#407 Lalo Davila- Percussionist, Educator, Author and More!
This week’s guest is Lalo Davila. Lalo Davila is currently Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies at Middle Tennessee State University. Lalo received his Bachelor of Music degree from Texas A & M Corpus Christi and a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas.
Lalo has extensive experience both as an educator, composer, author, and performer. Lalo was named Nashville’s Top Five 1998 Percussionist of the Year Award and “Nashville Scene’s” 2012 “Best Latin Jazz Musician”. Lalo has toured with many artists including the "Take 6" Summer 1996 tour of Japan. Other performances include; the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, the Nashville Symphony, the Nashville Jazz Orchestra, the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, the Nashville Chamber Chorus, the Nashville Ballet, Six Pence and None The Richer, Clay Walker, Allen Vizzutti, and Arturo Sandoval to name a few. Mr. Davila can also be heard on Kirk Whalum's Grammy-nominated CD “Hymns In The Garden”. Most recently, Lalo’s voice and playing can be heard (as Jafar) in Disney’s Dual Language Series “Aladdin”, “So You Think You Can Dance”, The movies “People Like Us”, “The Amazing Burt Wonderstone”, “McFarland USA”, and “The Equalizer”, EA SPORTS' recent release, NCAA College Football 25, The 2012 PlayStation Game "Thieves in Time", "Star Wars", "America's Funniest 2010 Commercials". Lalo has also composed music for: “Drop Dead Diva”, “Breaking Bad”, “Graceland”, and “Burn Notice”.
Known as an outstanding clinician and adjudicator, Lalo has conducted clinics/performances throughout the United States, Australia, Paris, Poland, Mexico, Sweden, Cuba, and Japan. Lalo is the author of “Contemporary Rudimental Studies and Solos”, and “Play at First\Sight”, “Timptastic”, “Uncommon Duos”, " Bugadafish", and “Jingle Jamz”. Lalo is an active clinician/performer for the Pearl Corporation, Row-Loff Productions, Avedis Zildjian Co., Innovative Percussion, Grover Pro Percussion, and EVANS Drumheads.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Kenny Grohowski! 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.
Happy Birthday to Makaya McCraven! Makaya is a beat scientist. The cutting edge drummer, producer, and sonic collagist is a multi-talented force whose inventive process & intuitive style of performance defy categorization. French-born, but raised in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts by expatriate musician parents, McCraven went on to develop his chops in Chicago and now represents a rising generation of globally-minded, genre-bending music makers as an artist as well as band leader. Through his unique, rarified performances and collaborations he unapologetically affirms our right to re-think and re-write the rules, any rules, and affirms other artists in their own exploratory evolutions. The song playing behind his intro is ‘Suite Haus’, from his newest album, “Universal Beings”.
Happy Birthday to Josh Dion! This week’s guest is Josh Dion. Josh is 50% of the band Paris Monster, where he plays drums, keyboards and also sings. Josh Dion was born at the tail end of the disco funk era, when popular radio bore the sounds of Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and 'four on the floor' drum beats! Raised in Storrs, CT, Josh started playing his father's drums before he even started kindergarten. He grew up playing drums to the simple and beat driven sounds of Nick Mason and Ringo Starr. He also lived across the hall from his older brother, who not only followed the Grateful Dead, but introduced him to Cream at the tender age of seven. Rightfully so, Cream, Zeppelin and the Stones led Dion to Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson and beyond.
A prodigious talent, Josh started playing professionally at age eight and was invited to shed with the UConn Jazz Studies program by the time he was twelve. While he was impressing people with his percussion skills, he was playing piano and singing in his local church, developing talents which would eventually help him stand out even among the world class drummers in whose company he has now found himself.
After a stint in the music program at New Jersey's William Paterson University, he has made New York City his home. Josh's college days were greeted by an immersion in the Jam band scene with NYC funk band Ulu, who toured the Eastern half of the US. Josh was soon noticed by jazz guitarist Chuck Loeb, who offered Josh an opportunity to be seen and heard by a whole new level of the music audience. From that platform, he has gone on to work with some of the major brand names of the music world: Candy Dulfer, Spyro Gyra, Will Lee, Pat Martino, Jeff Kashiwa, Jason Miles, Anthony Jackson, Edgar Winter, Randy Brecker, Bob James, Eric Marienthal, Til Bronner, Jim Beard, Ivan Lins and on and on.
Happy Birthday to Adam D. Hill! Adam is a music educator and percussionist in the Chicagoland area. He received a B.A. in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music with an emphasis in percussion under the instruction of Kevin Lepper and Dr. Charlie Menghini. At Romeoville High School in Romeoville, Illinois, Hill is the director of percussion, assistant marching band director, and teaches music technology, music theory, and guitar. Adam also is a member of the music faculty at University of St. Francis in the Music Technology program. He founded Pioneer Indoor, an independent marching percussion ensemble and has lead the ensemble to multiple WGI medals as their Executive Director. Adam Hill spent ten seasons as a member of the Chicago Bears drumline and is currently the director of the Chicago Bulls “Stampede“ Drumline. He was a member of Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps and spent several seasons as their percussion coordinator, caption head, and arranger. Hill placed within the top ten for snare drum solo contest in Drum Corp
International, Drum Corps Midwest, and PASIC. In 2002, he placed second in the DCI snare drum solo compe-tition. Hill received the “Dr. Rosanne Rosenthal Excellence in Teaching Award” from Vandercook College of Music, the “Natalie Stukas Hearing Conservation Award”, and named a Pillar of the Community in Valley View School District. Adam Hill is an active music arranger, judge, clinician and performer. He proudly endorses Innovative Percussion, Evans, Dynasty, Zildjian, and Etymot-ic ear protection.
