Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 179 - Justin Alexander

March 5, 2020 Pete Zambito

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Percussion Professor Justin Alexander stops by to talk about his job and how it’s changed over the years, VCU’s place in Virginia, and his recent interest in Indian classical music (02:30), growing up in Little Rock, Ark., and his high school rock band Green Olive Tree (25:30), going to the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) for undergrad and studying under Blake Tyson and Tom Burritt (36:15), the year he took off from school and returning to UCA for his master’s (47:15), his years at FSU for his doctorate and working at Troy University (AL) (54:15) and takes the time for some Random Ass Questions (01:14:30).

Finishing with a Rave on the True/False Documentary Film Festival (01:34:00).

Links:

Justin Alexander’s Homepage

Justin Alexander’s VCU page

Rumors of War - Kehinde Wiley

Raves:

True/False Film Festival

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 178 - Kristen Shiner McGuire

February 27, 2020 Pete Zambito

Nazareth College (NY) Percussion Professor and Director of the Music Business Program Kristen Shiner McGuire stops by to talk about Nazareth College and her performing career (07:35), her work with the Rita Collective (39:30), growing up in NYC and Potsdam, NY and the influence of her woodwind-performing father (46:00), getting her undergrad degree from the University of Illinois (01:05:00), studying with Keiko Abe in Japan after undergrad (01:14:00), her Eastman grad school years (01:23:50), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions (01:36:10).

Finishing with a Rave and a Recording from the Rita Collective’s 2016 album Forty-One Seconds (01:52:45).

Links:

Kristen Shiner McGuire’s website

Kristen Shiner McGuire’s Nazareth website

Mallet Percussion Workbook - Kristen Shiner McGuire

Anouar Brahem

“Declaration, Song and Dance” - Kristen Shiner McGuire

“Encounters III” - William Kraft

“4 Verses for Timpani” - Murray Houliff

“Hallelujah” - Jai-Jagdeesh

Raves:

Forty-One Seconds - The Rita Collective

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 177 - Josh Gottry

February 20, 2020 Pete Zambito

Arizona-based Composer, Percussionist and Educator Josh Gottry talks about his teaching career now and getting his Master’s degree in composition (02:40), growing up in Minnesota, Texas and near Phoenix, and his music-teacher grandfather (22:30), going to Northern Arizona to study with Steve Hemphill for undergrad (32:50), his post-graduate time in Texas and how he returned to Arizona (47:00) and deals with the Random Ass Questions (58:45).

Finishing with a Rave on the Best American Nonrequired Reading Series (01:23:20).

Links:

Josh Gottry’s website

Paul Buyer

Steve Hemphill

“Irrelevant” - Josh Gottry

Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba and Vibraphone - Morris Goldenberg

Portraits in Rhythm - Tony Cirone

Instruction Course for Xylophone - G.H. Green

“Nyack” - David Friedman

“Marimba Spiritual” - Minoru Miki

“Genesis” - Josh Gottry

“Diversions for Flute and Marimba” - Peter Tanner

“Sunflower” - Harvey Sollberger

Phoenix Suns 2005 highlights

Phoenix Suns 1993 highlights

Dead Poets Society trailer

Bobby Freeman, Arizona Diamondbacks organist

National Gallery of Art

J. Paul Getty Museum

Raves:

Best American Nonrequired Reading

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 176 - CJ Menge

February 13, 2020 Pete Zambito

Austin (TX) based Steelband artist, educator and composer CJ Menge stops by to talk about Inside Out Steelband and his work with area high schools (01:50), making Inside Out a non-profit and starting Boxfish Music Publishing (27:40), growing up all over the U.S. before settling in Houston (36:40), spending a couple of years at Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (OH) before moving to Austin and finishing up his degree at St. Edwards University (TX) (55:00), his travels in Trinidad and Tobago (01:19:00), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions (01:25:00).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2020 Oscars (01:47:15).

