Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 453 - Terry Gibbs (with Damon Grant of Discussions in Percussion)

July 24, 2025 Pete Zambito

Alongside fellow podcaster Damon Grant from Discussions in Percussion, we interview vibraphonist, drummer, and bandleader Terry Gibbs about the Dream Band and Terry Pollard (05:30), an eventual interview introduction, his autobiography, and his early life and career (09:45), the beginnings of bebop and his work on Latin Jazz music (21:00), hanging out with jazz legends, stories about Benny Goodman, and how he dealt with money negotiation (34:15), Buddy Rich, a legendary 2-bar drum fill, and working and learning from Woody Herman (46:05), addiction issues within the jazz community, more about the Dream band recordings, how/when he met his recently passed wife Rebekah, and work on an upcoming documentary about his life (01:04:45).

Finishing with a Rave on Terry Gibbs’s 2003 autobiography Good Vibes (01:25:40).

Links:

Terry Gibbs’ website

Good Vibes: A Life in Jazz - Terry Gibbs with Cary Ginell

Terry Gibbs Dream Band on Spotify

Terry Gibbs with Terry Pollard in 1956

“Queer Street” - Count Basie

The Latin Connection - Terry Gibbs

El Latino - Terry Gibbs

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 452 - Christopher Wilson

July 17, 2025 Pete Zambito

Washington State University Professor of Percussion, Assistant Professor of Music, Marching Band Drumline Director, and recording artist Christopher Wilson stops by to talk about his recently released album of David Maslanka’s marimba solos called A Solemn Music (03:10), his job at WSU and recruiting in that part of the state (25:25), growing up in Iowa, Iowa-specific music experiences, and his time doing DCI (44:30), attending Eastern Washington University for undergrad, as well as a discussion of his related experiences on the track team in high school (53:35), studying with Nancy Zeltsman at Berklee College of Music (MA), living and working in Boston, and working in Iowa and Wisconsin (01:03:15), his years studying for the doctorate at the University of Northern Colorado (01:17:45), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on specializing too early, working in music retail, great and bad movies, great books, Chicago sports, and inspiring artists (01:31:00).

Finishing with a Rave about Pete’s experiences touring with the Long Island Youth Orchestra (LIYO) in early July (01:57:25).

Christopher Wilson links:

Christopher Wilson’s homepage

Christopher Wilson’s WSU page

Solemn Music - Christopher’s album of David Maslanka’s marimba music

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Andrew Eldridge in 2022

William Moersch in 2019

Casey Cangelosi in 2017

Eriko Daimo in 2025

Fernando Meza in 2020

Other Links:

Jon Melcher

Woodcuts - Nancy Zeltsman

Bach on Marimba - Leigh Howard Stevens

Waking Dreams - Michael Burritt

“Two Movements for Marimba” - Toshimitsu Tanaka

“Etude for a Quiet Hall” - Christopher Deane

Concerto for Marimba and Strings - Ney Rosauro

Etude in E Minor - Pius Cheung

“A Little Prayer” - Evelyn Glennie

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind trailer

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 trailer

The Big Leap - Gay Hendricks

The Talent Code - Daniel Coyle

The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien

Jersey Shore: Season 1 highlights

Real Housewives - Most Dramatic Vacations

Vanderpump Rules - Most Dramatic Moments

Chicago Cubs 2016 Championship

Iowa Hawkeye Football 2016-2019

St. Louis Tionól

“Rock Box” - Run-DMC

Whitney Museum of American Art

Laura Ortman

k I t e artist

Raves:

Long Island Youth Orchestra

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 451 - Liam Teague

July 3, 2025 Pete Zambito

Northern Illinois University Director of Steel Pan Studies, as well as Performer, Educator and Composer Liam Teague stops by to talk about his job, how he came to NIU in the 1990s, writing and arranging for steel drum ensemble, working with non-majors, and musical preparation (03:20), his musical upbringing in Trinidad & Tobago, the importance of the “University of the Panyard”, his early experiences, and how the instrument and the music for the instrument inspired its development (33:55), attaining his undergrad and masters at NIU, overcoming the challenges of being in a new country in the 1990s, and the importance of his support system (51:50), becoming a Professor at NIU and his enjoyment of the musical development of his children (01:07:00), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on the importance of collaboration, impressions, great movies and TV shows, Trinidadian sayings, soccer, a memorably Italy performance, and being inspired by great performers in many genres (01:14:10).

