This week’s guest is Adam Nussbaum. Adam Nussbaum is considered one of the finest drummers working today. He's played with a virtual "Who's Who" in the jazz world. Longtime associates have included: John Abercrombie, Michael & Randy Brecker, Eliane Elias, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, Vic Juris, James Moody, John Scofield, Joe Sample, Ohad Talmor, ‘Toots' Thielemans, Kenny Wheeler & NHØP, as well as freelancing with prominent artists of every generation, being a major asset no matter where he appears. Nussbaum has recently formed the Lead Belly Project. He has also joined forces with other musicians to form such groups as “BANN” w/Seamus Blake, Jay Anderson & Oz Noy, “We3” w/Dave Liebman & Steve Swallow, "The Impossible Gentlemen" w/Gwilym Simcock, Steve Rodby & Mike Walker, “The Nuttree Quartet" w/John Abercrombie, Jerry Bergonzi & Gary Versace and "The ZZ Quartet w/Ratko Zjaca, Simone Zanchini & Martin Gjakanovski. He's been on hundreds of recordings, including the Grammy winning "Don't Try This At Home” recorded with Michael Brecker.

In addition, Nussbaum reaches out to the next generation. He is an in-demand educator doing Clinics and Master Classes, teaching at such institutions as Berklee, NYU, State University of New York, the New School, and at numerous Conservatories around the world.

His abilities have brought opportunities for him to work with the finest makers of all things drum-related. Working with Sonor drums, he helped design a line in the “HiLite” series. In conjunction with Zildjian cymbals, Nussbaum helped developed the “Renaissance” & "Pre-Aged” K. Zildjian cymbals. He also coproduced with Hudson Music, "The Art of Playing Brushes."

He was born in New York City and grew up in Norwalk, Connecticut and started to play drums at age 12 after studying piano for five years; he also playing bass and saxophone as a teenager. He moved to New York City in 1975 to attend The Davis Center for Performing Arts at City College. He eventually focused on drums.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Brandon Estes! Brandon Estes is the Associate Director of Bands at Naperville Central High School where he co-teaches concert bands, marching band, pep band, percussion ensemble and instructs the Music Appreciation course.

A native of Houston Texas, Brandon holds a B.M. in Music Education from Texas State University San Marcos (2004) as well as his M.M. in Music Performance-Percussion from Northern Illinois University (2006).

Mr. Estes extensive drum corps experience includes membership with the Pioneer (1998 00), as well as the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps (2001 02). He also served as Co-Arranger and Percussion Caption Head of the Blue Stars (2005) and has been on staff with the Madison Scouts. Brandon currently serves as Director and a performing member of the Chicago Bears Drumline and is a founding member of the Chicago Bulls Stampede Drumline.

As an orchestral musician, Mr. Estes has performed with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Elmhurst Symphony of Elmhurst, Illinois as well as the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

Brandon currently resides in the Chicago suburbs with his wife and anxiously awaits the birth of his first child. He is very excited at the opportunity to work with the staff and members of the Phantom Regiment!

Gig Alerts

Guns N’ Roses have announced their 2023 tour dates for North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Tickets for the upcoming tour will go on sale on February 24 at 10 am via Ticketmaster and Live Nation. Presale tickets for GNR Nighttrain members will be available starting Wednesday at 10 am local time. The tour is using Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing schedule, so expect massively different prices based on demand according to location. -Article

Martin Bejerano is on tour and will be coming through NYC with friend of the show, Ludwig Afonso on Sat March 4th.

Love Rocks is happening on March 9th. You can GET TICKETS to try and see it live or you can buy a LIVESTREAM TICKET HERE.

The Wednesday Night TItans are going on tour with friend of the show, Zach Danziger.

Educational Spotlight

Damon and Adam talked about playing with drumless albums to get better before they started recording. Here is an extremely long playlist to help you get started with that!

Product Review

Damon has released his Plethora of Percussion (aka P.O.P.) pack with Yurt Rock. There are over 1,000 loops and one-shots for drummers, other instrumentalists, engineers, producers, singer-songwriters and more!

Here is the Spotify Playlist of iconic pop percussion songs that Damon and Marcos Torres created.

Aaron Sterling has released his own loop and one shot libraries that you can snag from HIS WEBSITE HERE!

Iconic Recording

The iconic recording was chosen by Adam. It is called “Sid Flips His Lid” from the album, ‘Live at Carnegie Hall 1947’ featuring: Charlie Shavers- Trumpet, Hank Jones- Piano, Curly Russell- Bass and Sidney Catlett- Drums.