Links:

CJ Menge’s homepage

Boxfish Music Publishing

Inside Out Steelband

Austin, TX Cultural Funding

Percussion Group Cincinnati

Joe vs. The Volcano trailer

Raves:

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 175 - Josh Jones (Part 2)

February 6, 2020 Pete Zambito

Calgary Philharmonic Principal Percussionist Josh Jones Returns in Part 2 to talk about growing up in Chicago and what it’s like to perform now (02:25), his undergrad years at DePaul (IL) (23:30), his orchestral fellowship in Detroit and his year of audition prep back in Chicago (41:25), and has a good time with the Random Ass Questions (51:45).

Finishing with a Rave on the novel The Grapes of Wrath (01:18:40).

Links:

Josh Jones, Part 1

Spatial Studies for Hitting Things

Chicago Lyric Opera Percussionists

Etudes for Snare Drum - Richard Weiner

Jeremy Epp

Paul Yancich

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

“White Knuckle Stroll” - Casey Cangelosi

An American Tail trailer

The Great Mouse Detective trailer

The Lion King trailer

Eminem on Logic’s “Homicide”

Raves:

The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 174 - Josh Jones (Part 1)

January 30, 2020 Pete Zambito

Calgary Philharmonic Principal Percussionist Josh Jones stops by in Part 1 to talk about his current gig and some of his previous orchestral stops (01:40), his new text Spatial Studies for Hitting Things (14:45), the PASIC 2019 panel on Entrepreneurship (26:30), and his continued recovery from cancer and living in Calgary (38:00).

Finishing with a Rave on the life of Kobe Bryant (01:00:45).

Links:

Josh Jones’ website

Josh Jones’ Calgary Philharmonic page

Spatial Studies for Hitting Things

Stanislavski’s System

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 173 - Dan Piccolo

January 23, 2020 Pete Zambito

Bowling Green State University (OH) Percussion Professor Dan Piccolo stops by to talk about his current teaching and performing opportunities along with PAS and junior percussion faculty mentoring (02:45), growing up in Rochester, NY and his enjoyment of 1980s rock saxophone (35:45), his years of higher education at the University of Michigan (59:15), his overseas time in India (01:21:45), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions (01:37:40).

Finishing with a Rave on the current NFL Playoffs (02:02:45).

Links:

Dan Piccolo’s webpage

Dan Piccolo’s BGSU page

Big Fun - Miles Davis

Bitches Brew - Miles Davis

So Percussion

National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy

Third Coast Percussion

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 172 - Jaime Esposito

January 16, 2020 Pete Zambito

Spectrum Ensemble founder and Dallas-based Percussion Educator Jaime Esposito talks about their current teaching schedule (02:45), all things Spectrum Ensemble (10:15), appearing on the recent PASIC Diversity Alliance Panel (33:00), growing up just outside of Chicago, playing through lots of etude books and playing lots of sports (44:45), the Northwestern Undergrad years (01:00:45), the University of North Texas masters years (01:13:00), and spends time on the Random Ass Questions (01:21:25).

Finishing with a Rave on the recent movie Gully Boy (01:31:35).

Links:

Jaime Esposito’s website

Spectrum Ensemble

Stephen Hall

Jaime’s appearance on @percussion

L.D. Bell Band Staff

Oh My Ears Music Festival

Third Coast Percussion

Elizabeth DeLamater

Sean Daniels

Renee Keller’s #metoo article

A League of Their Own trailer

Raves:

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 171 - Dave Hall (Part 2)

January 9, 2020 Pete Zambito

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Percussion Professor Dave Hall returns for Part 2 to talk about his undergrad years at UNL (01:45), his master’s degree from Texas Christian (TCU) (16:45), his year teaching high school and heading into his doctorate from North Texas (UNT) (32:00), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions (57:30).

Finishing with a Rave on The Meters’ classic “No More Okey Doke” (01:22:30).