Finishing with a Rave on Robert Caro’s The Years of Lyndon Johnson: Master of the Senate (01:42:20).

Liam Teague links:

Liam Teague’s NIU page

Liam Teague’s website

“Chant” - Liam Teague

“Rain Drops” - Liam Teague

“Fayed to Blue” - Pangelic

“A Visit to Hell” - Liam Teague (Jaden Teague-Nunez performing)

Other Links:

Al O’Connor

Cliff Alexis

Yuko Asada

Fame opening credits

Jascha Heifetz

Itzhak Perlman

“So What” - Miles Davis

“Cherokee” - Charlie Parker

“Pan in A Minor” - Lord Kitchener

Symphony No. 4, Movement IV - P.I. Tchaikovsky (Steel Band version)

“Feeling It” - Invaders Steel Orchestra (Arden Herbert arr.)

Ellie Mannette

Bertie Marshall

Anthony Williams

The Pan Am North Stars on Ed Sullivan

Winnifred Atwell and the Pan Am North Stars - Ivory and Steel

Lester Trilla Jr.

Robert Chappell

Yuja Wang

“Coffee Street” - Andy Narell

Schlindler’s List trailer

The Da Vinci Code trailer

“Pedro Navaja” - Ruben Blades

Andy Narell in South Africa

Pablo Picasso

Salvador Dali

Jonathan Scales Fourchestra - Tiny Desk

Raves:

The Years of Lyndon Johnson #3: Master of the Senate - Robert A. Caro

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Third Coast Percussion Month Concludes! - Episode 450 with Robert Dillon

June 26, 2025 Pete Zambito

Third Coast Percussion Month concludes with Ensemble Member and Development Director Robert Dillon, who stops by to talk about the early years for the group, his previous jobs and his orchestral career prior to TCP going full time (02:45), the importance of grant writing and his version of the Glenn Kotche story (21:20), bringing in Peter Martin and Sean Connors as full-time members and Robert’s roles in those interactions, and the need for ensemble members to prioritize TCP (35:35), growing up in Michigan, his extensive musical background, and many of the great teachers he learned from (53:35), attending Northwestern University (IL) for undergrad (01:10:20), going to New England Conservatory (MA) for his graduate work (01:23:40), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on pizza making, his many doppelgängers in contemporary music, Gymkata, Barbara Kingsolver, the Yoga Festival Story (Part 4), and The Wire (01:32:05).

Finishing with a Rave and Reflection on the interviews of the past month (02:04:45).

Robert Dillon links:

Third Coast Percussion’s page

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Rebecca McDaniel in 2017

Nicholas Papador in 2024

Other Links:

Detroit Metropolitan Youth Symphony

Detroit Civic Youth Ensembles

“Rebonds B” - Iannis Xenakis

“Third Construction” - John Cage

Will Hudgins

Stephen Drury

John Zorn

Háry-János Suite - Zoltán Kodály

Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra - Joseph Schwantner

The Big Lebowski trailer

Gymkata trailer

The Bourne Identity trailer

Mortal Kombat trailer

The Last of Us trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Third Coast Percussion Month continues! - Episode 449 with Peter Martin

June 19, 2025 Pete Zambito

Third Coast Percussion Month continues! We celebrate their 20th Anniversary as an ensemble with Ensemble Member and Finance Director Peter Martin, who discusses their current season and collaborations, the importance of non-artistic roles for the group, the early years financially and artistically, and being able to go full-time (02:10), the Glenn Kotche story (again) and the importance of expanding the staff of Third Coast (46:20), growing up mostly in Hawaii and his piano and percussion background (01:01:50), attending the University of Northern Colorado and Rutgers University (NJ) for undergrad (01:15:15), his years working with Michael Burritt at Northwestern for his grad degrees (01:31:20), and settles in with the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of early specialization, bad jobs, F1 Racing, great books, Hawaiian food, the Yoga Festival Story (Part 3), and seeing live music (particularly Beyoncé) (01:37:00).

