#143 Kenny Grohowski- Drummer for Brand X, Hipster Assassins, John Zorn & More!
Brought up in a musical household in Miami, Kenny Grohowski has been performing since the age of 14. His rich musical background is demonstrated through the growing list of his collaborators and guest artists, including John Zorn, Andy Milne & Dapp Theory, Felix Pastorius & The Hipster Assassins, Shanir Blumenkranz, Trey Spruance & Secret Chiefs 3, Imperial Triumphant, Rez Abbasi & Junction, Jorge Sylvester’s A.C.E Collective, Jonathan Powell & Nu Sangha, Daniel Bernard Roumain, Bobby Sanabria, Lonnie Plaxico, Bill T. Jones, and Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz.
Grohowski has been a member of bassist Lonnie Plaxico’s band since 2003, and a member of Andy Milne’s Dapp Theory since 2006, having come back from a successful US/Canada tour with Dapp Theory, with Highlight shows in Vancouver opening for Jazz and Bass legend, Stanley Clarke, and performed in the 2007 Latin Grammy Awards Live from Madison Square Garden with the award winning group RBD. He has appeared on several recordings, including Plaxico’s hit “So Alive” [Sony, Japan]. As of 2009, Grohowski has become a new member of acclaimed Haitian singer/cultural figure Emeline Michel’s Accoustic Quintet, and has also performed at the Museum of Modern Art with the Ze Luis Quartet as part of their Live Art performances. Grohowski has also toured across the United States, South America, and Europe, as well as in Australia and China with New Classical Composer Daniel Bernard Roumain (a.k.a. DBR). Kenny has also performed regularly with acclaimed bassist Felix Pastorius and his group since 2010, performing regularly at such New York City venues as Zinc Bar and The 55 Bar. Recently, Grohowski has written and recorded for Grammy Award winning Producer and Arranger Victor “Papo” Ortiz on the album “Eres Santo”.
When not working with his various affiliated ensembles, Grohowski enjoys a steady and fast paced Free lancing schedule, working with many of New York City’s top Jazz, Rock, and Brazilian artists, as well as a multitude of others, and has recorded on over 50 albums.
Grohowski has also given back to the community of NYC with years of experience as a private drum set instructor, as well as guitar and bass instruction, is an affiliated private instructor for New School University’s Jazz and Contemporary Drum set divisions, and was the head of the music department for Generation X-Cel’s X-Press After School Program from 2004-2006. Grohowski is also a composer and member of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s Young Composers Symposium Development Program, who premiered his string quartet in 2005. The New York Times praised the piece as “insightfully combined dark Shostakovich-like harmonies with an edgy rhythmic drive.”
Damon and Marcos both played at Cisco Brewery recently on the island of Nantucket, MA.
Gig alerts this week…..
Damon will be playing with April Kry at Rockwood Music Hall on Sun the 29th at 9pm, stage 1. Marcos is playing with Jonathan Powell at Fat Cat on Wed the 25th at 9pm, with Jeremy Bosch at the Bitter End on Oct 17th, and (friend of the show) Weedie Braimah will be at the Blue Note on Oct 1st and 2nd.
Also, Marcos will be playing with the Steven Oquendo Latin Jazz Orchestra at Lehman College on Oct 12th. Sat Oct 19th is the Loft Party hosted by the Jazz Foundation of America.
This past weekend was the Crossroads Guitar Festival hosted by Eric Clapton. Proceeds go to help addicts recover at the Crossroads Centre Antigua facility. The festival included several great drummers and percussionists like, but not limited to, Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta, Pedro Martinez, Sonny Emory, (friend of the show) Jhair Sala, Jim Keltner, (friends of the show), J.J. Johnson & Tyler “Falcon” Greenwell, and many more!
Product Review for this week…..
Stack Ring Percussion musical effects.
Social Soundbyte for this week…..
JammCard app has opened its doors to NYC! They also hosts to the JammJam events and they post clips on their social media.
Iconic Recording for this week…..
“Bleed” by Meshuggah from the album ObZen, featuring Tomas Haake on drums. Damon also mentions the Midsommar festival in Sweden.
Music News for this week…..
Travelers Insurance Refuses to Cover a New Jersey Label After Stage-Diving Injuries. BTS member RM has donated over $80,000 to help hearing-impaired students in South Korea. YouTube Takes a Cue From Spotify With Its New ‘Discover Mix’ Weekly Playlist. The Black Keys Refuse to Apologize to Hundreds of Fans Who Bought Tickets and Couldn’t Get Into Their Tour-Opening Show. The Latin Grammys have announced their nominees for this coming year.
The song leading into the interview is called “Cosmopolis” by Imperial Triumphant.
The interview begins with Damon and Kenny talking science.
Kenny ended up playing with Damon through a recommendation by Martin Bejerano.
Two of the albums Kenny mentions he listened to as a kid were Deep Purple, “Made in Japan”, and Tony Williams (with Alan Holdsworth) Lifetime “Believe It”.
Kenny mentions that his grandfather is Bobby Cruz.
Tipper Gore was a co-founder of the Parents Music Resource Center.
This is the scene Kenny was talking about from the Big Lebowski.
Kenny attended the New World School of the Arts as well as Hammocks Middle School.
If you have any of these video games, you could be sitting on lots of money! Video games may also help improve your hand eye coordination.
When Kenny moved to NYC after Miami, he attended the New School. While at the New School, he studied with Amir Ziv and got turned on to metal music. Specifically the album “Chaosphere” by Meshuggah.
Danny Grossarth is the current drummer for the band Candiria after Kenny Schalk.
Bad Brains was a band that was brought to Kennys attention on his research in metal music.
Kenny mentions the group Black Heart Sutra with Earl Maneein.
One of the headphones Kenny describes can be found HERE.
Damon brings up the Yogi Horton masterclass video. Worth watching for any drummer or percussionist.
Kenny recommends checking out the drummer Travis Orbin.
Kenny is heading out to the midwest with the Hipster Assasins then he goes out with Brand X.
Kenny uses Bosphorus Cymbals.
You can follow Kenny on his Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
