#252 Andy Sanesi- Drummer for Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Missing Persons & More!
This week’s guest is Andy Sanesi. Andy is a Los Angeles based drummer, He is currently the drummer for living legend Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and also plays with Missing Persons whom he has played with for the last 5 years. His own band Blanco Diablo has a residency at The Mint in LA and plays regularly at other venues. Additionally Andy has played with and continues to play with a seemingly endless array of artists from virtually every genre of music. Some other artists Andy has worked with are Sebastian Bach, Johnny Rivers, LP, Elle King, Post Modern Jukebox, Dave Binney, Oz Noy, Eminem, Rihanna, Arturo Sandoval, Aloe Blacc, John Zorn, Nir Felder, Brian Charette, The Nick Hexum (of 311) Quintet, Nomad Trio with Scott Henderson and Rufus Philpot, The Julian Coryell Trio with Joe Bagg, John Beasley, Tim LeFebvre Doug Webb, Mitch Forman, Bob Shephard, Ben Shepard, Jerry Vivino, Hadrian Ferraud, Steve Weisberg, Hal Wilner, Carl Verheyen, Gryphon Labs, Sonny Liston (featuring members of Suicidal Tendencies) and Brian Baker’s various projects.
Happy Birthday!
Ney Rosauro is a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Ney Rosauro has developed a successful international career as a percussionist, composer and pedagogue.
With his unique style of writing which combines charming melodies with catchy rhythms, he utilizes the rich elements of Brazilian folklore to create stylized compositions that are full of life and fantasy, and has been enchanting audiences all over the world.
Bill Bachman is a world-renowned specialist in hand technique with a heavy background in rudimental drumming and its application to the drumset. Bachman is a regular contributing columnist for Modern Drummer magazine and is the author of the books Stick Technique, an Essential Guide for the Modern Drummer and Rhythm & Chops Builders published through Modern Drummer Publishing (nominated for “Best Product” in their 2018 Readers Poll, as well as the Logic marching percussion instructional book series for Row-Loff Productions. Bachman is the founder of DrumWorkout.com, designer of Vic Firth’s Heavy Hitter pad series and his signature Billy Club drumsticks and the inventor of the patented Remote Speedy Hat.
Bachman is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music and has studied percussion performance at the University of North Texas. He is a member of the Percussive Arts Society’s Health and Wellness committee and Modern Drummer magazine’s education team where he was recently nominated in the 2016 reader’s poll under the “clinician/educator” category.
Bill has played with and instructed many award-winning marching percussion groups, including the UNT drum line and various DCI World Class finalists (Cadets, Bluecoats, Blue Knights, and Carolina Crown). On drumset, Bill is the drummer for Herd of Instinct, Spoke of Shadows, has toured with progressive rock artist Neal Morse, and freelances playing and recording in the Dallas area.
Taku Hirano, one of the top percussionists on the touring and recording circuit, has been referred to by rock legend Mick Fleetwood, founder and drummer for Fleetwood Mac, as his “Secret Weapon" for good reason. His training encompasses Classical concert percussion, jazz drum set, and traditional Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, West African, Middle Eastern, Indian and Japanese styles and instruments.
This includes a BM cum laude from Berklee College of Music as the institution's first graduating Hand Percussion degree major, four years under the tutelage of conga master Giovanni Hidalgo, four years of Middle Eastern percussion studies under world fusion percussionist Jamey Haddad, studies with frame drumming virtuoso Glen Velez, graduate studies in World Music Performance at California Institute of the Arts studying West African and Indian percussion, time spent with Tokyo’s leading taiko drumming dojo through the Nippon Taiko Foundation, research in Havana, Cuba studying for a month both privately with percussion legend Jose Luis "Changuito" Quintana and at the Escuelas Nacionales de Arte - ENA, and formative years spent under the guidance of Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra principal timpanist Kristan Phillips, jazz drumming legend Alan Dawson and world-renowned pop, funk and jazz drummer Ndugu Chancler.
Taku’s client list of luminaries spans practically every genre. He has toured the world with Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, John Mayer, Bette Midler, Stevie Nicks, Lionel Richie, Isaac Hayes, Japanese pop superstar Utada Hikaru, as a soloist on Japanese and Indian percussion with Academy Award-winning Bollywood composer A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire), and as a featured soloist on the #7 top-grossing concert tour of all time, Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour.
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”.
Gig Alerts
The International Festival of Cajon and Percussion is going on right now. On Oct 30th, there is a full day of masterclasses by LP artists. Diego “El Negro” Alvarez (friend of the show) will be doing a Flamenco masterclass, Tony Succar will be doing a masterclass on folkloric rhythms of Peru and Damon Grant will be doing a masterclass on the use of the cajon in a Pop/Singer-Songwriter situation and how he has adapted the cajon into his hybrid cajon kit.
