#276 Dave Fox- Drummer for The Gravel Project, AS3, Educator & More!
This week’s guest is Dave Fox. Dave is an accomplished, versatile drummer who has performed and recorded with a wide variety of acts in a number of genres all over New England, nationally and abroad. He is currently a full-time member of The Gravel Project, Andrew Stern’s “AS3” and legendary Boston Rock act The Stompers.
As a sideman for over two decades, he has performed with a diverse group of artists including Tom Hambridge and The Rattlesnakes, Jerry Bergonzi, Josh Smith, David Tronzo, David Amram, Charles Neville, Stan Strickland, Phil Grenadier and Bruno Råberg.
Dave is, as ever, committed to moving ahead with his craft, sound and teaching practice while continuing to enjoy working with his students and ensembles at Indian Hill Music Center (Littleton, MA) and MJ’s Music School (Waltham, MA)
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday to Dr. Steve Gadd. Steve was born in Rochester, New York, April 9, 1945. His Uncle, a drummer in the army, encouraged him to take drum lessons when he was 7 years old. Steve sat in with Dizzy Gillespie when he was 11 years old. Steve studied music at Eastman College of Music in Rochester playing in a wind ensemble and concert band. At nights he would play at a club with Chick Corea, Chuck Mangione, Joe Romano and Frank Pullara. After college Steve was drafted into the army and spent three years in a military band. After Steve's departure from the army he gigged and worked with a big band in Rochester. In 1972 he played in a trio around New York with Tony Levin and Mike Holmes. The trio fizzled out, but Gadd began to work extensively as a studio musician. He also played with Corea's first Return to Forever. During the 1970's and 1980's Steve toured internationally and recorded with Artists Paul Simon and Al DiMeola's Electric Rendezvous Band. By the end of the 1970's, Gadd was the most in-demand and probably the most imitated drummer in the world. In Japan transcriptions of his solos were on sale, and all the leading Japanese drummers sought to incorporate his style and sound.
Chick Corea commented, "Every drummer wants to play like Gadd because he plays perfect . . . He has brought orchestral and compositional thinking to the drum kit while at the same time having a great imagination and a great ability to swing." Gadd's favorites are Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, Buddy Rich, and Louie Bellson, among others.
With many singers, including Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Striesand, Paul McCartney and Paul Simon; with Corea, Three Quartets (1981), Warner Bros; My Spanish Heart (1976); Friends (1978); The Mad Hatter (1978), all Polydor; with George Benson, In Concert (1975), CTI; with Stuff, Stuff (nda), Warner Bros; with DiMeola, Electric Rendezvous 1982), Columbia; with Carla Bley, Dinner Music (1976).
Happy Birthday to friend of the show Karl Perazzo. Karl since the age of 2 has played some kind of drum or other. At age 7 he played in a band that his mother and father formed. From there he became unstoppable and went on to play with Cal Tjader while only in the 6th grade.
Karl Perazzo, born and raised in San Francisco's Mission District, has gone on to play with the best in Pop, Jazz, Rock and Latin Music. The self-taught musician is currently playing with the Santana Band. He has recorded 3 albums with Santana, one being a Live album in South America.
He has also recorded and played with Malo, Jorge Santana, Cal Tjader, Dizzy Gilespie, Andy Narrel, Ray Obiedo, Tom Coster, Pete and Coke Escovedo, Dennis Chambers, Sheila E., The Artist, Mariah Carey, Paquito D' Rivera and is on the latest John Lee Hooker album. Latin Music, such as Tito Puente, Machete, Ruben Blades and others. Perazzo is not only known nationally, but internationally as well. He is known to have recorded with some of the best acts in Japan and Italy.
In addition to all of the above, Karl has also performed on an array of TV shows, such as American Bandstand, Soul Train, Solid Gold, Jay Leno, Johnny Carson, David Letterman, The Grammies, The American Music Awards, and was the first percussionist to be invited to sit in with The Arsenio Hall Show house band on more than one occasion, and to perform on his 100th show.
Aside from all this Perazzo still finds the time to travel the country doing clinics for the Latin Percussion Music Group. He strongly believes that the knowledge he has is not his to keep, but to be shared with people around the world!
Happy Birthday to Jason Treuting. A founding and current member of the influential quartet, Sō Percussion, composer/percussionist Jason has appeared in performance throughout the world, from the Barbican to Lincoln Center, to Carnegie Hall, DOM Moscow, Walt Disney Hall, and elsewhere. His compositions, widely noted for their compelling rhythmic language and evocative expressivity, have been performed by artists including Shara Nova, the JACK Quartet, TIGUE, Susan Marshall and Company, and others.
Additionally, Treuting explores and composes music in collaboration with artists including laptop artist/composer Cenk Ergun; guitarist Grey Mcmurray; and guitarist/composer Steve Mackey (their New Amsterdam album, Orpheus Unsung, has received widespread critical acclaim), among others.
Treuting’s original compositions include Amid the Noise, an evolving suite of musical explorations scored for a flexible range of instruments; this work has been performed widely by Sō Percussion, Matmos and other artists, at the Lincoln Center Festival, the Barbican, the Walker Arts Center, National Sawdust, and elsewhere. It has been presented by Fast Forward Austin, Kadence Arts Boston, Chatterbird, and others, and was recorded by Sō Percussion for release on Cantaloupe Records.