Music News

Former Ticketmaster CEO Irving Azoff Rips Secondary Ticketing Companies — “They Have Invested Nothing, Risked Nothing, Created Nothing”

The panel was called ‘Ticketing Real Talk’ and was moderated by Irving Azoff and featured Garth Brooks, Madison Square Garden Executive Chairman James Dolan, and Former Attorney General for the United States Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, Makan Delrahim. Azoff says the panel needed to happen after the Senate Judiciary hearings that took place in January. -Article

As it grapples with a Justice Department investigation – and all manner of criticism from lawmakers – Live Nation is officially calling for the passage of a “FAIR Ticketing Act.”

The publicly traded promoter just recently unveiled its ideas for a FAIR Ticketing Act, and the legislative framework’s announcement coincided with the release of the Ticketmaster parent’s Q4 2022 earnings report. In the latter, Live Nation head Michael Rapino addressed the regulatory scrutiny that’s being directed towards his business, after CFO Joe Berchtold last month appeared before Congress to discuss the Eras Tour fiasco and ticketing-sector competition. -Article

Adam Nussbaum Interview

The song leading into the interview is, “Black Girl (Where Did You Sleep Last Night)” from Adam Nussbaum’s album, ‘The Leadbelly Project’.

Damon and Adam talk about a couple of the Westchester, NY jam sessions and move on to musicians who came out of Norwalk Connecticut.

Some of these musicians include Horace Silver, Bill Bickford, Linc Chamberland, Dave Brubeck (Wilton, CT), Karen Carpenter (New Haven), Joe and Jeff Porcaro (Hartford), Michael Bolton (Westport), and friend of the show Robby Ameen (New Haven)

Shout-out to Rob Aries and Brian McHale.

Adam mentions some other musicians including Dave Hart(stein), Phil Cramer, Mike Tedesco, Alan Dean, John Scofield, Jamie “Doc” Holiday, Doug Graham, John Mehegan, Perry Lind and Tony Perrone, Rick Bruno, Avi and Eddie Buster.

Shout out to Nick, Skip and John Cutrone as well as Frank Falcone.

Adam went to West Rocks Middle School and Norwalk High School.

Adam started on piano from age 7-12.

Adam attended Emerson College before heading to NYC.

Adam studied with Larry Epstein at Merritt Music. He then studied with Tony Chirco. When he started going into NYC, he studied with Joe Cusatis.

Adam mentions some of the people he witnessed live in NYC jazz clubs and at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester NY.

Adam talks about more than just chops that helps him play music better and be a more seasoned musician.

Adam talks about sound and flow from the drums.

Adam talks about some of the other jobs he had before the age of 22.

Aside from clinics and masterclasses, Adam has taught at: New York University, The New School of Social Research, Long Island University, and Jamey Aebersold's Summer Jazz Band Camps.

Adam talks about the process and things being instant.

Adam had the Nutree Quartet as well as The Leadbelly Project.

Adam talks about Leadbelly and the albums he grew up with.

Shout-out to the members of the Leadbelly Project who play with Adam in that group.

Ohad Talmor - saxophone, Steve Cardenas - guitar, and Nate Radley - guitar

Adam picks the iconic recording.

Shout-out to the Count Basie Orchestra and their tune “Little Darlin”.

Adam talks about the patience of Shirley Horn and the song “Estate”. He also brings up Marvin Gaye and the standards he sung.

Damon brings up the '“Sinatra at the Sands” album and Adam mentions the Hollywood shows.

Adam talks about the first Jimi Hendrix album changing his life.

Adam mentions some of the British drummers that were influenced by US jazz drummers.

Adam brings up a Connecticut muisic legend in Sally White.

Adam mentions the Gene Ammons album “Gentle Jug”.

Adam and Damon mention some more musicians from Fairfield County in Chip Jackson, the late Dave Samuels, Brian Torff, Jim Mola, Joey Cutrone, John Mayer, Tim DeHuff, Andy Abel, Chris Morrison, Gil Parris, Charlie Karp, Harvey Brooks, Benny Davis, and McCoy Tyner.

Adam talks about moving to Easton Pennsylvania and needing to be near an airport.

Shout-out to the Lafayette Bar.

T.I.M.E. = This I Must Earn.

Adam uses: Zildjian cymbals, Sonor drums, Drum Workshop hardware, Canopus snare drums, Zoom corporation products, Evans drumheads, Gator cases, Qsticks drumsticks, HeadHunters sticks and creations,

Shout-out to Adam’s wife and Joe Corsello.

You can follow Adam on his Website, Facebook and Instagram.

The song leading out of the interview is “Green Corn” from the Leadbelly Project.