Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 460 - She-e Wu (Part 2)

September 11, 2025 Pete Zambito

Northwestern University (IL) Professor of Percussion She-e Wu returns to talk about staying at the University of North Texas to attend grad school and study composition (01:45), teaching and performing out of grad school, and her year teaching at the University of West Virginia (09:45), her decade teaching at Rutgers (NJ), building up the facilities, and negotiating for her current job (24:30), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including sections about musicality and literature, great movies, books about chefs and her own awesome cooking skills, great athletes, a wild performance story, and an incredible botanical garden (37:30).

Finishing with a Rave on the TV series Freaks and Geeks and the documentary on the show (01:12:25).

She-e Wu Links:

Part 1 with She-e Wu

She-e Wu’s Northwestern page

She-e Wu’s Majestic Percussion page

She’e Wu’s Innovative Percussion page

Other Links:

“Two Mexican Dances” - Gordon Stout

Concertino for Marimba - Paul Creston

“Northern Lights” - Eric Ewazen

Keiko Abe

“Etude Op. 6, No. 10” - Clair Omar Musser

“Suite for Percussion” - Lou Harrison

“Third Construction” - John Cage

“Ostinato Pianissimo” - Henry Cowell

The Motorcycle Diaries trailer

The Lives of Others trailer

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning trailer

F1 trailer

Ratatouille trailer

Steph Curry

Federer: Twelve Final Days trailer

The Last Dance trailer

Raves:

Freaks and Geeks on Paramount Plus

Cultuershock - Freaks and Geeks: the Documentary

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 459 - She-e Wu (Part 1)

September 4, 2025 Pete Zambito

Percussionist, Performer, Freelancer, Educator, Composer, Instrument Designer, Clinician, and Director of Percussion Studies at Northwestern University (IL) She-e Wu stops by to talk about position at the university, getting the job, and how her passion for music and teaching fuels her career (04:30), what it takes to be performance ready at all times, and her work with instrument design for Majestic Percussion (35:15), growing up in Taiwan, getting involved in music, and her percussion and theater background (52:50), and her undergrad years at the University of North Texas, the challenges of being new to the United States at the time, and her deep connections with her percussion colleagues and professors at UNT (01:07:00).

Finishing with a Rave on the re-release of the 1975 film Jaws (01:26:45).

She-e Wu links:

She-e Wu’s Northwestern page

She-e Wu’s Majestic Percussion page

She-e Wu’s Innovative Percussion page

Previous Podcast Guests of note:

Matthew Coley in 2021

Renée Keller in 2018

Edward Choi in 2023

Andrea Venet in 2018

Jaime Esposito in 2020

Becca Laurito in 2023

Other Links:

Raves:

Jaws 50th Anniversary trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 458 - Kristen Klehr

August 28, 2025 Pete Zambito

Percussionist, Freelancer, Entrepreneur, Arts Administrator, and Assistant Dean for Professional Development and Personal Engagement at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Kristen Klehr stops by to talk about her college teaching, creating one’s own arts ecosystem, and performing “Athletic Percussion” (03:25), growing up in Binghamton (NY), her musical background, NYSSMA, New York high school sports, and her dance background (24:10) attending Baldwin-Wallace College (OH) for undergrad, living above an Italian bakery, and advocating for students and colleagues (43:15), attending Florida State University for grad school, working with FSU’s orchestras, and singing while playing marimba (57:40), producing music festivals, starting her own business, and “betting on yourself” (01:11:10), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on business philosophies, percussion triangles, impression, email signatures, NY food staples, and the Golden State Valkyries (01:33:05).

Finishing with a Rave on a recently attended live performance of Ozomatli during their 30th Anniversary tour (02:07:25).

Kristen Klehr’s links:

Kristen Klehr’s homepage

“I Remember Her” - Marimba/Voice arrangement

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned in the show:

Amanda Duncan in 2023

Third Coast Percussion Month in 2025

Joshua Simonds in 2022

Brian Calhoon in 2021

Andy Bliss in 2023

Victor Caccese in 2019

Other Links:

Scrap Arts Music

Joel Smales

Josh Ryan

African West Percussion Trio

Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music

RocketJump

Beth Morrison Projects

Mike Truesdell

Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium trailer

Napoleon Dynamite trailer

The Confident Mind - Dr. Nate Zinsser

The Inner Game of Tennis - W. Timothy Gallwey

The Artist’s Way - Julia Cameron

Julie Vanloo

“Super Bass” - Nicki Minaj

Brozzetti’s Pizza

“Music for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion” - PDQ Bach

Raves:

Ozomatli

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 457 - Neil Flannigan

August 21, 2025 Pete Zambito

Fort Zumwalt West (MO) Percussion Director and Chapter President for the Missouri Percussive Arts Society Neil Flannigan stops by to talk about his teaching position (03:25), the MOPAS Presidency (21:40), growing up in STL, his percussion and guitar background, the band Rush, Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps, and working at Dierberg’s Grocery Store (31:00), attending St. Louis CC and the University of Missouri-St. Louis for undergrad, and meeting his eventual wife Jessie (47:30), his early teaching jobs, his decision not to follow the band director path, and landing his current position during COVID lockdown (01:00:00), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including discussions about setting boundaries, Indian food, Jurassic Park, puppetry, bourbon, and great visual art (01:27:00).

