#222 Geneva Harrison- Drummer for Bells Atlas, Percussionist and More!
This episode is sponsored by Eucatape.
Geneva Harrison is a freelance percussionist/drummer, and multi-disciplined artist primarily based in Oakland, CA. She has toured extensively over the years with her band Bells Atlas and WNYC’s radio program Snap Judgment, for whom she also co-composes the scoring for their live show. Most recently she has joined the Magik*Magik Orchestra, supporting Pop-Up Magazine.
With over 15 years of professional experience, Geneva has collaborated, performed and recorded with numerous talents, from composers Terence Blanchard and Van Dyke Parks, to choreographer Sonya Tayeh, as well indie artists Poolside, Mirah and Y La Bamba. She’s had the privilege to play in esteemed and historic theaters and recording houses across the nation - echoing percussion under the roof of Carnegie Hall, and clamoring grungy rhythms beneath the drum chevron in the historic Studio B of United Recording Studios in Los Angeles.
Her expertise ranges a number of styles and contexts that include indie Pop and R&B, Off-Broadway Theater and Dance accompaniment, Contemporary Classical ensemble playing and Avant-Garde/Experimental improv. In 2016, Harrison served as Musical Director for a tribute to Björk’s Homogenic at The Independent in San Francisco, that included over 100 musicians covering the album, and later the following year even filled the role of producer for a music video shot in the desert of the Eastern Sierras. You can also find some of her custom drum-kit exercises, and additionally an interview feature in issues of Tom Tom Magazine.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Abe Laboriel Jr. Abe is an American session drummer. He is the son of Mexican bass guitarist Abraham Laboriel, nephew of Mexican rocker Johnny Laboriel, and brother of record producer, songwriter, and film composer Mateo Laboriel. He has been the drummer for former Beatles member Paul McCartney since 2001, as well as for Eric Clapton among others. CLICK HERE if you want to see the video Damon refers to of Abe recording a song in one take.
Gig Alerts
The BRIC JazzFest features: Roy Ayers, Meshell Ndegeocello, Robert Glasper, Phony Ppl, Keyon Harrold, Nate Smith X Van Hunt, Nikara Presents Black Wall Street, Justin Hicks, MAE.SUN, and more!
THU-SAT, APR 8-10, 2021, 7:00PM
COST: Single Day Passes start at $20, Three Day Passes start at $50
You can get tickets to the streaming event and read more details by CLICKING HERE.
Health Pass is a free service on the CLEAR mobile app that connects your verified identity - using CLEAR’s established biometric platform - with your health insights to allow you frictionless access anywhere you go, from your office to the ball game and beyond.
Components of Health Pass may include a real-time health survey screening, temperature screening and/or COVID-related test results directly from an approved lab provider. Festivals are looking to integrate this or similar platforms to help get back to festivals, sporting events and more.
Ahead of the full-scale return of non-socially distanced entertainment events, the British live concert industry is backing “vaccine passports” for shows and festivals.
Multiple British live concert industry bodies and organizers have come out in favor of developing a vaccine-passport system, which would presumably enable attendees to quickly demonstrate that they’ve received a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition for admittance.
UK Music indicated in a report that it was “working with government to develop guidance for how to hold events safely,” for instance. Hospitality Weekend in the Woods’ Josh Robinson said in a statement that he and others “want to urge government to follow the example set up already in other areas,” including the travel sphere, in terms of mandating a COVID-19 vaccine passport. -Article
To read how Israel is already on top of the Vaccine Passport, you can CLICK HERE.
Social Soundbyte
Shout-out to (friends of the show) Mona Tavakoli, Kassandra Kocoshis, Jacquelene Acevedo and Dani Markham! You can listen to all of them on episode #213.
Educational Spotlight
The LHS Virtual Seminar is quickly approaching. REGISTER NOW to claim your spot and study with this amazing faculty!
Leigh Howard Stevens (Marimba virtuoso, CEO/Founder of Malletech)
Michael Burritt (Eastman School of Music)
Escape Ten (Annie Stevens and Andrea Venet)
Cameron Leach (percussion soloist)
Valerie Naranjo (Saturday Night Live, Broadway's The Lion King)
John Parks (Florida State University)
Aaron Williams (Multi-instrumentalist, influencer)
Register BEFORE April 15 and receive a free, autographed copy of Method of Movement by LHS. Tuition will also increase after April 15, so don't delay on your chance to study with some of the greatest marimbists in the world!
Check out CONGACHOPS (dot) COM to Start your 7-Day FREE Trial to watch several full step-by-step tutorials and over 200+ lessons on on bongos, congas, and timbales!
Iconic Recording
This week’s iconic recording is “Spirit Voices” from the album, ‘The Rhythm of the Saints’ is the eighth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon, released on October 16, 1990 on Warner Bros. Like its predecessor Graceland (1986), the album gained commercial success and received mostly favorable reviews from critics.
In 1992, The Rhythm of the Saints earned two nominations for the 34th Grammy Awards – Album of the Year and Producer of the Year. You can read more about the album, and the full credits online.
The Pop Percussion Iconic Tracks playlist that Damon and Marcos put together, can be found HERE.