Finishing with a Rave on the city of Denver, Colorado (02:09:45).

Third Coast Percussion Links:

Third Coast Percussion’s website

Paddle to the Sea - Third Coast Percussion

Glass: Aguas de Amazonia - Third Coast Percussion

Standard Stoppages - Third Coast Percussion

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Rebecca McDaniel in 2017

Tim Feerst in 2021

Matthew Coley in 2021

Will James in 2017

Other Links:

Twyla Tharp Dance Foundation

Zakir Hussain

Jessie Montgomery

Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra - Lou Harrison

Eighth Blackbird

So Percussion

Amanda Percussion Group

Kronos Quartet

Hideout Chicago

The Neo-Futurists

“Rebonds A/B” - Iannis Xenakis

Owen Clayton Condon

Liz Pesnel

Aphex Twin

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” - Nirvana

“1979” - Smashing Pumpkins

“Black Hole Sun” - Soundgarden

“So What” - Miles Davis

“Giant Steps” - John Coltrane

“Lonely Woman” - Ornette Coleman

“Makrokosmos II” - George Crumb

1491 - Charles C. Mann

Surrender - Bono

Get in the Van - Henry Rollins

“Take My Bones Away” - BARONESS

Cowboy Carter tour 2025

Raves:

Denver Art Museum

Meow Wolf

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Third Coast Percussion Month! Episode 448 with Sean Connors

June 12, 2025 Pete Zambito

Third Coast Percussion Month Continues! Ensemble Member, Technical Director, and Education Director Sean Connors stops by to talk about joining TCP, learning from early gigs, administrative challenges, and his version of the Glenn Kotche story (02:15), growing up in Bergen County (NJ), getting into percussion, and his experiences playing ultimate frisbee (26:35), going to Eastman (NY) for undergrad and studying with John H. Beck (39:10), attending Northwestern (IL) for his masters, studying with Michael Burritt, teaching after his degree, and creating performance opportunities for himself (55:00), getting his doctorate at Eastman, teaching at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and getting the (literal) call to join TCP (01:04:30), finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on great percussion experiences, random knowledge, The Mets, The Yoga Festival Story (Take 2), and the Sao Paolo Art Museum (01:17:10).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2024 film Sing Sing and a WTF with Marc Maron podcast episode with Clarence Maclin (01:31:45).

Sean Connors Links:

Third Coast Percussion

Other Links:

“Haunt of Last Nightfall” - David T. Little

“Bebop Riddle II” - Augusta Reed Thomas

Michael Burritt

John H. Beck

Liz Pesnel

The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps

Live in Osaka - Eastman Wind Ensemble

Peter Zlotnick

Annie Stevens

All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque

A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway

War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

The 1986 New York Mets

Bojack Horseman trailer

The Museu de Arte de São Paulo

Raves:

Sing Sing trailer

WTF - Clarence Maclin

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Third Coast Percussion Month! - Episode 447 with David Skidmore

June 5, 2025 Pete Zambito

Third Coast Percussion Executive Director and performer David Skidmore stops by to talk about TCP’s early years, how they booked gigs in the early days and finding their current Chicago home (05:00), becoming a non-profit, their Artist-in-Residence Program and getting more administrative help for the group (24:30), the camaraderie among the members and the membership change that occurred in 2013 (34:00), growing up (mostly) in North Texas, getting into percussion early on, his marching band experiences, and his competitive swimming career (39:25), attending Northwestern University (IL), studying with Michael Burritt and meeting the other future members of the group, studying with Robert Van Sice at Yale University (CT), and living in New York City (51:00), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on looking outside of the standard western canon of music, expanding their reach as artists, great Chicago food, David’s version of the Yoga Festival story, and Zakir Hussain (01:11:00).

Finishing with a Rave on a live performance of The Mavericks and Dwight Yoakam (01:35:25).

