#157 Jason Koontz- Multi-Percussionist & Faculty at Eastern Kentucky University
Biography
Dr. Jason Koontz has served as director of percussion studies at Eastern Kentucky University since 2000. He currently teaches applied percussion, percussion ensemble, percussion methods, music appreciation, world music, and directs both the EKU Percussion Ensemble and the EKU Steel Band.
He has traveled to perform and study world music/percussion in Europe (England, Holland, and Switzerland), Japan, Taiwan, Trinidad, Africa, India, Indonesia, and Brazil. Koontz has also performed with groups such as Global Rhythms, Blast, Birdsong Steel Orchestra, Silver Stars Steel Orchestra, the Cincinnati Pops and Ballet Orchestras, Lexington Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony, Lexington Theater, the Art of Rice Traveling Theater (Indonesia), Tonus Percussion Trio, Resonance Percussion Sextet, Star of Indiana drum and bugle corps, Brass Theater, and the Southwind drum and bugle corps.
He is currently the Treasurer for the Kentucky Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, a member of the Percussive Arts Society International Convention world music planning committee, a member of the Kentucky Music Educators Association, and is endorsed by Vic Firth Inc., Pearl, and Coyle Steel Drums. His compositions and arrangements for steel band and percussion ensemble are published by Row-Loff and Coyle Steel Drums, and Pan Ramajay Productions.
Gig Alerts
You can catch Damon at the NAMM convention Jan. 16th-19th, he will be doing some work with LP. On Jan 31st Damon will be at the Cisco Brewery in Portsmouth, NH with Billy Ruegger.
Morgan James is on tour with her new album “Memphis Magnetic.” Damon recorded percussion for this album and he will be a guest artist during one of the shows at the Fairfield Theatre Company (FTC) Stage 1.
This January Marcos will be subbing for friend of the show Victor Pablo for the “Evolution Of A Sonero” written and performed by Bronx-native actor, singer, and HBO Def Poetry Jam alum Flaco Navaja. Marcos will be playing during the first weekend of this show but if you can’t make it make sure to check out any of the other nights! The show is running Jan 9th-19th at the Pregones/PRTT's Off-Broadway theater house, located on 304 West 47th Street.
Coachella Announces their 2020 lineup, some of the artists mentioned are Jesse Reyes, Rage Against The Machine, Frank Ocean, Da baby, and more. If you want to see what other festivals are happening this year you can visit JamBase.
The Brothers are back in NYC for one night only. On March 10, join them for a celebration of 50 years of Allman Brothers Band music featuring Jaimoe, Derek, Warren, Marc and Oteil joined by Duane Trucks, Reese Wynans and Chuck Leavell
Damon mentions goal setting and using the acronym S.M.A.R.T. Here is a link for what that means and how to set yourself up for success. Below is a worksheet to track your progress.
Educational Spotlight/Mail Time
Patrick from Germany wrote in to ask about the Africa Trip with Weedie Braimah. Damon tried to track down Weedie on more info about it and finally received some info! Unfortunately, Weedie has already landed in Ghana but there’s still a chance to catch the trip to Senegal. You can also reach out for other trips they will be taking in the future! Here is all the info you need to know:
Join Djapo Cultural Arts Institute on a Voyage to Ghana & Senegal West Africa in 2020!!!
2-Week fully immersive experience of art, music, dance, history and folklore in both countries.
January 3-9th Ghana
January 9-16th Senegal
Tour includes:
All Ground Transportation, Shared Accommodations, Daily Breakfast and Dinner, Dance Classes, Drum Classes, Cooking Classes, Language Classes, and a Culminating Performance in each Country!!!!
Not Included:
Flights, Travel Insurance, Visas
Vaccinations (Note: Yellow Fever is Required in both Countries)
Daily Lunch/Drinks
Excursions
Any Personal Expenses
Culminating Performance Costume:
(Approximately $40 in each Country)
Cost $2,600.00 (scholarships available)
Visit:
Ghana:
Kakum National Park, Cape Coast, Kwame Nkrumah National Memorial, Makola Marketplace, Arts Center.
Senegal:
Goree Island, Renaissance Monument, Ngore, Ecolodge de Lompoul Desert, Various Marketplaces and the Blaise Senghor Cultural Center.