Finishing with a Rave on the classic George Eliot novel Middlemarch (02:03:20).

Neil Flannigan links:

Neil Flannigan’s Innovative Percussion page

Neil Flannigan’s SABIAN Cymbals page

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Jessie Flannigan in 2025

Alex Smith in 2018

Alexandros Fragiskatos in 2021

Patricia Islas in 2021

Other Links:

St. Louis Wind Symphony

Michael Burritt

“Tom Sawyer” - Rush

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” - Nirvana

“When Doves Cry” - Prince

Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps

Jim Widner

“Fix You” - Coldplay

Jurassic Park trailer

The Martian trailer

The Martian - Andy Weir

Ghost Rider - Neil Peart

“I Want it That Way” - Backstreet Boys

Water Lilies - Claude Monet

Raves:

Middlemarch - George Eliot

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 456 - Jessie Flannigan

August 14, 2025 Pete Zambito

Composer, Performer, Educator, Missouri PAS Treasurer, and Academic and Administrative Coordinator for the Music Department at Washington University (MO) Jessie Flannigan stops by to talk about how she manages and is successful with her large workload and schedule (03:35), all things Missouri PAS and updating the Prescribed Music List (16:35), growing up in St. Charles (MO), her early percussion experiences, and participating in German Club (31:05), attending the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) for undergrad, the family reasons for the delay of the finish of her degree, and living in rural Illinois (41:15), working for Mozingo Music, teaching marching band, and substitute teaching (54:45), working at UMSL in Music Administration and the differences in working there vs. WashU (01:01:15), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on helping students prepare for college, great movies, The X-Files, impromptu djembe solos, The Linda Lindas, and the greatness of Matt Henry (01:08:10).

Finishing with a Rave on Pete’s travels to the Canadian Percussion Network’s The Space Between IVconference (01:54:15).

Jessie Flannigan Links:

Jessie Flannigan’s website

“Street Spiders” - Jessie Flannigan

“Tiny” - Jessie Flannigan

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Matt Henry in 2017

Andrew Richardson in 2023

Nathan Daughtrey in 2016

Alexandros Fragiskatos in 2019

Other Links:

“Diabolic Variations” - Raymond Helble

The Palace of Nine Perfections - Eric Ewazen

“The Cry” - Nathan Daughtrey

Ocean’s Eleven trailer

Out to Sea trailer

Field of Dreams trailer

Where There’s Smoke: The Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man - William B. Davis

The Linda Lindas

Raves:

The Canadian Percussion Network

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 455 - Michael Udow (Part 2)

August 7, 2025 Pete Zambito

Composer, Percussionist, and Educator Michael Udow returns to talk about his year in Poland for a Fulbright Fellowship and what life was like there in the early 1970s (01:55), his path to getting to Michigan (including teaching at UMKC) and how he further developed an excellent program at Ann Arbor (11:55), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of travel, great books, the Detroit Red Wings, and great artists and art (44:45).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film Sorry, Baby (01:14:00).

Michael Udow Links:

Part 1 with Michael Udow

Michael Udow’s Homepage

Percussion Pedagogy - Michael Udow

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Other Links:

Persephassa - Iannis Xenakis

“Ionisation” - Edgard Varése

Teaching Percussion - Gary Cook

Artful Noise - Thomas Siwe

Cellist in Exile: A Portrait of Pablo Casals - Bernard Taper

Musicophilia - Oliver Sacks

Gordie Howe

We Come to the River - Hans Werner Henze

Giuseppe Arcimboldo

Raves:

Sorry, Baby IMDB page

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 454 - Michael Udow (Part 1)

July 31, 2025 Pete Zambito

Composer, Percussionist, and Retired Professor of Percussion from the University of Michigan Michael Udow stops by to talk about “reassignment”, living in Colorado and staying in good physical and mental shape, letting go of regularly performing on percussion, and his compositional career (03:35), growing up in Detroit, Wichita and Pennsylvania, switching to percussion from piano, and the wide-ranging history of his earlier percussion life (27:50), and his career of getting into freelancing and getting the Fulbright Fellowship to study in Poland (59:50).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes (01:12:05).

Pete’s new composition Calling

Michael Udow Links:

Michael Udow’s homepage

Percussion Pedagogy - Michael Udow

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Victoria Sparks in 2018

Steven Schick in 2025

Other Links:

“Zyklus” - Karlheinz Stockhausen

“Kontakte” - Karlheinz Stockhausen

“Knocking Piece” - Ben Johnston

“The King of Denmark” - Morton Feldman

Michael Brecker

“Triple Duo” - Elliott Carter

BlackEarth Percussion Group

Al O’Connor

Raves:

Billy Joel: And So It Goes trailer

Billy Joel: And So It Goes album on Spotify

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