Third Coast Percussion Links:

Third Coast Percussion’s homepage

David Skidmore’s TCP page

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Ian Rosenbaum in 2025

Victor Caccese in 2019

Rebecca McDaniel in 2017

David Levy in 2020

Other Links:

“Pour Maurice” - Iannis Xenakis

Civic Orchestra of Chicago

The Godfather Part II trailer

If On a Winter’s Night a Traveler - Italo Calvino

The 1990s Dallas Cowboys

Rudy’s BBQ

Chicago Architecture Cruise

Zakir Hussain

Raves:

Dwight Yoakam and The Mavericks 2025 tour

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 446 - Cassidy Lester

May 29, 2025 Pete Zambito

Executive Director for the Symphony of the Mountains Orchestra, Percussionist, Freelancer, and Educator Cassidy Lester stops by to talk about her work with the Symphony (03:05), her freelancing and teaching and how important performing is to her mental health (16:30), growing up in the Tri-Cities region of Tennessee, traveling with family to jam band concerts, getting into percussion, and her unique marching experiences (31:30), attending East Tennessee State University, getting her undergrad and MBA degrees, and how COVID changed her path (51:20), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of instrument stereotyping, the Pride and Prejudice movie from the mid-2000s, the Fourth Wing books, and great artwork (01:12:05).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2022 nonfiction book Dangerous Rhythms: Jazz and the Underworld (01:52:00).

Cassidy Lester links:

Symphony of the Mountains

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Matthew Geiger in 2019

Other Links:

The Planets - Gustav Holst

Don Felder

“The Hero” - Clarice Assad (arr. TCP)

“Second Thoughts” - Evan Chapman

“Re(new)al” - Viet Cuong

“Happy Now” - Blue Iron Community Steel Band

“Watercolor Sun” - Ivan Trevino

Rhythm & Roots Reunion Festival

The 1927 Bristol Sessions

Widespread Panic live

“Esther” - Phish

“Cassidy” - The Grateful Dead

“Welcome to the Black Parade” - My Chemical Romance

Rande Sanderbeck

Pride and Prejudice Original Soundtrack

Pride and Prejudice trailer

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind trailer

IT trailer (1990)

Avengers: Endgame trailer

The LEGO Movie trailer

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part trailer

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros

This is Your Brain on Music - Daniel J. Levitin

Musicophilia - Oliver Sacks

Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer

Rhinoceros Success - Scott Alexander

Heaven Breaker - Sara Wolf

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars - Christopher Paolini

Vampire Diaries: Season 1 trailer

Red - John Logan

Four Darks in Red - Mark Rothko

The Stranger - Albert Camus

Long Day’s Journey into Night - Eugene O’Neill

Raves:

Dangerous Rhythms: Jazz and the Underworld - T. J. English

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 445 - Luke Haymon

May 22, 2025 Pete Zambito

2025 University of Missouri Master of Music in Percussion Performance graduate Luke Haymon stops by to talk about his final master’s recital (03:55), studying outside of percussion at Mizzou, including conducting with Dr. Christian Noon and piano tuning from Lucy Urlacher (14:15), his overall percussion activities here, including his role as assistant director of the Marching Mizzou drumline, teaching, and performing (23:45), his upcoming job as Assistant Band Director and Percussion Specialist at Rome High School in Georgia (34:00), growing up near Huntsville, Alabama, his years in drum corps, and his early years on percussion and piano (43:20), going to Jacksonville State University (AL) for undergrad and finding his way to Mizzou (01:01:00), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on moving one’s body to music, great books, the NBA playoffs, and the anime series One Piece (01:27:55).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy, including a performance of one of Pete’s compositions! (02:00:55).