Treuting’s other works for Sō include contributions to Imaginary City, Where (we) Live and A Gun Show, works which appeared on the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Next Wave Festival. Recent commissions for other ensembles have included Oblique Music for 4 plus (blank), a concerto for Sō Percussion and string orchestra for the League of Composers Orchestra; and most recently, Nine Numbers 4, a commission from the Composers Guild of New Jersey and performed in 2018 at Princeton University.
He received his Bachelors in Music and the Performer’s Certificate at the Eastman School of Music where he studied percussion with John Beck and drum set and improvisation with Steve Gadd, Ralph Alessi and Michael Cain. He received his Masters in Music along with an Artist Diploma from Yale University where he studied percussion with Robert Van Sice. Jason Treuting studied marimba with Keiko Abe in Japan, and gamelan with Pac I Nyoman Suadin in Bali.
Jason Treuting is co-director of the Sō Percussion Summer Institute, an annual intensive course on the campus of Princeton University for college-aged percussionists. He is also co-director of a new percussion program at the Bard College Conservatory of Music, and is a lecturer of music at Princeton University, where Sō Percussion is ensemble-in-residence. He lives in Princeton, New Jersey with his partner, the violist Beth Meyers, and their two daughters.
Gig Alerts
Jazz Fest in New Orleans is still happening April 29th-May 8th. The Red Hot Chili Peppers will be stepping in for the Foo Fighters.
The official flyer for the Jazz Fest is done by artist, Terrence Osborne, and features Jon Batiste.
The Bourbon and Beyond Festival is happening Sept 15-18 in Louisville, KY.
The Rock the Bells Festival at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, NY will be happening on Aug 6th.
Damon will be speaking at the DIY Musician Conference in Austin, TX from Aug 26th-28th, as well as giving a live podcast interview. You can check out the other dates Damon has HERE.
You can check out Dave with The Gravel Project HERE.
Educational Spotlight
The Percussive Arts Society will be having two more Day of Percussion events on April 29th and 30th. The Central Regional in Lincoln, NE and the West Regional in Fresno, CA. You can get more details HERE.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording for this week was chosen by Dave and he selected “A Love Supreme” by John Coltrane with Elvin Jones on drums.
Damon mentions the album by Conrad Herwig called ‘The Latin Side of Coltrane’, which also has “A Love Supreme” on it.
Music News
Apple purchased the classical music streaming app Primephonic last year. Primephonic was custom-tailored to searching and browsing classical music. At the time of the purchase, Apple Music said those elements of Primephonic would make their way to Apple Music. But now, Apple plans on spinning off its Classical music streaming app entirely. -Article
Dave Fox Interview
The song leading into the interview is “No More Fire” by The Gravel Project.
Dave and Damon met in the Umass drumline in the mid 90s.
Dave starts talking about the music catalog of his youth ranging from Kiss and Rush to The Blues Brothers, James Brown, and Tower of Power (among others) in Waltham MA.
Herbie Hancock and “Rockit” was a bridge to a deep dive into jazz for Dave.
Dave started on strings before moving to drums. Shout-out to his mom signing him up for the marching band.
Shout-out to friends of the show Nick Angelis and Colin McNutt.
Dave marched in the snare line for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps.
Dave studied with the late Bob Gullotti.
Dave talks about DCI Music Video tapes like the one by Dennis Chambers, the Buddy Rich Memorial Concert.
The Dave Garbaldi video or even the Steve Jordan one.
Dave talks about working at State Street in Boston while still playing gigs. Then making the transition to playing full time.
Dave mentions having healthcare is important. If you are a self-employed person, here is a way to get it.
When Dave was transitioning from an office job to music, teaching was one of the things that helped.
Dave talks about understanding how the system works, but also understanding your worth and commanding what you want to get paid.
Damon mentions the “3 Ms” for taking a gig. Music, money and mates. Most people say you need at least 2 out of the 3 to make it worth it.
Dave emphasizes that communication is key to conducting any business relationship as well as mutual respect.
Dave talks about subbing and how to be a good sub, as well as handle the situation of subbing.
Dave is a member of The Gravel Project and they just released a new album.
In addition to The Gravel Project, Dave plays with the Andrew Stern Trio.
He also teaches privately and at Indian Hill Music Center (Littleton, MA) and MJ’s Music School (Waltham, MA).
Shout-out to friend of the show Thom Hannum.
Dave has two daughters in music, one plays drums!!!!
“How you do one thing is how you do everything.” -Thom Hannum
Damon and Dave talk about the advancement of technology forcing artists to have to do more than just create art.
Dave talks about logistics, moving gear, transportation, and more.
Damon makes a reference to the show Parking Wars.
Shout-out to the Rock-N-Roller cart.
You can check out The Gravel Project’s new album AND you can get it on vinyl as well as the upcoming tour dates.
Dave uses Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets as well as Bullethead Snare Drums.
Shout-out to Bob Gullotti, Thom Hannum, Stacey Fox, Celeste and Gabby.
You can follow Dave on his Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
The song leading out of the interview is “Black Iris” by the Andrew Stern Trio (AS3).