Links:

“Fugue in G Minor” - J.S. Bach

Tony Falcone

LHS Summer Marimba Seminar

“Blues for Gilbert” - Mark Glentworth

“Libertango” - Piazzola/Sammut

“November Evening” - Christopher Norton

“Choro No. 3” - Marcellino/Stout

“Cold Pressed” - Dave Hollinden

“Ants Marching” - Dave Matthews Band

“Escape Velocity” - Dave Hall

Brian West

Kevin Bobo

James Campbell

“Diabolic Variations” - Raymond Helble

“Apocalytpic Etude” - Dave Hall

“Palace of Nine Perfections” - Eric Ewazen

“Doors” - Dave Hall

“Chaconne” - J.S. Bach

West Side Suite - John Serry

“Ionization” - Edgard Varese

“Rebonds B” - Iannis Xenakis

“Prelude and Fugue in B-flat” - J.S. Bach

“Seven Days” - Kevin Bobo

“Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5” - Villa-Lobos

UNT Percussion Faculty

“Skylight” - Dave Hall

"See Ya Thursday” - Steven Mackey

Lou Harrison

There Will Be Blood trailer

How to Change Your Mind - Michael Pollan

Federer-Nadal 2019

The Chagall Windows

Raves:

“No More Okey Doke” - The Meters

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 170 - Dave Hall (Part 1)

January 2, 2020 Pete Zambito

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Percussion Professor Dave Hall stops by to talk about his group’s recent performance at PASIC and his thoughts on the College Percussion Concerts (03:45), his job at Nebraska (35:20), and growing up in South Dakota and playing lots of drumset and early marimba literature (54:10).

Finishing with a Rave on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (01:12:00).

Links:

Dave Hall’s Nebraska page

The Percussion Collective

Raves:

A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 169 - Adélaïde Ferrière

December 19, 2019 Pete Zambito

French Percussionist Adélaïde Ferrière stops by to talk about her PASIC 2019 performance and other elements of marimba performance (03:40), her career as a freelance percussionist in France (19:30), growing up in Dijon, France to musical parents and entering the Paris Conservatory at 16 (35:35), going to Paris Conservatory for her undergrad and master’s degrees and studying in England (53:15), and takes time for the Random Ass Questions (01:27:00).

Finishing with a Rave on American Experience: Jubilee Singers (01:45:15).

Links:

Adélaïde Ferrière’s website

Adélaïde’s Black Swamp page

Rhapsody in Blue - solo marimba version

Trio KDM

Trio Xenakis

Adélaïde’s version of “Asturias” published by Edition Svitzer

One World Observatory

Empire State Building

Metropolitan Museum of Art

American Museum of Natural History

“Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2” - Frederic Chopin

“Rebonds A/B” - Iannis Xenakis

Paris Conservatory

“She Who Sleeps with a Small Blanket” - Kevin Volans

“After Syrinx II” - Richard Rodney Bennett

Interstellar trailer

The Hangover trailer

Aladdin (2019) trailer

The Mysterious Island - Jules Verne

Raves:

Jubilee Singers on PBS

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 168 - Elizabeth DeLamater (Part 2)

December 13, 2019 Pete Zambito

Educator, Percussionist and Podcaster Elizabeth DeLamater returns for Part 2 to talk about her Master’s Degree from Florida State University and her freelancing career (01:30), her years as a doctoral student at Arizona student and her post-doctorate career in Ohio and Wisconsin (22:00), and takes time for the Random Ass Questions (45:15).

Finishing with a Rave on Ken Burns’ Country Music (01:05:05).

