#283 Clifford Koufman- Percussionist, Educator, Vlogger and More!
This episode is sponsored by Dream Cymbals.
Clifford Koufman is a Nashville-based, award-winning drummer who founded Sound & Rhythm Drumming School in 2000. With over 20 years of experience, Clifford carries a world of experience to every scenario, whether creating music, performing or teaching. He's honored to be the recipient of multiple grants, the Thrive award to build community through community drumming classes, performances, and drum circles, and the Regional Arts & Culture Council professional development grant to study music in Guinea, West Africa. He's toured internationally, throughout the US, and in Alaska. Clifford has spent time living and learning from master musicians in Ghana and then Guinea, West Africa, and has performed, taught, and worked with thousands of people as well as working with numerous bands, songwriters, and composers throughout the United States. In an effort to share in his musical experience, inspiration and to connect with creative people through conversation, he began "Clif Chats" where he's has conducted over sixty interviews of creative people at the top of their fields. Clif Chats can be watched on the Sound and Rhythm YouTube HERE
Clifford teaches people in Nashville as well as traveling to schools, colleges, and universities (pre-pandemic) as well as teaches internationally online. He creates play-along tracks for drum circle facilitators as well as making music for licensing. Clifford embraces the spirit of collaboration in Nashville, performing and recording and writing, collaborating with songwriters, bands and composers. He is continually experimenting with a hybrid drum set, incorporating percussion and drum set elements with various hand drums. He facilitates leadership development events using the drum circle as the vehicle. Clifford continues to teach students all over the world and is excited to collaborate with songwriters, bands, and composers. He continues Clif Chats and is always looking to geek out about people living creatively, drums, art, and music.
R.I.P.
Alan White, who has died aged 72 after a short illness, was one of rock’s most versatile and highly regarded drummers. He will be chiefly remembered for his career with the British progressive rockers Yes, whom he joined in 1972 after the departure of their original drummer, Bill Bruford. Had White’s health not been failing, the band’s forthcoming tour next month would have marked his 50 years with it. -Article
Gig Alerts
The Philadelphia Eagles Drumline is looking for a couple new full time and alternate members to join the Drumline this season for Snare, Tenor, Bass and Cymbals. If interested, please fill out this form and submit an audition video using the instructions below. Deadline is 6/1/2022. -FILL THIS OUT!
The NAMM show is happening this weekend in Anaheim California.
David Ryan Harris has a show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles this weekend as well.
The Fearless Flyers have announced some tour dates.
Damon has some upcoming gigs in the NYC area.
Educational Spotlight
Sounds Like a Drum has released their newest season of videos to help you get your gear right!
Paulo Stagnaro over at Conga Chops, has released the newest lesson in the soloing/vocabulary series.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording this week was chosen by Clifford. It is called, “Meetings Along the Edge” by Ravi Shankar and Phillip Glass from the album ‘Passages’.
The honorable mention is the album, ‘In the Heart of the Moon’ by Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté.
Product Review
Holland Drums is proud to offer ‘The Muffintop Drum'“. A hand-snare drum of solid stave shell construction that can be played with sticks or by hand.
Social Soundbyte
Friend of the show, Bryan Carter, released a new video for the song, “You and I”, from his forthcoming album, ‘I BELIEVE’.
Music News
On Friday, June 17th, from midnight to midnight Pacific Time, Bandcamp will hold their third annual Juneteenth fundraiser, where they donate 100% of their share of sales to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, a racial justice organization with a long history of effectively enacting change through litigation, advocacy, and public education. Read their statement here.
Bandcamp Fridays will resume on September 2nd, and continue on October 7th, November 4th, and December 2nd.
Spotify has renamed its Artist Fundraising Pick feature to Fan Support and shared some statistics showing more than 200,000 artists are using it. 90% of the artists with a Fan Support link on their profile use the feature to collect donations from fans, while 10% use it to raise money for their chosen charity or cause. -Article
Pepsi is dropping out of the Super Bowl Halftime Show sponsorship after ten years. This year’s performance featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar is the last for the soft drink company. Pepsi says it will concentrate more of its advertising dollars in the digital realm, as traditional broadcast TV audiences are on the decline. -Article
Clifford Koufman Interview
The song leading into and out of the interview was composed by Clifford.
Damon was a guest on Clif Chats, and now gets to interview Clifford for his podcast.
Clifford was born in Hartford, CT and then relocated with his family to Newton, MA.
From Newton MA they moved to North Carolina.
Clifford’s first music exposure was classical and some of the pop music at the time, The Beatles, Paul Simon, ABBA and more.
Clifford brings up the 3,2,1 McCartney documentary on Hulu. Damon brings up the Get Back one on Disney +.
Clifford’s first drumset was a Ludwig from a pawn shop. He started taking lessons at the Music Loft, from Don Garner (who also taught at the North Carolina School of the Arts).
Besides skateboarding, Clifford also did some soccer, football, track and wrestling.
For high school, Clifford attended Reynolds High School (Go Demons!)
Clifford attended Catawba Valley College, then transferred to Wake Forest University.
Shortly after, Clifford started playing in bands (on drumset) and getting paid to do so.
Clifford got into African drums from a dance class in Greensboro. He also tells the story of how he found a djembe in New Orleans.
Shout-out to Drum Skull Drums.
Clifford tells the story of moving to Portland OR and getting established in a new city.
Shout-out to the late great Papa Ladji Camara.
Clifford talks about how he started teaching.
Clifford talks about his adventures in Ghana traveling and learning, as well as his studies with Mamady Keita and Famoudou Konate.
Clifford has relocated to Nashville. He studied with Daniel Glass and Bruce Becker.
He now runs the Sound and Rhythm Drumming School.
Damon brings up the program Go React.
Damon brings up the app Djembeföla!
Clifford hosts a bi-weekly web series called Clif Chats.
Clifford talks about his music licensing.
Shout-out to Dame Evelyn Glennie and Ra-Kalam Bob Moses.
Clifford talks about his hybrid kit.
Clifford picks out the iconic recordings for the week, listed above.
Shout-out to Bruce Becker, Ra-Kalam Bob Moses, Mamady Keita, Famoudou Konate and Bolokada Conde.
You can follow Clifford on his Website, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