Luke Haymon Links:

Luke Haymon’s Master’s Recital Program

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Matthew Jordan in 2022

Omar Carmenates in 2018

Andrea Venet in 2018

Tracy Wiggins in 2022

Lauren Teel in 2017

Miles Bohlman in 2024

Other Links:

“Merlin” - Andrew Thomas

“Velocities” - Joseph Schwantner

“Khan Variations” - Alejandro Viñao

“Concerto for Vibraphone” - Emmanuel Sejourné

“Side by Side” - Michio Kitazume

“Rooted” -Brian Blume

Tom Andes

“Armando’s Rhumba” - Chick Corea

“I’m Old Fashioned” - Chet Baker

“Ritmicas 5 and 6” - Amadeo Roldán

“Color Fields in Vector Space” - Omar Carmenates

“REFRAKT” - Andrea Venet

“Vespertine Formations” - Christopher Deane

“Fantaisie-Impromptu” - Frederic Chopin

“Take the “A” Train” - Duke Ellington

Rick Beato

Carolina Crown 2024

Santa Clara Vanguard 2024

Dan Allen

Joshua Foust

Clint Gillespie

“Come Sunday: Shout” - Omar Thomas

“Adoracion” - Eddie Palmiere

The Sixth Sense trailer

Shawshank Redemption trailer

The Shining trailer

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

Steph Curry’s top 35 plays

“Insomnia” - Cody Holmes

One Piece

Raves:

National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 444 - Josh Graham (Part 2)

May 8, 2025 Pete Zambito

University of Illinois Percussion Professor Josh Graham returns to talk about his post-master’s degree years in Michigan and taking non-music opportunities to make it work (02:15), moving to Chicago, getting his doctorate at the University of Illinois, getting more fully into chamber music, and his time teaching at the University of Northern Iowa (10:30), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on commissioning non-percussion composers, working at Wendy’s, Alfred Hitchcock movies, Detroit sports, and Olivier Messiaen (27:25).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film Sinners (56:35).

Josh Graham links:

Part 1 with Josh Graham

Josh Graham’s website

Josh Graham’s Illinois page

F-PLUS Music

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Megan Arns in 2017

Garrett Arney in 2019

Marco Schirripa in 2022

Other Links:

Aspen Music Festival

Contemporary Directions Ensemble

Steven Stucky

“Micro-Concerto” - Steven Mackey

Raves:

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 443 - Josh Graham (Part 1)

May 1, 2025 Pete Zambito

Freelancer, Performer, and Director of Percussion Activities at the University of Illinois Josh Graham stops by to talk about his work with the F PLUS chamber trio (04:55), his job at Illinois and replacing legends there (19:20), growing up near Detroit, getting into percussion, and the novels of William Faulkner (38:30), his undergrad years at the University of Central Michigan (48:30) and his masters years at the University of Michigan (01:02:40).

Finishing with a Rave on Pete’s experiences at the 2025 Percussive Arts Society Missouri Day of Percussion (01:16:50).

Josh Graham links:

Josh Graham’s website

F PLUS

Chen Family Quartet

Josh Graham’s Illinois

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 442 - Thomas Taylor

April 24, 2025 Pete Zambito

North Carolina Central University Percussion Professor, Freelancer, Bandleader, and Composer Thomas Taylor stops by to talk about his career so far at NCCU (03:25), the music program and jazz program there and its place in the state (16:50), his freelancing career (33:40), growing up in Elizabeth City (NC), his early life in percussion, and playing sports growing up (37:50), his undergrad years at UNC-Greensboro, studying with Cort McClaren, and the formation of his jazz group In The Black (56:30), post grad years of teaching and performing, eventually getting his Master’s degree, and the importance placed on credentials (01:13:00), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on “Siloism”, getting opportunities, bad jobs and good food, Questlove’s books, and King Godwin’s artwork (01:27:45).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2020 edition of The Best American Sports Series (02:00:40).

Thomas Taylor Links:

Thomas Taylor’s website

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Cort McClaren in 2022

Eric Willie in 2022

Other Links:

Jazz at NCCU

Jack Rudin Competition 2023

Benito Gonzalez

Jeff Tain Watts

“Jazz Party” - Delfeayo Marsalis

Grady Tate

“Soul Bossa Nova” - Quincy Jones

“Naughty Number Nine” - Schoolhouse Rock

Sooley - John Grisham

“Cherokee” - Max Roach

Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln

“When Sunday Comes” - Daryl Coley

“Hear My Voice” - John P. Kee

John Brown Jazz

International Black Theater Festival

“Band of Gold” - Freda Payne

Mo’ Meta Blues - Questlove

Hip Hop is History - Questlove

10x is Better than 2x - Dan Sullivan

Who Not How - Dan Sullivan

King Godwin Art

Raves:

