teaches at BYU, Jay talks about growing up behind the kit, his inf...

TJ Taylor, just home from a tour with SOIL, stopped by The Drum Shuffle studios to talk to Jamie about growing up in Kentucky, being given his first drum set, playing along to his favorite drummers and eventually joining Tantric and now, SOIL.  TJ's work ethic and unique drumming style has garnered him tons of attention over the past few years and he continues to grow as a musician.  TJ also cover...

Grant Menefee is a well-known drum instructor in the Baltimore, Maryland area.  He is quite simply a teacher to the stars.  Former students include Jon Theadore, Matt Halpern and Nate Morton.  A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Grant has been teaching and playing for many years.  He has also written for many major drum publications.  His lasting legacy is that he continues to teach the craft...

Brendan Buckley is a drummer's drummer.  He has been recording and touring with Pop mega-star Shakira for almost 20 years.  His performance resume also includes Daniel Powter, Jackson Browne, Julio Iglesias, The Bodeans, Miley Cyrus and Shelby Lynne.  On episode 031, Brendan and Jamie talk about his early days as a musician, taking lessons from the great Tommy Igoe, his first big break and his app...

Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz has been drumming for Weird Al Yankovic for 38 years.  Bermuda is an ultra-versatile drummer, musical historian and archivist for Al's band.  On episode 030, he and Jamie discuss his first drumset, presented to him by Bill Ludwig personally, his musical education and meeting Al on the Dr. Demento radio show.  That chance encounter in 1980 has led to many world tours, Grammy...

Jerry Gaskill has been drumming since the tender age of four.  On episode 029, Jamie talks with Jerry about his long and illustrious career in King's X.  King's X is one of the most influential bands in the genres of rock, metal and prog of all-time.  Jerry also discusses some of the giant shows that he's played as well as the band's wonderful relationship with their legion of fans.  He also hints...

Matt Chamberlain is a first-call in-demand session drummer.  His list of credits includes Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, A Perfect Circle, Willie Nelson, Neko Case, Tori Amos, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, The Wallflowers, and Sheryl Crow to name just a few.  Matt also spent a season as the drummer on Saturday Night Live with guitar great GE Smith as the bandleader.  On episode 028, Matt talks about his...

Brandon Goodwin and his band, B's Bees, is a staple of the thriving jazz scene in Montreal.  On episode 027, Brandon discusses his start in music, B's Bees' new release Kanata, their recent tour of the US, and his ability to work as composer, bandleader and drummer of the group.  He also shares some great knowledge for any musician to take to heart.  Brandon is undoubtedly headed for huge success...

On episode 026, Jamie catches up with master educator, Robb Ryan.  Robb is a highly sought after drum instructor in Canada that is an expert in Gary Chaffee's techniques and methods.  Jamie and Robb discuss his beginnings as a drummer, his lifelong pursuit of education and some of his many apperances on leading educational outlets such as Drumeo.  Robb is a fantastic drummer that everyone should h...

DJ Bonebrake is the legendary drummer of X.  X is quite simply one of the most influential punk bands of all time.  On episode 025, DJ and Jamie discuss DJ's start as a drummer in a Buddhist temple, the formation of X and the Los Angeles scene of the late 70's and early 80's.  DJ also talks about his work with Ray Manzarek and The Germs.  DJ shares lots of great stories and advice on this week's s...

Peter Erskine certainly needs no introduction.  In the world of drumming, his name is legendary.  Peter has performed with Weather Report, The Yellowjackets, Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell and countless other groups at the highest level of musical artistry.  On episode 024, Peter takes time to chat with Jamie about his influences, the history of jazz drumming, his fantastic new album, On Call, with The...

Dafnis Prieto moved from his home country of Cuba to the Untied States in 1999.  Since that time, he has been blazing a trail in the world of jazz music as a drummer, composer and bandleader.  On episode 023, Jamie and Dafnis discuss his upbringing in Cuba, his move to the US, forming the Dafnis Prieto Big Band and their newest release, Back to the Sunset. Dafnis was recipient of the prestigous Ma...

Michael Miley has been bringing the thunder with Rival Sons since 2005.  Widely known for their work ethic, great albums and non-stop touring, Rival Sons have established themselves as one of the flag-bearers of Rock n' Roll in the 21st century.  On episode 022, Jamie and Miley discuss their current tour in support of 2016's Hollow Bones record, the recording of the band's yet-to-be-titled upcomin...

On episode 021, Jamie catches up with legendary jazz drummer Jeff Williams from his home in England to discuss his 50-year career behind the kit.  Jeff has played with jazz greats such as Stan Getz, Dave Liebman, Richie Beirach, and Lee Konitz among others.  Jeff talks about his formative years as a player, studying with the great Alan Dawson and landing some of his early gigs.  Jamie and Jeff als...

Chad Gamble grew up in the Muscle Shoals region of Alabama playing drums from an early age.  He paid his dues in the Beale Street blues clubs of Memphis before forming The Gamble Brothers Band with his brother Al.  After three albums and extensive touring with GBB, he was asked to do some fill-in shows with former Drive-By Truckers guitarist Jason Isbell who was establishing himself as a solo arti...

Mike Fraser has been a recording professional since the late 1970's.  He literally started as a janitor at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver.  He quickly moved his way up to assistant engineer helping a young Bob Rock with punk demos and the late Bruce Fairbairn on his sessions.  Mike caught a lucky break when Bob Rock had to leave the studio for a tour and found himself in the engineer's...

Rod Morgenstein is a legendary drummer.  On episode 018, Jamie chats with Rod about the formation of The Dixie Dregs in the mid-1970's and their classic fusion album "Free Fall."  They also discuss Rod's time in Winger, his 20 years of teaching at the prestigious Berklee College of Music and his collaborations with Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater fame.  Rod is one of Jamie's all-time favorite drumm...

On Episode 017, Jamie talks with Mike Pride whose projects include From Bacteria To Boys, Drummer's Corpse, I Hate Work, and Locksmith Isidore.  Truly one of the busiest drummers in New York, Mike talks about growing up in a musical family in southern Maine, his move to New York and being true to yourself and your vision as an artist.  He also candidly discusses teaching the next generation of dru...

Liberty DeVitto's drumming has been featured on classic albums by Billy Joel that have sold in excess of 150 million copies.  On episode 016, he recalls growing up in Long Island, seeing the Beatles for the first time, and joining Billy Joel's band in 1974.  Lib is known as "The Songwriter's Drummer" and is a true historian of rock & roll.  Lib and Jamie also discuss the great documentary Hired Gu...

Bryan Hitt grew up in a town of 900 people in rural, east Texas.  On episode 015 of The Drum Shuffle, Bryan recalls his start in his school band and moving to Alaska during high school.  Bryan talks with Jamie about his move to L.A. in 1980, his career beginning to grow, and ultimately landing his gig with REO Speedwagon in 1989.  Bryan's story is truly inspirational for musicians and anyone that...

On episode 014, Jamie talks with legendary drummer and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Doug Clifford.  Doug is a founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revival and Creedence Clearwater Revisited. Jamie and Doug discuss the formation of CCR, the incredible albums that were recorded over a remarkable 30 month time period, playing Woodstock in 1969 and continuing the legacy of CCR's music in Cree...