* 1 Week option is also available in either Ghana or Senegal
Booking and Information:
Please email info@djapo.com to receive an info and registration packet and/or contact:
Talise in USA 216-559-0162Weedie Braimah in USA 314-443-1848
There will be more trips throughout the year so make sure to email info@djapo.com to receive the updates!
The 7th World Vibes Congress will be this Saturday, January 4, 2020. It will be a day of clinics and workshops from some of the top vibraphonists and keyboard percussionists in the world: Stefon Harris (2020 WVC Hall of Fame inductee, “Harmony Cloud” app.); Warren Wolf; Tony Miceli; Ed Smith; Behn Gillece; and Arthur Lipner.
Steve Weiss Music will have a mallet/sheet music pop-up shop for all of your gear and repertoire needs. Lunch will also be provided by Steve Weiss Music, and the All-Star Vibes Jam will return at 7:30pm to the Langosta Lounge on the Asbury Park Boardwalk.
Music News
Marc Platt gave a very large sum of money to the Westport Library in Justin Paul’s honor. If you have a library card you can have access to Verso Studios’ leading edge tools and technology to help you with your projects ranging from podcasting, photography, videography, music production and more!
Multiple Rock Documentaries Slapped with Copyright Infringement Lawsuits - Colin Cohen - Article
Hit With a YouTube Copyright Claim? Now You Can Surgically Remove It - Ashley King - Article
George Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody In Blue’ Enters the Public Domain - Colin Cohen - Article
What Chinese Spying Concern? Justin Bieber Officially Joins TikTok - Ashley King - Article
TikTok Releases a ‘Transparency Report’ to Prove China Isn’t Spying on Its Users - Ashley King - Article
Kanye West Says God Approves of Rapper T.I.’s ‘Virginity Checks’ For Daughter - Ashley King - Article
The song Leading up to the interview is “Fufu for 2”. It is a piece that Jason was commissioned to compose for the Western Kentucky Percussion Festival in 2018 – it’s written for Cajon Ensemble and West African Gyils.
James Koontz Interview
Jason started his musical career on guitar! Then he moved over to drumset. He moved around a lot, due to his father being in the military, but most of his middle school and high school was done in the Fort Walton Beach, FL area.
Jason started his drum corps career in Southwind before making his way to the Star of Indiana.
Jason got his undergrad at Eastern Kentucky University.
Jason later joined the Star of Indiana and Damon shares a story about the late Bill Cook, of Cook Group Incorporated. and the Cedar Farms Plantation.
Jason mentions some of the great percussion instructors he had while at the Star of Indiana from (friend of the show) Thom Hannum, Brent Montgomery, Bob Dubinsky, & (friend of the show) Colin McNutt.
Knowing Jason wanted to be a percussion instructor and educator, he made a point to try to learn as much as possible in the world of percussion and music.
Jason got his masters degree from Miami University of Ohio and started to widen his percussion knowledge to steel pans, African drums with Paschal Younge, Global Rhythms with Srinivas Krisnan and more. It was also important to Jason to travel to the country of origin of the music he was studying.
Jason got to do his doctorate at West Virginia University and expand his percussion knowledge even further.
Jason mentions learning how to play and subsequently make a digeridoo from the introduction to it in the chamber piece, “8 Songs for a Mad King”.
In addition to world percussion, Jason has subbed with symphony orchestras thanks to his teacher Bill Albin.
Jason talks about his Brazil Percussion and Culture tour with Frank Oddis.
Similarly to traveling to Brazil, Jason got to go to Trinidad to study pan through his relationship with Andy Narell. Andy was arranging for the Birdsong Steel Orchestra. In addition to Trinidad, Jason also did the same thing in St. Lucia with the Laborie Steel Orchestra.
Jason is currently on faculty at the Foster Music Camp in the summer. He runs the World Percussion part of the camp.
For those of you wondering what the Amadinda from Uganda is, you can watch a video of it being played HERE.
Some of the reviews Damon reads about Jason are online HERE.
Jason and Victor Provost (steel pan) will be putting together a Brazilian music album in 2020!!! Keep your eyes (and ears) peeled for that!
Jason uses Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, Pearl Drums and Percussion and Coyle Steel Drums. Jason has been digging on the triple guitar pans recently.
You can follow Jason on Facebook, or YouTube. You can also reach out to him at EKU.
The song leading out of the interview is “Batucada Piton”. Another composition of Jason’s that he composed for the 2017 Laborie Steel Pan and Brasilian Percussion Workshop.