The Best American Sports Writing 2020 - Jackie Macmullan and Glenn Stout

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 441 - Mark Reynolds (Part 2)

April 17, 2025 Pete Zambito

Sabian Cymbal Company National Director of Sales and Education for Music Schools and Director of the Ohio State University Marching Band drumline Mark Reynolds returns to talk about growing up in Columbus, OH, his early days playing percussion, and rolling skating and bowling as a young man (03:30), going to Ohio State for undergrad (18:40), getting into the music industry business, and what it takes to be successful there (31:50), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including discussion of percussion methods classes, bad jobs, food stories, great movies and books, bourbon, and his son’s artwork (44:40).

Finishing with a Rave on the 1974 film The Conversation (01:19:40).

Mark Reynolds Links:

Part 1 with Mark Reynolds

Mark Reynolds’ LinkedIn Page

Mark Reynolds’ Ohio State page

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Fernando Meza in 2020

Tim Heath in 2023

Mark Ford in 2023

Eric Willie in 2022

Scott Herring in 2022

Cameron Leach in 2023

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 440 - Mark Reynolds (Part 1)

April 10, 2025 Pete Zambito

Sabian Cymbal Company National Director of Sales and Education for Music Schools and Director of the Ohio State University Marching Band drumline Mark Reynolds stops by to talk about his Sabian job, the school rewards program, and folks who professionally represent Sabian well (03:45), the Ohio State drumline job, updating the sound and look of the group, and the challenges of the Rose Bowl parade (47:45) and the popularity of Ohio State’s halftime shows (01:11:40).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2006 documentary Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing (01:36:00).

Mizzou Percussion Ensemble Concert 1 YouTube link

Mizzou Percussion Ensemble Concert 2 YouTube link

Mark Reynolds links:

Mark Reynolds’ LinkedIn page

Mark Reynolds’ OSU page

“Demystifying the Texas Percussion Program”

“The Music of Rush” - Ohio State Marching Band

Ohio State Drumline 2021 Snare Jam

Previous Podcast guests mentioned:

Thomas Burritt in 2021

Other Links:

Gon Bops and Alex Acuña

Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps

Jon Waters

Christopher Hoch

Ohio State’s 2022 Elton John Show

Ohio State’s 2013 Michael Jackson show

Music for 18 Musicians - Steve Reich

“Buckeye Jazz Cafe” - 2022 show

Michael Klesch

Michael Martin

The Ghost Rider - Neil Peart

“Shofukan” - Snarky Puppy

Raves:

Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 439 - Joby Burgess

April 3, 2025 Pete Zambito

U.K.-based percussionist, session musician and performer Joby Burgess stops by to talk about all things session musician work and his career in chamber music (03:00), his album A Percussionist’s Songbook (42:20), growing up in western England, his piano background, and his time as a university student at the Guildhall School (54:30), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of difficult percussion concerti, playing with “too hard” mallets, cooking at home, traveling in Italy, Quentin Tarantino, John Steinbeck, American Football, Cricket, and inspiring artwork (01:15:30).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2021 documentary film Ennio (01:52:30).

Joby Burgess Links:

Joby Burgess’s website

A Percussionist’s Songbook - Joby Burgess

Other Links:

Abbey Road Studios

“Asturias” - Isaac Albeniz (John Williams, guitar)