Happy Birthday to Taku Hirano! Taku, 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.
And Happy Birthday to this week’s guest, Lalo Davila (on October 25th!)
Gig Alerts
The Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez tribute concert will be in Los Angeles at the Catalina Jazz Club on Wednesday November 13th at 8.30pm.
The Casey Benjamin tribute concert will be in NYC at Sony Hall on October 30th (including friend of the show, Stefon Harris).
Also on October 30th, Pedrito Martinez and his band will be playing two sets at the Blue Note in NYC. (Photo by Martin Cohen)
If you are interested in going to a Halloween themed music festival there are plenty LISTED HERE.
There are other Halloween based events LISTED HERE.
Damon will be playing the NYCLU/ACLU benefit again “Sing Out For Freedom” as part of the house band.
Educational Spotlight
The Southern California Day of Percussion is happening Sunday October 27th from 9am-4pm at the Shigemi Matsumoto recital hall at Cal State Northridge and it is FREE. Friend of the show, Aaron T. Smith is the host.
Friends of the show, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Richie “Gajate” Garcia, and Roland Garcia will all be giving clinics.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The 2025 Percussion @ Penn State Marimba Festival & Competition!! Registration is required - all participation is free! The Marimba Competition will take place in the morning and afternoon, Saturday January 18 with winners announced at the evening showcase concert at 7:30 pm on January 18.
More information can be found by CLICKING HERE.
Iconic Recording
Lalo picks the iconic recording of “My Way” by Frank Sinatra. Damon mentions the version (below) from his retirement concert.
Music News
Limp Bizkit Sue Universal Music Group for $200 Million Over Unpaid Royalties -Article
Damon mentions the “Living Wages for Musicians” act that is currently in the House of Representatives. If you don’t know how an bill becomes a law, THIS VIDEO HERE will help explain it to you.
There are still some grants available in the month of October you can apply for. Check out this video below and apply.
Sphere Entertainment announces a second Sphere project in Abu Dhabi, after the planned London Sphere project falls through. -Article
Lalo Davila Interview
The song leading into the interview is “Little Drummer Boy” from Lalo’s group, ‘Lalo Davila & Orkesta Cubana’.
The interview starts with Damon mentioning Lalo’s first and last name are a fivelet. La-Lo-Da-Vi-La.
Lalo is the Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies at Middle Tennessee State University. Lalo also mentions some of the great faculty he works with.
Lalo is of Mexican decent. Damon mentions Hispanic Heritage Month.
Lalo grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Lalo grew up playing boleros first. When he got into school he started the rudiments before expanding to other contemporary percussion instruments.
Lalo got his Bachelor of Music degree from Texas A & M Corpus Christi and then his Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas.
Lalo mentions Cumbia from Mexico, and also learning some Afro-Cuban styles and instruments outside the classroom.
Lalo played Huapango music as a kid. He also played some Banda music that was in the Breaking Bad series.
Lalo has passive income with books and ensemble pieces he’s written and signature series sticks.
Shout-out to Eric Johnson.
Shout-out to former students of Lalo and friends of the show Andy Smith and Marcus Finnie.
Lalo and Damon talk about getting gigs.
Shout-out to Jeff Coffin.
Shout-out to Clay Walker.
Lalo talks about country music in and around Nashville.
Lalo and Damon talk about being financially aware and planning for the future.
Lalo has been conducting a bunch.
He taught at Phantom Regiment back in the day.
Lalo has a book specifically for the Tambourine (which is his favorite instrument).
Damon mentions the conversation on frame drums with (friend of the show) Glen Velez.
Lalo is a fan of fishing. He prefers saltwater fishing, but will settle on a lake.
Lalo picks the iconic recording for the week.
Lalo mentions “This Is It”.
Shout-out to the late great Phil Faini.
Shout-out to Gilbert Graves, Raymond Sanchez, Doyle Horton, Norm Weinberg, Lalo’s students, Dr. Robert Schietroma, Dan Haerle (and the Zebras), Lalo’s daughters, his wife (and friend of the show) Julie Davila.
Lalo uses Zildjian Cymbals, Pearl Drums, Innovative Percussion, Evans Drumheads and Row-Loff Productions.
Lalo mentions his book, “Play at First Sight”.
Damon mentions PASIC and the schedule on the Guidebook App.
You can follow him on his Website, Facebook, and Instagram.
The song leading out of the interview is “Feliz Navidad” from Lalo’s group, ‘Lalo Davila & Orkesta Cubana’.