The masterclasses start at 11am EST on Saturday October 30th. You can watch by clicking on the FB Live link.
The PASIC Schedule is up, and more acts to be announced like: Marcos Lopez on Friday; as well as, Paul Rennick, Colin McNutt, and Tom Rarick on Saturday.
The Jesse Malin tour starts in Europe with Randy Schrager on drums.
Social Soundbyte
The Sandbox Percussion Ensemble released the videos for ‘Seven Pillars.’ 'Seven Pillars ' by Andy Akiho is an evening-length work for percussion quartet, consisting of 7 ensemble movements and 4 solo movements. They released the full album for 'Seven Pillars' this past September physically, and on all digital streaming platforms. To accompany the album, they commissioned 11 teams of filmmakers to create 11 different films - one for each of the 11 movements.
Product Review
There are three new products from Vic Firth.
First, the new Vic Firth RUTE-X Rods! This evolution to thier Rute line earned its name, Rute-X, because it's truly a cross between the best parts of a multi-rod and drumstick. 🙌
🥢 The RUTE-X Rods offer the feel and response of a drumstick with the volume control and alternative sounds of a rod product. They enable you to play with dynamic versatility around the kit, solid rimshots, and cross sticking that you just can't get with traditional rods.
Each model is available in 3 gauge sizes: light gauge, medium gauge, and heavy gauge premium birch, as well as a durable poly synthetic.
Mike Johnston came out with new signature series sticks (see below)…..
And friend of the show Nate Smith released new signature series sticks as well (see below).
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording this week is “Serenata Ritmica” (composed by Noro Morales, arranged by Rebeca Mauleón), from the ‘Descarga in California’ album by Rebeca Mauleón. You can see other tracks HERE.
Music News
Travis Tritt says he will not perform at venues that require mask mandates or vaccinations to attend. The country artist made the announcement today on his website, sharing which shows are impacted. Four upcoming tour dates have been canceled due to venues requiring mask mandates and proof of vaccination or negative COVID test. -Article
A basic income guarantee scheme for artists and arts workers is to be piloted next year, Minister for Culture and Arts Catherine Martin has indicated, with an initial budget of €25 million.
The proposed development for the arts sector, one of those hardest hit by Covid-19 restrictions, was welcomed by the grassroots organisation National Campaign for the Arts (NCFA). -Article
Damon discusses organizations like Be An Arts Hero (and others) with friend of the show Matthew Lee Erlbach.
Andy Sanesi Interview
The song leading into the interview is “Skydra Suite” by Andy from the ‘Skydra’ album.
Damon starts by introducing Andy and talking about the band they were both in called, “The Bomb Squad”.
Shout-out to drummer Eric Bolivar, bassist Stu Brooks and vocalist Javier Colon.
Andy got his undergrad from Berklee College of Music and his masters from NYU where he ended up teaching for a bit.
Friend of the show Fausto Cuevas helped instigate Andy moving to Los Angeles.
Andy tells a story about playing with Matt Rubano in Zurich and hanging with Chad Smith.
Andy and Damon talk about the diversity of music in the early to mid 1990s.
Andy mentions Rick Beato’s YouTube channel.
Andy talks about studying with drummer, Pete Zeldman.
Damon talks about the four stages of learning.
Andy is currently playing with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
Andy talks about his musical influence from his family.
Andy talks about how he became proficient in Afro-Cuban music. He talks about the DVDs “Rumberos de Cuba” and “Tropical”.
Shout-out to Raul Pineda and Jack DeJohnette.
Damon brings up two comedians and their viewpoints. Bill Burr and also the late Patrice O’Neal. Andy counters with Louis CK.
Andy dabbles in cymbal tuning. He got some pointers from Brett Borba and Matt Bettis. He also used to ride BMX bikes.
Andy currently resides in Santa Monica. He does some apartment/property managing in between gigs with Frankie or Missing Persons and leading his own bands. Tim Ferriss’ Four Hour Workweek book helped him.
Andy talks about getting gigs in the current climate with less auditions available.
Damon brings up the tune “Monkey Business” that Andy will play with Sebastian Bach (the paradiddles on the cowbell come in at 2.55).
Shout-out to the Drum Doctors and Tony Austin.
Andy and Damon talk a bit about sports.
Shout-out to Drew McKeon.
Andy uses DW Drums, Remo Drumheads, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, and Beato Drum Cases.
You can follow Andy on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You can catch him on the road with Missing Persons and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons or listen to him on various recordings.
The song leading out of the interview is called “Apples and Oranges” from the album with the same name by Doug Webb, Brian Charette and Andy Sanesi.