John Kenny

“Dmaathen” - Iannis Xenakis

“Psappha” - Iannis Xenakis

Stewart Copeland

Pierre Boulez

“Drumming” - Steve Reich

“Desert Music” - Steve Reich

“To Be With You” - Mr. Big

“More Than Words” - Extreme

“She Talks to Angels” - Black Crows

“So What” - Miles Davis

“Milestones” - Miles Davis

“Seven Steps to Heaven” - Miles Davis

“A Night in Tunisia” - Dizzy Gillespie

“Black Market” - Weather Report

”Brother Sister” - Brand New Heavies

“Virtual Insanity” - Jamiroquai

“What is Hip?” - Tower of Power

“Wonderwall” - Oasis

“Girls & Boys” - Blur

Barbican Theater

Pedro Carneiro

“Khan Variations” - Alejandro Viñao

“Time for Marimba” - Minoru Miki

Gary Burton Tiny Desk concert

Concerto for Bass Drum and Orchestra - Gabriel Prokofiev

CinqueTerre

Quentin Tarantino

Pulp Fiction trailer

Reservoir Dogs trailer

Back to the Future trailer

Get Shorty trailer

The Matrix Reloaded trailer

John Steinbeck

1980s San Francisco 49ers

Yayoi Kusama

Raves:

Ennio trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 438 - Von Hansen

March 27, 2025 Pete Zambito

Washburn University (KS) Percussion Professor, Composer, and Performer Von Hansen stops by to talk about his recent album Mortal Coil (03:15), his Percussion and Composition job at Washburn (16:05), growing up in Topeka and the wide array of musical experiences of his early life (25:30), going to Washburn for undergrad and studying with Tom Morgan (36:20), his masters years at the University of Central Michigan and his doctorate from the University of Kansas (52:20), the challenges of his career during his first job at Friends University (KS) (01:05:40), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of percussion repertoire choices, classic horror films, Kurt Vonnegut books, Caroline Shaw, and local artists (01:15:50).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2023 film Robot Dreams (01:40:00).

Von Hansen links:

Von Hansen’s website

Von Hansen’s Washburn University page

“Mortal Coil” - Von Hansen

“Ad Astra” - Von Hansen

“Lenses” - Von Hansen

“Anything Worthwhile is Perishable” - Von Hansen

“Gr@wLix” - Von Hansen

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned

Matthew Lau in 2021

Marco Schirripa in 2022

Hannah Weaver in 2021

Jamie Whitmarsh in 2021

Andrew Richardson in 2023

Alexis C. Lamb in 2021

Other Links:

“Nagoya Marimbas” - Steve Reich

Tom Morgan

The Jazz Drummer’s Reading Workbook - Tom Morgan

Coe Percussion

Quey Percussion Duo

Anya Pogorelova

Reading Mallet Percussion Music - Rebecca Kite

Phantom Regiment

David Gillingham

Susan Powell

“Third Construction” - John Cage

Chopped

“Velocities” - Joseph Schwantner

Pulp Fiction trailer

Dashing Through the Snow trailer

Sheik Yerbouti - Frank Zappa

The Gate trailer

Hellraiser trailer

The Silence of the Lambs trailer

Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut

Slapstick - Kurt Vonnegut

Choke - Chuck Palahniuk

What We Do in the Shadows TV Show

David Lynch

Partita for Eight Voices - Caroline Shaw

Gordon Sherman

Raves:

Robot Dreams trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 437 - Brian Blume

March 20, 2025 Pete Zambito

U.S. Army’s Pershing’s Own Ceremonial Band Percussionist Brian Blume stops by to talk about his military music job and his work with TapSpace Publications (02:35), his composition history (22:25), growing up in Indiana with music director parents, and his piano and sports background (30:30), attending Indiana University for undergrad and his drum corps experiences as performer and teacher (42:15), returning to IU for his master’s degree (01:04:35), freelancing in Indianapolis after his master’s degree, building a portfolio career, and teaching in higher education in Florida (01:12:15), and takes on the Random Ass Questions, including segments on expression in performance, great books, terrible jobs, IU basketball, and The Care of Souls (01:35:05).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 Documentary Series Great Migrations: A People on the Move (01:58:20).

