#191 James Williams- Drummer for TheColorGrey, Emily King and More!This
This week’s guest is James Williams. He is an experienced drummer with a demonstrated history of working in the music industry. Skilled in Drum Set, Studio Recording, Music, Music Production, and Ableton Live. Strong arts and design professional with a Master of Arts - MA focused in Jazz/Jazz Studies from AP Hogeschool Antwerpen.
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to the great Steve Smith who turned 66 on August 21st. Steve is an American drummer best known as a member of the rock band Journey across three tenures. Modern Drummer magazine readers have voted him the No. 1 All-Around Drummer five years in a row. In 2001, the publication named Smith one of the Top 25 Drummers of All Time, and in 2002 he was voted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey on April 7, 2017. To see some of the video lessons, swing by Steve’s YouTube Page. For those of you wondering how to play “Don’t Stop Believing” correctly, you can check out Steve explaining it below.
Gig Alerts
The L.A. Philharmonic recorded a series of concerts that can be streamed for free (donations accepted). A new “Sound/Stage” film will roll out weekly starting Sept. 25. Sound/Stage can be found at laphil.com/soundstage. The rest of the article can be found HERE.
The annual Weedstock Festival is held every year in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Thousands of people flock to attend the three-day gathering about 60 miles west of Tulsa. The festival is held at the Tumbleweed Dance Hall and featured three days of live music. Tumbleweed Dance Hall says it is “committed to following the CDC guidelines on social distancing and face covers and personal hygiene. It asked attendees to do their part to keep others safe.” But that didn’t happen, according to some of the performers who attended Weedstock this year. -Article
Drum Raffle/Giveaway
Sugar Percussion is giving away a Mahogany Bop Kit (18x13, 14x11, 12x7, 14x6). One of our own in the drum community needs help. I can’t say who and I can’t say all of the what but I’m asking for your trust. There is a family in need and Jefferson at Sugar percussion is using this vehicle to try and help. If you want to join the effort you can do so by following these instructions: $20 per entry. Donate any amount in increments of 20. $20=1 entry, $40=2 and so on. Send via PayPal (friends & family) to js@sugarpercussion.com with your name and IG or FB.
Educational Spotlight
The Drum Summit is taking place on Wednesday August 26th. Nearly three dozen of today’s top female drum and percussion artists from around the world will be featured in a day-long, global celebration of drumming, gender equality and the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment on Women’s Equality Day, Wednesday, August 26th, 2020. Presented by Drum Summit, an International organization dedicated to celebrating and cultivating female drummers, the 24-hour event will stream on the @drum_summit Instagram page.
Titled “Drum Summit - It’s Our Time!” to acknowledge the current era of social revolution as well as women’s exceptional rhythmic and drumming skills, the stream will include performances, workshops and interviews by leading artists from Africa, Europe, Asia and North and South America throughout the day. The Drum Summit is sponsored by Hit Like A Girl and Tom Tom Magazine (among others). This celebration will include some friends of the show in Dani Markham, Lilliana De Los Reyes, Mona Tavakoli and Valerie Naranjo.
Shout-out to Gabe Globus-Hoenich for his transcription of a Marc Quinones timbale solo.
Social Soundbyte
The social soundbyte is the Boston Crusaders “in the lot” virtual performance of “Spanks”. This was put together by the players, the writers, and the team at Vic Firth Marching.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording this week is “Times Like These” performed by Gary Burton and Makoto Ozone from the album “Face to Face”. You can even read along with the transcription if you would like to attempt the vibraphone (or piano) parts.
Damon also mentions the duets of Gary Burton with Chick Corea. You can watch one of their legendary concerts below.
Music News
Bandcamp Fridays continues Friday September 4th. But, Damon’s birthday is on August 28th. If you would like to give him a birthday present, you can get his album on Bandcamp on the 4th when they waive all fees and give 100% of the proceeds to the artist.
RNC has no live performances, contrary to the DNC last week.
Damon mentions that the live-streamed concert he did with Morgan James is up on the Daryl’s House Club YouTube page.
The State of New York has doubled down on its controversial live music ticketing ban and prohibition of advertised concerts.To briefly recap, yesterday Digital Music News covered the New York State Liquor Authority’s decidedly stringent specifications concerning concerts (and different entertainment functions) at bars, restaurants, clubs, and other establishments. Detailed in a Q&A-style document created by the NY SLA, the live music ticketing ban bars businesses from selling tickets to (or advertising) performances – even if they’re socially distanced – and gives the green light only to “incidental” live music. In this case, “incidental” live music refers to that which is “not the draw itself.” The NY SLA will reportedly suspend the liquor licenses of entities found violating the protocols, which many artists and fans are pushing back against. -Article
The song leading into the interview is “What’s New” by TheColorGrey from the album ‘Overcome’ with James on drums.
James Williams Interview
The interview begins with Damon mentioning two other James Williams’. One was the drummer for the Ohio Players and the other is an accomplished jazz pianist.
James grew up between Germany, Georgia (USA) and California. Currently the USA has limited places that you can travel to because of the Coronavirus. If you are wondering where those places are, you can see a country by country list here.
James started his musical career in church. Damon references Baby Boy Drummer.
James attended Liberty County High School with Tony Royster Jr. After his time in Georgia, James finished his high school career in Monterey, CA and crossed paths with Thomas Pridgen and Justin Brown among others.
Damon mentions Rip Hamilton (Pistons) and Kobe Bryant (Lakers) both making the NBA after competing in High School against each other.
Damon asks about James’ awareness of the other bay area heavyweights like Gaylord Birch, Greg Errico and David Garabaldi.
James talks about the Monterey Jazz Festival “Jazz in the Schools” program and residency. James mentions Vince Lateano. Because of the camp program, James met the drummer Allison Miller.
Damon mentions the show Big Little Lies and how a chunk of it was filmed in Monterey.
If you are interested in the details behind California’s affordable housing crisis. You can CLICK HERE.
Damon and James talk about building the community and defunding the police (spolier: it means not asking the police to do so much and search for other resources to help people when they need it).
James attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.
James talks about the GRAMMY Band.
James talks about some of the Berklee ensembles he played with. One of them was with Gary Burton and Ruslan Sirota. There’s another ensemble of Christian Atunde Scott, Esperanza Spalding, Vadim Neselovskyi, and James. The tenor sax player he tried to remember is Mike Tucker.
The “hilarious album cover” is the one for “Next Generation” and the cover can be seen below.
James talks about his decision to leave Berklee, but then how he eventually finished school. Not only did he get a bachelor’s but he got his masters degree from AP Hogeschool Antwerpen.
The musical that took James to London was called “Close to You: Bacharach Reimagined”.
Damon and James discuss the languages spoken in Belgium. They also talk about NYC’s Dutch roots and Damon brings up Stone Street in Manhattan.
Damon and James talk about the hybrid Kits they use.
Here’s an example of the hybrid kit in action with Emily King.
In talking about James’ hybrid kit, he mentions the stomp box he got from Swan Percussion.
James gives a shout-out to percussionist, Tupac Mantilla and his hybrid kit setup with Julian Lage. Damon talks about the cajon in more folkloric situations in Cuba, Peru and also Spain.
James talks about the artist, TheColorGrey and the album he recorded with him that came out in July.
James uses Zildjian Cymbals and Vic Firth Drumsticks and Mallets.
James explains how the music industry works differently over in Belgium. He mentions Smart and Amplo.
You can follow James on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
The song leading out of the interview is called “Malicious Delight” from the album ‘Overcome’.