Music News
-On the first Friday of every month since March of 2020, Bandcamp has waived their revenue share to help support the many artists who have seen their livelihoods disrupted by the pandemic. Over the course of these eleven days, fans paid artists and labels $48 million dollars, helping cover rents, mortgages, groceries, medications, and much more. If you’re among the nearly 800,000 fans who participated, thank you.
Although vaccines are starting to roll out, it will likely be several months before live performance revenue starts to return. So they’re going to continue doing Bandcamp Fridays in 2021, on April 2nd, and May 7th. As always, isitbandcampfriday.com has the details.
-Damon’s album on bandcamp can be found by CLICKING HERE.
-FansRaise is researching the pandemic’s impact on arts programs in the US.
EDUCATORS! They would like you to tell them how your program is managing through the pandemic and recovery.
Their goal is to make empty concert halls a thing of the past. Please fill out their quick two-minute survey by CLICKING HERE.
-Questlove is bringing his talent and expertise to the 2021 Oscars! Jesse Collins, Stacey Sher and Steven Soderbergh, who are producing the 93rd Oscars, announced on Wednesday that the 50-year-old founding member of The Roots will serve as the musical director for this year's show.
Questlove (real name: Ahmir Khalib Thompson) is a member of the Academy and has previously performed at the Oscars. The drummer, DJ, producer, author and five-time GRAMMY winner is currently the musical director for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The Roots also serve as the show's house band. -Article
-The Modern Drummer Reader’s Poll is open for voting until May 1st, 2021.
Geneva Harrison Interview
The interview starts with Damon and Geneva discussing nicknames Geneva has had. DON’T CALL HER JENNY!
Thanks to the coronavirus (among other things), a lot has changed for the 2021 tax season. We don’t want you to get blindsided, so click on the article to dig into what’s new for this tax season and what’s staying the same. -Article
Shoeboxed is an app you can use to scan and organize receipts and business cards. You can create expense reports, track your mileage and so much more! You can check out their PRICES, or slide on over to WAVE and use their free options.
You can go back and listen to the interview Damon did with his accountant to get some basics for self employed musicians for doing your taxes. -Episode 112
Some of the things Geneva and Damon discuss in what could be taught in school (in addition to how to do your taxes) could include other performance opportunities, and how to take care of yourself mentally and physically.
Geneva attended the University of Miami and studied with friend of the show Ney Rosauro.
Before drumming, Geneva was a dancer. She started with tap dancing and continued into several other styles.
Damon brings up the video of Steve Gadd and Cubby O’Brian drumming and tap dancing on the Mickey Mouse Club.
Damon talks about the connection of tap dancing and drumming. He mentions the interview with (friend of the show) Clayton Cameron as well as conversations with the choreographers Tone and Rich Talauega. He later mentions the scene in the movie Ray with tap dancing and brush playing going on in the background.
Geneva talks about the close connection of drumming and dancing in various countries.
Geneva started playing percussion in secret at first. She started on mallet percussion before learning Latin and World percussion.
While in Atlanta, Geneva was able to study with Thomas Sherwood. She even participated in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra.
The musical theater show that Geneva watched that inspired her to consider music as a profession was The 1940s Radio Hour.
Geneva auditioned with Tambourin Chinois by Fritz Kreisler, Bach Violin Partita no.1 in b minor Tempo di Bourree (On Marimba), a Jacques Delecluse snare drum etude, a multi-percussion piece and a timpani excerpt.
Geneva asks Damon if he played anything from the Charley Wilcoxon snare book.
Shout-out to Omar Tavarez.
Damon talks about the BBC Africa Documentary.
Geneva and Damon talk about the importance of art in people’s lives.
Geneva was born in the bay area of CA, grew up in Atlanta, went to university in Miami and then returned to the bay area. Damon mentions the mission burritos.
Damon mentions some legendary San Fransico based percussionists like John Santos, Jesus Diaz, Michael Spiro, (friend of the show) Karl Perazzo and Pancho Sanchez (in San Jose).
Shout-out to Sandy Perez.
Damon and Geneva also talk about the funk drummers in the bay area from David Garabaldi, Gaylord Birch, Greg Errico, and even Zigaboo Modeliste.
Soon after Geneva making her way to Oakland, she started working with the group Bells Atlas.
Damon and Geneva talk about playing drums and chordal instruments at the same time. They shout-out some drummers that can do that like Deantoni Parks, (friend of the show) Josh Dion and Kenwood Denard.
Damon and Geneva talk about using loop pedals.
Damon talks about going to see his ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat doctor) and that your ear canal changes about 5-7 years so, stay on top of getting your hearing checked and also the fit of your musician ear plugs or in ear monitors.
Damon has a decibel meter app on his phone to check the volume of his surroundings. Geneva talks about taking online hearing tests.
If you want to get the “original” hand woven sweater that “The Dude” wore on the Big Lebowski, you can order it from THIS WEBSITE HERE.
Geneva and Damon talk waffles, crepes, french toast and pancakes. Shout-out to the Guerilla Cafe in Berkeley California, shout-out to The Creperie and Wafels and Dinges in NYC, shout-out to Michael’s Genuine and Tigertail and Mary (as well as all the Cuban bakeries) in Miami.
Damon and Geneva talk about biking/cycling. The app to find trails Damon brings up is called Traillink.
You can follow Geneva on her Website, with her band Bells Atlas on the label Tender Loving Empire, and on Instagram.