Links:

Elizabeth DeLamater in Part 1

Gary Werdesheim

Rite of Spring timpani

Makrokosmos III - George Crumb

“I Ching”

Rebecca Kite

“Three Moves” - Paul Lansky

“See Ya Thursday” - Steve Mackey

“Dances of Earth and Fire” - Peter Klatzow

“Rain Tree” - Tore Takemitsu

“Mirage” - Yasuo Sueyoshi

“Conversation” - Akira Miyoshi

Glenn Schaft

Some Kind of Wonderful trailer

The Notebook trailer

The Notebook “honest” trailer

WTF with Marc Maron

My Brother, My Brother and Me podcast

Hear to Slay podcast

Matinee Manatees podcast

Space 4 U podcast

Robert Chappell

Birch Creek Summer Music Academy

Family Pictures - John Edmonds Photography

Bernard Woma

Mark Sunkett

Raves:

Ken Burns’ Country Music trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 167 - Elizabeth DeLamater (Part 1)

December 6, 2019 Pete Zambito

Percussionist, Educator and Podcast Host Elizabeth DeLamater stops by to talk about the Diversity Alliance Panel on Harrassment and #MeToo she was about to moderate at PASIC 2019 (04:00), her sabbatical teaching at the University of West Indies - Trinidad & Tobago and learning/teaching in non-Western European cultures (18:45), her Art Lives podcast (46:45), growing up in Wisconsin, learning about women in percussion, and the Wisconsin Youth Symphony (01:01:00), and her undergrad years at the University of Northern Illinois (01:19:00).

Finishing with a Rave on the documentary series College Behind Bars (01:31:00).

Links:

Elizabeth DeLamater’s website

Elizabeth DeLamater’s Remo page

Elizabeth DeLamater’s Innovative Percussion Page

“What is Hip?” - Tower of Power

“Córdoba” - Isaac Albéniz

“Tribeca Sunflower” - Julie Spencer

“Cenas Amerindias” - Ney Rosauro

“Psappha” - Iannis Xenakis

Raves:

College Behind Bars

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 166 - Evan Chapman

November 27, 2019 Pete Zambito

Square Peg Round Hole band member and Four/Ten Media Co-Owner Evan Chapman stops by to talk about Square Peg and their PASIC performance (03:30), all things Four/Ten Media (21:15), growing up in Baltimore, Skateboarding Videos and Documentaries (43:45), getting his undergrad degree from Indiana and transitioning to his pop-oriented career (54:30), and gets into the Random Ass Questions (01:12:00).

Finishing with a Rave on Malcolm Gladwell’s Talking to Strangers (01:28:40).

Links:

Evan Chapman

Square Peg Round Hole

Four/Ten Media

Sigur Rós

Explosions in the Sky

“Unremixed” - Alarm Will Sound

John Tafoya

Minding The Gap trailer

“Monkey Chant” - Glenn Kotche

Neil Peart

Blade Runner 2049 trailer

Midsommar trailer

The Room trailer

The Disaster Artist trailer

Shaun White

Shania Twain

“Marimba Phase” - Steve Reich

Dan Flavin

Raves:

Talking to Strangers - Malcolm Gladwell

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 165 - Iain Moyer

November 21, 2019 Pete Zambito

Widener University (PA) Director of Athletic Bands and Boston Crusaders Front Ensemble Arranger Iain Moyer stops by to talk about the PASIC Marching Panel he just moderated (02:40), his teaching position at Widener and his previous work at the University of North Alabama (12:20), his career in DCI groups (26:15), growing up in Vermont, his history playing guitar, and his undergrad years at UMass-Amherst (37:45), going to the University of Oklahoma for this master’s and doctorate (51:00), and takes time for the Random Ass Questions (01:19:10).

Finishing with a Rave on the podcast Slow Burn (01:35:20).

Links:

Iain Moyer’s Widener page

Iain Moyer’s Boston Crusaders page

Jim Ancona

Colin McNutt

Paul Rennick

Vandegrift High School Band

Max Richter’s Four Seasons

Raves:

Slow Burn Season Three

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 164 - PASIC 2019 Preview #2

November 13, 2019 Pete Zambito

PASIC 2019 is even closer (than it was yesterday), so it’s time to get ready! Part 2 is here - including conversations with Elizabeth DeLamater and the PAS Diversity Alliance Panel (01:40), Dave Hall and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Percussion Ensemble for winning IPEC (18:00), and Adélaïde Ferrière and the Keyboard Percussion Showcase (48:15).