Brian Blume Links:

Brian Blume’s website

Brian Blume’s Pershing’s Own page

Brian Blume’s Tapspace page

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Colin Hill in 2019

Kevin Bobo in 2017

Frank Chapple in 2019

Mark Ford in 2023

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 436 - Steven Schick

March 13, 2025 Pete Zambito

Solo Percussionist, Author, Conductor, and longtime Director of Percussion at the University of California-San Diego Steven Schick stops by to talk about the UCSD program, teaching doctoral students, and the art of performing on percussion in the 21st century (02:25), growing up in northern Iowa, his jazz drumset influences, sailing in high school, and living and working on a farm (25:30), going to the University of Iowa for undergraduate and master’s, pursuing the solo percussionist path, and his Fulbright studies (36:20), his early college teaching career at Fresno State University (CA) and his pandemic experiences (55:30), his excellent book The Percussionist’s Art (01:07:00), and takes in the Random Ass Questions, including segments on hearing percussion music outside of college concert settings, reading books and achieving fluency in other languages, and staying healthy (01:22:10).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film I Am Raquel Welch (01:47:10).

Steven Schick links:

Steven Schick’s website

Steven Schick’s UCSD page

Other Links:

“Rebonds B/A” - Iannis Xenakis

“Persaphassa” - Iannis Xenakis

“Sextet” - Steve Reich

“XY” - Michael Gordon

“Silver Streetcar for the Orchestra” - Alvin Lucier

Violin Concerto - Alban Berg

“Ionisation” - Edgard Varese

“Bone Alphabet” - Brian Ferneyhough

Inuksuit - John Luther Adams

“Third Construction” - John Cage

The Godfather trailer

The Lives of Others trailer

Hot Tub Time Machine trailer

In Search of Lost Time - Marcel Proust

The Odyssey - Homer (Emily Wilson translation)

Selected Stories - Franz Kafka (Mark Harmon translation)

James Wood

Caravaggio’s Italy

Raves:

I am Raquel Welch film

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 435 - Brady Spitz

March 6, 2025 Pete Zambito

Appalachian State University Percussion Professor Brady Spitz stops by to talk about his position at the school, what it’s like to teach in the mountains, and the various natural disasters he’s lived through (02:40), growing up in Colorado, his background playing in bands and performing in the pit in musicals, and his sports background (32:00), his undergrad years at the University of North Texas (43:50), his master’s years at Louisiana State University (56:00), his doctoral years at Rice University, studying and freelancing in Houston, his first full-time position at University of Tennessee-Martin, and comparing and contrasting his college professors’ teaching styles (01:03:00), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, with hilarious stories about cooking, movies, playing for various pop artists, and the TV show Bluey (01:28:00).

Finishing with a Rave on the Krin Gabbard book Jammin’ at the Margins (01:49:40).

Brady Spitz links:

Brady Spitz’s website

Brady Spitz’s Appalachian State webpage

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Julie Hill in 2019

Mary Emmons in 2024

Mariana Ramirez in 2023

Mark Ford in 2023

Colin Hill in 2019

Lauren Teel in 2017

Casey Cangelosi in 2017

Other Links:

Once on This Island

“See Ya Thursday” - Steve Mackey

Brett Dietz

Morton Feldman

Jim Atwood

A Soldier’s Tale - Igor Stravinsky

William Kraft

Matthew Strauss

Brian Del Signore

“Hallelujah” - IL DIVO

“Amish Paradise” - Weird Al Yankovic

Music for 18 Musicians - Steve Reich

Grosse Pointe Blank trailer

Primary Colors trailer

Avengers: Secret Wars trailer

Silence - John Cage

Jim’s Wings

Big City Burrito

Bluey

Raves:

Jammin’ at the Margins: Jazz and the American Cinema - Krin Gabbard

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 434 - Eric Hollenbeck (Part 2)

February 27, 2025 Pete Zambito

Colorado State University Percussion Professor Eric Hollenbeck returns to talk about playing sports in high school and more about percussion sound concepts (01:30) his college undergrad and graduate career and studying with Michael Burritt and Tom Siwe (18:40), a discussion of his first teaching job at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (37:20), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of BBQ, “Starship Troopers”, great fiction and nonfiction books, the “Bob” story, and Andy Akiho (45:50).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2024 film I’m Still Here (01:09:55).

Eric Hollenbeck links:

Part 1 with Eric Hollenbeck

Eric Hollenbeck’s CSU page

Eric Hollenbeck’s Pearl Drums page

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Andrew Lynge in 2025

Cort McClaren in 2022

Other Links:

Tom Freer

Michael Burritt

Susan Powell