#250 Daniel Glass- Drummer, Educator, Author, Historian and More!
Photo of Daniel taken by: Barry Schlosser.
Daniel Glass is an award-winning drummer, author, historian and educator based in New York City. He is widely recognized as an authority on classic American drumming and the evolution of American Popular Music. A member of the pioneering swing group Royal Crown Revue since 1994, Daniel has recorded and performed all over the world with a diverse group of top artists, including Brian Setzer, Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli, Jose Feliciano, Michelle Shocked, Mike Ness, Freddie Cole, Air Supply’s Graham Russell, Marilyn Maye, the Hot Sardines, the Budapest Jazz Orchestra, Luann De Lesseps from the Real Housewives of New York, and KISS front man Gene Simmons. For two years running, Daniel was voted one of the top five R&B drummers in the world by readers of Modern Drummer and DRUM magazine. Since 2011, he has been the house drummer every Monday night at New York’s legendary Birdland Jazz Club.
As an educator, Daniel has published five books and three DVDs, including the award-winning titles The Century Project, The Roots of Rock Drumming, and The Commandments of Early Rhythm and Blues Drumming. He is a regular contributor to publications like Modern Drummer, DRUM and Classic Drummer. He has performed hundreds of clinics and master classes globally, appearing at many of the world’s top educational conferences and music festivals. Since 2016, Daniel has hosted an annual 4-day Jazz Intensive in New York City, which draws an international student base. In 2020, he will launch the first Daniel Glass European Jazz Intensive in Frankfurt, Germany.
A pioneer in online education, Daniel works one-on-one with an average of 50 private students each month (who hail from five continents). In 2013, Daniel co-curated an exhibit on the history of the drum set at the Rhythm Discovery Center in Indianapolis, IN, for which he was awarded the Percussive Arts Society’s “Distinguished Service Award.”
Happy Birthday!
Yoel Del Sol graduated from The National School of Music in Havana, Cuba. There had the opportunity to study under some of the world's most renowned Percussion educators, such as Jose Luis Quintana (Changuito), Reynaldo Fernandez, Roberto Vizcaino, Roberto Concepcion, among others.
From 1993 until 1995 he had the oppurtunity to teach percussion at The National School of Music where he studied. In 1995, Yoel won 1st Place at the PERCUBA Percussion Competition. This is one of the most prestigus awards in Cuba.
In 1999, Yoel relocated to Miami, Florida for more opportuntities to preform and record. He has performed with top artists including: Celia Cruz, Cachao, Raul DiBlasio, LENA, Malena Burke, Afro-Cuban Jazz Group ORIENTE, Luis Bofill, Roselyn Sanchez, Alicia Machado, Luis Enrique, Palo, Spam All Stars, Rebeca Mauleon, Arturo Sandoval & many more. In addition, Yoel has performed at Jazz Festivals in Cuba & around the globe with the group Havana-Sax (saxophone quartet & percussion) also with Chucho Valdez, Carlos del Puerto, Miguel Anga Diaz, Enrique Pla , Frank Emilio.... among others. He has also recorded with very important names in the Latin Pop Industry : Alexander Pires, Raul DiBlasio, Garage H , Eddy Thomas, Dj LAZ , Jose Luis Rodriguez ”El Puma” & his work can be found on the soundtrack album of the independent film LA MALA" ( Spain/Puerto Rico production.).
Valerie Dee Naranjo is from Southern Colorado. She began her musical studies as a child singing in her family tradition. Her love of gyil began at age 18 when she learned of the instrument and was rekindled at age 22 when she first heard a recording of the late Kakraba Lobi, founding gyil master of The Ghana Dance Ensemble. Kakraba mentored Valerie for 17 years whence they appeared on international CNN from the University of Ghana’s International Center for African Music and Dance.
Kakraba and Valerie collaborated to produce the series “West African Music for the Marimba Soloist” so that players of the American Marimba could better their understanding if its West African history and parentage. More recently Valerie has produced “Joro” a series of works for gyil soloist and orchestra; and “Pure Earth” concerti for gyil, marimba, and wind ensemble.
In 1988 Valerie affected a decree from the Lawra Council of Elders and Chief Abiefa Karbo, that their ban on women playing gyil in public be lifted so that she could participate in the annual Kobine Festival of Traditional Performing Arts. She and Barry Olsen were honored, in 1996, with the only first place award at the Kobine Festival ever given to non-West African musicians to date. RG productions’ film “Knock on Wood” documents this activity, and has appeared in film festivals from Woodstock to Kathmandu.
Valerie has been the percussionist for the NBC Saturday Night Live Band for 23 years, performing with such artists as Paul Simon, Lady Gaga, and Mick Jagger. Otherwise she has performed with such American artists as Carole King, Glen Velez, David Byrne, Philip Glass, and Paul Winter; Thuli Dumakude, Tu Nokwe, and Zim Nqawana (South Africa); The National Symphony, Kakraba Lobi, Ba-ere Yotere, and the late Bernard Woma (Ghana); Airto Moriera and Jose Neto (Brazil); and Zakir Hussein and Srinivas Krishnan (India).