Links:

Elizabeth DeLamater

Dave Hall

Adélaïde Ferrière

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 163 - PASIC 2019 Preview #1

November 12, 2019 Pete Zambito

PASIC 2019 is just around the corner, so let’s get ready! Here’s Part 1, featuring conversations with Evan Chapman regarding Square Peg Round Hole (01:20), Jennifer Torrence and her Music Day Performance (19:00), and Iain Moyer and the Marching Percussion Panel (32:00).

Links:

Square Peg Round Hole

Jennifer Torrence

Iain Moyer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 162 - Paul Buyer

November 1, 2019 Pete Zambito

Clemson University (SC) Percussion Professor Paul Buyer stops by to talk about the Clemson job and how it has evolved over the years (02:00), the Clemson football program and his Marching Bands and Drumlines book (23:45), growing up in Indiana, learning from Mike Balter, and his high school golf career (45:40), his undergrad career at Ball State (IN) and playing with Star of Indiana (54:40), getting his master’s and doctorate at the University of Arizona (01:03:20), teaching high school in Texas (01:21:30), and finishing with the “famous” Random Ass Questions (01:31:00).

Finishing with a Rave on David Crosby: Remember My Name (01:46:00).

Links:

Marching Bands and Drumlines

Touching the Rock at Clemson

The Art of Vibraphone Playing

Every Week a Season - Brian Curtis

Paul Rennick

Mike Sammons

Teaching Percussion

“Dances of Earth and Fire” - Peter Klatzow

“Sonata for 2 Pianos and Percussion” - Bela Bartok

“My Lady White” - David Maslanka

“Prelude No. 1” - Ney Rosauro

“Witchhowl” - Andrew Thomas

“Dance of the Octopus” - Red Norvo

2016 World Series Game 7

Coach Wooden’s Pyramid for Success

Why the Best Are the Best - Kevin Eastman

Die Hard trailer

The Shawshank Redemption trailer

Rocky trailer

The Grey trailer

Meet the Fockers trailer

Dolls trailer

Russian Easter Overture - Rimsky-Korsakov

There’s No Plan B for your A-Game - Bo Eason

Raves:

David Crosby: Remember My Name trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 161 - Justin Preece

October 24, 2019 Pete Zambito

Oregon State University Drumline Instructor Justin Preece talks about his OSU jobs in and out of the Athletics Program and the football season on a quarter-system schedule (03:30), growing up the son of a Lutheran pastor around the STL area (46:00), getting undergrad and master’s degrees at Southern Methodist University (TX) and studying in London for a semester (01:02:00), his years post grad teaching in TX (01:17:40), and hangs in there for the Random Ass Questions (01:34:00).

Finishing with a Rave on PBS’ Finding Your Roots (01:59:00).

Links:

Justin Preece’s Oregon State page

Justin Preece’s Percussion Biography

Oregon State Band Staff

Dry Lab and Wet Lab

Raves:

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 160 - Chelsea Tinsler Jones

October 10, 2019 Pete Zambito

University of Tennessee-Martin Lecturer of Music and Percussion and Aural Skills Professor Chelsea Tinsler Jones stops by to talk about her various responsibilities at UTM and nerding out on Music Theory (02:00), her work with Khemia Ensemble and SteelWorks (19:00), growing up (mostly) in Las Vegas (33:20), going to the Hartt School of Music (CT) for undergrad and learning how to drive in the snow (47:30), heading to the University of Michigan for her Master’s (01:02:30), teaching Instrumental Music for one year before heading to TN (01:11:45) and finishing up with the Random Ass Questions (01:21:45).

Finishing with a Rave on Hitsville: The Making of Motown (01:40:45).

Links:

Chelsea Tinsler Jones’ UTM page

Khemia Ensemble

Shane Jones

Julie Hill

“Don’t Know Why” - Norah Jones

“Somewhere” and “Maria” from West Side Story

“Yeah!” - Usher and Lil’ Jon

“My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music

“7 Rings” - Ariana Grande

Mizzou International Composers Festival