Working Drummer

Spanning more than four decades as an educator, Bruce Becker has been bringing forward unique concepts in developing “The Flow”! Drawing from his more than thirty-year association with drumming guru Freddie Gruber, Bruce is carrying on the torch of a unique approach in getting the student to understand the natural principles of the physical body’s interaction with the drum set.

Through the years Top Drummers Vinnie Colaiuta, David Garibaldi, Tris Imboden, Mark Schulman, Jack Bruno, Glen Sobel, Tim Carman and many more have sought his guidance.

Bruce co-led the David Becker Tribune for 35 years recording 10 CDs. He has performed/recorded with Ron Carter, Mike Stern, Russell Ferrante, Barbara Dennerlein, John Abercrombie, producer Ken Caillat, Frank Gambale and many others.

Bruce has conducted master classes all over the world and has been a regular contributor to Drumeo creating the highly successful Drum Technique Made Easy course. He is the author of “The Ultimate Guide to Syncopation” (Hudson), an in depth guide to the classic book “Syncopation“ by Ted Reed, “Puzzles, Rhymes and Riddles” (Hudson) and the DVD “Concepts and Philosophies” (Hudson).

His newest book/course, “Paradiddle Power: A Complete Guide”, will be released shortly. The project takes the paradiddle far beyond the traditional rudiment, exploring it as a vehicle for phrasing, groove, melodic ideas, and the choreography that allows those ideas to flow naturally around the drumset. It is accompanied by 37 instructional videos.

Bruce continues to inspire drummers around the world through books, online education, masterclasses, clinics, and private mentoring, carrying forward a lifelong pursuit of natural movement, musical freedom, and artistic expression. His mission remains the same: to help every drummer discover a more effortless, expressive, and authentic relationship with the instrument.

In this episode, Bruce talks about:

Teaching one on one in master classes

Learning to mix yourself and play to the room

“Housing” the stick

Teaching = problem solving

Bruce’s new book, “Paradiddle Power: A Complete Guide”

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Cassius Goens III is active on the Indianapolis scene primarily as a jazz drummer but he gets into plenty of other trouble there. He’s also a professor at Ball State University in Muncie, IN where he was born and raised. He teaches jazz drumset and also leads a 15-piece commercial music ensemble in the Music, Media, and Production department there.

In this episode, Cassius talks about:

Growing the drumset presence at Ball State from having no drumset teacher to a studio of 24 students

Leading the school's semi-pro commercial music ensemble

Coexisting and collaborating with the percussion and jazz departments

Being self-taught on drumset until grad school at University of Iowa

Taking transcription further as a compositional tool

Why his path has kept him close to home

His busy and varied playing schedule, and Indy’s not one but two dedicated jazz rooms

How he feels like his prime as a drummer is yet to come

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John Gardner is a Nashville legend who's touring credits include working with artists like Narvel Felts, John Conlee, The Dixie Chicks "Top Of The World" tour, James Taylor and The Dixie Chicks, Earl Scruggs, Don Williams and others.
He has recorded with many many artists including Rhonda Vincent, Don Williams, Larry Gatlin, Porter Waggoner, Jerry Douglas, Jesse Winchester, Al Kooper, Gene Watson, Ricky Scaggs, Josh Turner, Lee Roy Parnell, Tim O'Brien, Jim and Jesse ,Jim Lauderdale, Mickey Gilley, Merle Haggard, Daily & Vincent Dierks Bentley, Earl Scruggs, Dixie Chicks
Steve Wariner, Michelle Wright, Taylor Swift, Willie Nelson, Phoebe Snow, Ed Snodderly, Steep Canyon Rangers & many more
From 1999 - 2002 he was the staff drummer for the Grand Ole Opry.
And from 2015 - 2020 he was an adjunct professor at East Tennessee State University
He was nominated for a Grammy as a band member for Earl Scruggs "The ultimateCollection, Live At The Ryman".
His TV credits include The Grammys, David Letterman, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show and Saturday Night Live

In this episode, John talks about:

How he ended up in Nashville in the 1970’s

Touring with the legendary Don Williams

The early days of triggering drums

The realities of AI and it’s effect on how we do things

Moving away from Nashville

Touring with the Dixie Chicks and recording a live record

Working as a staff drummer at the Grand Ole Opry

Listening and being sensitive to what’s being played

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Jay Moeller has spent his entire adult life and career in Austin Texas where he has played with a long list of artists and acts from covers at the dive bar to names with international reach. He has also begun to lead his own projects both live and in the studio.

In this episode, Jay talks about:

Feeling like he’s in “a race against time”

Bringing something essentially “him” to every project

Making the case for what he does best in recording sessions

Coming up on the Austin scene which was centered around Antone’s

How timekeeping and groove should be the responsibility of everyone in the band

The double-edged sword of old school players with old school thinkin

The many things that can define Texas shuffle

How to decide which weaknesses to strengthen

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A native of France, Ben Lecourt spent his childhood studying percussion with George Van Gucht of the Percussion Of Strasbourg while at conservatory in the south of France. During this time, Ben simultaneously began his discovery of bebop through private studies with various drum teachers. Spending a decade based in Paris, Ben honed his playing nightly in jazz clubs and festivals such as Montreux Jazz.

He moved to LA late 2011 where he studied music production at UCLA Extension, and dove into the local music scene.

He has since been busy recording with the likes of Linda Perry, Mark Stoermer from The Killers, Cat Power, Rocco DeLuca as well as playing live with Denny Laine from Wings and The Moody Blues, The Wallflowers, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Nick Waterhouse, Roger Manning Jr amongst others.

He is currently on tour with Cat Power celebrating the 20th anniversary of the album “The Greatest”.

When not on the road, he can be found in his home studio, Rancho Magnolia.

In this episode, Ben talks about:

How to be a good tour-mate

Growing up in the south-east of France

Moving from France to Los Angeles, US

Building new friendships and relationships in a new place

Discovering American Jazz while growing up in France

Touring with Cat Power

Preparing for a tour

Performing with legends

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