Valerie is the professor of West African percussion, song, and dance at New York University’s Steinhardt School, and is a member of NYU’s “Global Institute of Advanced Studies” which helps professors to an improved international understanding. She has performed and taught as a guest artist internationally, including nine African countries, and in such situations and locations as The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver; The White House and The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.; New York’s Lincoln Center, City Center, and Carnegie Hall; London’s Royal Festival Hall; The Johannesburg Civic Theatre; The National Theater of Ghana; Ten featured appearances at annual Percussive Arts Society International Conferences; two appearances at The International Festival of the Marimba (Chiapas, Mexico); The Vancouver Jazz Festival; The Kaisuka Festival (Japan); The Grahamstown and Arts Alive Festivals (South Africa); Scotland’s Edinburgh Festival, “Young Indians” (New Delhi); FESTIBO (Bouna, Cote D’Iviore); and television’s “Jay Leno Show”.
Valerie has been inducted into the PAS Hall of Fame for 2021.
Jon Epcar was born and raised in Los Angeles, drummer Jon Epcar currently resides in NYC. He has worked with many artists, including Bono, Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Rihanna, Natasha Bedingfield, Carly Rae Jepsen, Klangkarussell, Cristian Castro, Matt Morris, Madison Beer, Katie Melua, Evan Rachel Wood, Jackson Harris, Jesse James, The Ghostwriters, Taryn Manning, Matt & Kim, John Issac Watters, Danielia Cotton. He is a founding member of the band Carney, with whom he toured and recorded with for many years. On Broadway, he originated the drum chairs for Spider-Man and Amelie, and Tina Fey’s Mean Girls, where he is currently drumming.
Happy birthday to the late Art Blakey and Billy Higgins.
Art Blakey was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He was briefly known as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina after he converted to Islam for a short time in the late 1940s. Blakey made a name for himself in the 1940s in the big bands of Fletcher Henderson and Billy Eckstine.
Billy Higgins, was an American jazz drummer. He played mainly free jazz and hard bop. Rising to fame in the late 1950s as a member of the groundbreaking Ornette Coleman Quartet, Higgins helped take jazz in a new direction. In the 1960s he served as the unofficial house drummer of Blue Note Records, playing with artists ranging from Sonny Rollins to Dexter Gordon to Herbie Hancock. Although he recorded few sessions as a leader, Higgins played on more than 700 recordings during his career in a host of musical contexts. "Higgins had cat-like reflexes, and he knew the art of dialogue," recalled Down Beat contributor Ted Panken. "To witness him--smiling broadly, eyes aglimmer, dancing with the drum set, navigating the flow with perfect touch, finding the apropos tone for every beat--was a majestic, seductive experience."
Gig Alerts
The Danbury Music Centre is very excited to announce a new ensemble for our wind and brass musicians!
They will be launching the Danbury Community Band with Albert Montecalvo as Musical Director and Conductor.
Rehearsals will take place at the Danbury Music Centre on Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm this semester beginning on October 6th. There will be a concert on Sunday, December 19th at 4pm (location TBA)
If you are high school aged and above and would like to join, please register HERE.
Please share this with any friends that might like to join! -Press Release
Educational Spotlight
PASIC is happening in November. They have strict Covid-19 protocols, so make sure you CHECK THEM OUT before you attend.
If you can’t make it to PASIC, there will be online virtual sessions.
Two deadlines for PASIC have gotten extended.
The evening concerts for PASIC have been announced.
WEDNESDAY: 100th Anniversary of the Vibraphone Celebration Concert featuring: Stefon Harris, Joe Locke, Jason Marsalis & Warren Wolf
THURSDAY - W.I.M Trio featuring Tommy Igoe. Kevin Wong: Keyboards, Key Bass - Tommy Igoe: Drums, Voice - Ben Misterka: Guitars, Voice
FRIDAY - Sandbox Percussion featuring: Jonny Allen - Victor Caccese - Terry Sweeney - Ian David Rosenbaum
SATURDAY - Robert Glasper Trio featuring: Damion Reid, drums and Vicente Archer, Bass
The full schedule of artists and events can be found by CLICKING THIS LINK HERE.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording for this week is “Cubano Chant” by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers from the album ‘Drum Suite’. ‘Drum Suite’ is an album by the Art Blakey Percussion Ensemble, recorded in late 1956 and early 1957 and originally released on the Columbia label. It was the first of several albums recorded by Blakey in the 1950s and 1960s that explored percussion-oriented jazz. It was followed by ‘Orgy in Rhythm’, ‘Holiday for Skins’, and ‘The African Beat’. The 2005 CD reissue added three tracks from a June 1956 session, two of them previously released on Originally in 1982.
The personnel on this album is as follows.
Art Blakey - drums
Bill Hardman (4–6), Donald Byrd (7–9) - trumpet
Jackie McLean - alto saxophone (tracks 4–6)
Ira Sullivan - tenor saxophone (7–9)
Ray Bryant (tracks 1–3), Sam Dockery (tracks 4–6), Kenny Drew (7–9) - piano
Oscar Pettiford - bass, cello (tracks 1–3)
Spanky DeBrest (tracks 4–6), Wilbur Ware (tracks 7–9) - bass
Jo Jones - drums (tracks 1–3)
Charles "Specs" Wright - drums, timpani, gong (tracks 1–3)
Candido Camero -Congas
Sabu Martinez - bongos (tracks 1–3)
Music News
The ‘final’ Genesis tour dates in the UK are postponed due to positive COVID tests within the band. The band was forced to halt their final four UK dates of the Last Domino? Tour due to the positive case. The statement released by the band announcing the postponement does not elaborate on who tested positive. -Article
Legendary crooner Tony Bennett has set a new Guinness World Record as the oldest person to release a new album. ‘Love for Sale’ is the crooner’s latest album with Lady Gaga, celebrating the music of Cole Porter. Lady Gaga says she has loved singing with him over the course of their 10-year friendship. “I see a young boy every time I sing with him, and it just makes the experience of singing so freeing. To have it be about two souls singing together, and then at the same time, I also take in all his wisdom. The wisdom of all his years.” -Article
Here are the two parts to the 60 Minutes interview with Tony Bennett and Anderson Cooper.
Daniel Glass Interview
The song leading into the interview is, “Hey Pachuco” from the Century Project.
Daniel just released a drum instructional course called “Finding Your Golden Groove”. The first incarnation is closed, but you can still enjoy the six part video series by CLICKING HERE. You can get on a list to be notified when the second class is open for enrollment.
Daniel studied with Freddie Gruber and also Bruce Becker.
Daniel talks about groove/feel vs. patterns vs chops.
Damon and Daniel talk about the different types of grips when playing with sticks or mallets.
Daniel talks about his Motion Based System.
In the video below is the Alan Lomax “Chain Gang” that Daniel references. Working along to music traces all the way back to Africa.
Daniel has a DVD that traces some of the music and history. You can grab a copy by CLICKING HERE.
Daniel teaches online. If you are interested in studying with him, CLICK HERE.
Damon talks about the hinger timpani grip and Daniel mentions Tony Williams using it.
Damon and Daniel talk about serving the song.
Damon and Daniel talk about the Yogi Horton masterclass.
Daniel mentions the Kick, Snare Hat DVD, which you may be able to find a copy HERE.
Damon mentions the Alexander Technique.
Damon quotes his age by bringing up the Karate Kid
Damon talks about the history of the slave trade and how that correlates to the music. He mentions the BBC Africa documentary series.
Damon mentions the 15 part series that Daniel did with Vic Frith. Daniel expands on that with his Century Project DVD.
Daniel mentions The Ragtime Drummer with Buddy Gilmore. He also mentions the Calico Rag with Howard Kopp.
Daniel mentions the overhang bass drum pedal.
Here’s a timeline of drums throughout the world.
Damon talks about Congo square and some of the mixing of cultures.
Damon mentions drumsets being used as Foley in old silent movies, as well as a story about Jelly Roll Morton.
Shout-out to Scott Joplin, W.C. Handy and Alan Lomax and his field recorder. Also, shout-out to James Reese Europe and Elmer Snowden.
Daniel talks about minstrel shows and Al Jolson.
Damon talks about the Sugar Hill part of Harlem. “Many Black actors and entertainers at the time either worked or lived in Sugar Hill including Hattie McDaniel, first African-American actress to win an Oscar, singer and actress Lena Horne, musician Ray Charles, jazz organist Earl Grant and actress Louise Beavers among others. In 1948, racial restrictions on housing were found unconstitutional which opened the door to Sugar Hill even wider.” -Article
Damon brings up a story told by Jose Mangual Jr.
Daniel talks about Gene Krupa and some of his accomplishments.
Damon talks about the tacked heads.
Daniel talks about drumheads and Remo Belli’s domination of the drumhead market.
Daniel and Damon trade Freddie Gruber stories.
Daniel uses DW Drums and Hardware, Aquarian Drumheads, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, Latin Percussion Instruments, Sabian Cymbals, Alfred Music Publishing (for his books and DVDs) and Ahead Bags and Cases.
You can follow Daniel on his Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Check out his course, “Finding Your Golden Groove”, and addition to other gigs, if you’re in NYC on a Monday night, head over to Birdland.
The song leading out of the interview is “It Could Happen To You” from Daniel’s forthcoming trio album.
