#409 Steve Hass- Drummer, Producer, Educator and More!
This week’s guest is Steve Hass. Steve is an American drummer based in Los Angeles, originally from Island Park, New York, born to Greek immigrant parents from Athens. He is notable for his technical skill, time feel, and his musical versatility, having played with many artists from a wide variety of genres.
After attending Berklee College Of Music on scholarship from 1993–1996 Steve was asked to join the Ravi Coltrane Quartet. He toured and recorded with the band from 1996 to 2002. The music was a mixture of traditional jazz, funk, and odd meter fusion. During this time Steve was also a studio drummer in New York City playing on dozens of national jingles, record dates, television shows, and movie soundtracks. He was also a member of Ruben Wilson's "Masters Of Groove" where he shared the drum chair with the legendary Bernard Purdie. In addition, during this period Steve toured with Christian McBride, Suzanne Vega, Miri Ben-Ari, Bob Berg, and Richard Bona amongst others.
In 2003 Steve began touring and recording with multiple Grammy winners and Atlantic recording artists, The Manhattan Transfer. He remains the first call drummer for The Manhattan Transfer, and works with them as his schedule permits. He is the first touring drummer in the history of the band to actually record with them. He is featured on 3 album releases and 1 live concert DVD. In late 2003, Hass released a solo album named Traveler. The CD displays Hass' skills as a talented producer. His usage of sonic layering and drum loops is reminiscent of Jon Brion.
In 2005 Steve joined John Scofield and Mavis Staples to support Scofield's Verve release "That's What I'd Say". The band toured around the world from 2005 until December 2007 playing R+B, Soul, Jazz and Latin styles. Scofield also used Steve in his jazz trio, along with bassist John Benitez for select local N.Y dates.
In 2006 Hass had an eight-page feature interview in Modern Drummer Magazine. He is now a regular educational contributor in the "ask a pro" and "workshop" columns.
In 2007 Steve established a second residence in Los Angeles and quickly became a popular choice for musicians and producers on the LA scene, both live and in the studio. His company, Hassbeat Productions Inc. provides studio services to artists worldwide while allowing Steve to record drum tracks for a variety of artists around the world. Since moving to Los Angeles Steve has become a regular with renowned artists such as Billy Childs, Bob Sheppard, Brandon Fields and Alan Pasqua as well as maintaining his presence in the studio with contemporary rock singer/songwriters, juggling recording sessions for producers The Difference, Rami Yadid and Ken Wallace, and touring with R+B great Patti Austin, top selling fusion/new age pianist Keiko Matsui and The Manhattan Transfer. He continues to work with R&B/Jazz Grammy winner Patti Austin in all variations of her touring band.
R.I.P.
Rest in peace to Quincy Jones, the celebrated US musician and producer who worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and many others, has died at the age of 91. -Read More
Here are 10 songs that showcase his versatility and brilliance in the studio, and his ability to draw the best out of the musicians he worked with. -Article
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Pete Korpela! Pete is a Los Angeles based studio and touring percussionist, recognized internationally for his versatility in orchestral, latin, jazz, world, rock, and pop music. He has collaborated with such renowned talent as, among others: Danny Elfman; Hans Zimmer; Alan Silvestri; Michael Giacchino: John Powell; Harry Gregson-Williams; Josh Groban; Robbie Williams; Jeff Russo; Henry Jackman; Marco Beltrami; Michael McDonald; Carter Burwell; Disturbed; Alan Parsons; Calle 13; Rickie Lee Jones; Al DiMeola; Kelly Clarkson; Madeleine Peyroux; Lizz Wright; Ed Shearmur; Kandace Springs; Ana Moura; Joe Trapanese; Rob Simonsen; Melody Gardot; Los Angeles Philharmonic; Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; Seth MacFarlane; and the 91 st Academy Awards Orchestra.
Some of the movie and TV soundtracks Pete has performed on: The Lion King (2019); Spider-Man Far From Home; Mulan (2020); Jumanji 3; Spies In Disguise; The Addams Family (2019); It 2; Doctor Sleep; Ready Player One; Men In Black International; Christopher Robin; The Predator; Ferdinand; LEGO Movie 2; Onward (2020); Call of the Wild (2020); Mandalorian; Star Trek Discovery; Lady and the Tramp; ToGo and Ralph Breaks the Internet.
Pete has appeared at Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center, Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Sydney Opera House and O2 Arena (London), and has toured across US, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Scandinavia, South Africa and the Philippines. In 2011, he joined Josh Groban’s “Straight to You” world tour and is currently Mr. Groban’s percussionist. In 2012, he toured extensively, with jazz vocalist Melody Gardot, and with tenor Nathan Pacheco. Between 2003 and 2007, he toured throughout the United States with the first National Tour of Tony-Award-winning Walt Disney’s The Lion King, as a marimbist and featured on-stage percussionist. He has also performed with major Broadway shows Hamilton, Motown and Beautiful.
An active Los Angeles-based studio musician, Pete has been working with composer Jeff Russo on the new Star Trek: Discovery series, which features a wide array of exotic percussion instruments from Pete's ever-growing collection. His work can also be heard on the award-winning Assassin’s Creed 2, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood and Assassin’s Creed: Revelations soundtracks—with over 10 million copies worldwide—and in movies Straight Outta Compton (composer Joe Trapanese) and Going in Style (composer Rob Simonsen). He has featured in popular TV shows, including: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; Conan O’Brien; Jimmy Kimmel; Ellen, Good Morning America; Live with Kelly; Later… with Jools Holland; Dancing with the Stars; America’s Got Talent; and PBS Presents: Jackie Evancho. And in 2010, Pete performed with Cirque du Soleil as musical director and lead drummer in a nationally televised project.
Happy Birthday to Eliel Lazo! Eliel Lazo began playing at an early age, egged on by his enthusiastic family. He studied at Oscar Valdes’ school of percussion (former singer and percussionist, of Irakere band). In 2003, at the age of 19, Eliel won the prestigious PERCUBA International Percussion Prize. Eliel Lazo first visited Denmark in 2004 on an invitation from the Danish Radio Big Band. Other invitations followed. Soon Denmark became a stable base on his travels around the world, and in 2007 he made Copenhagen his home. He has played with musicians such as Michel Camilo, Chucho Valdes, Changuito, Tata Guines, Herbie Hancock, Bob Mintzer, Oscar Valdes, Carlos del Puerto, Airto Moreira. He has also played with Cuban bands Diakara, Klimax and Habana Ensemble. He have worked with the Danish Radio Big Band, The Savage Rose, The Antonellie Orchestra, Blanco Y Negro, Mikkel Nordsoe Band, Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, Tip Toe Big Band. Also WDR Bigband from Germany and BBC Bigband from The UK. In 2004 Eliel Lazo recorded his first album ''Art Ensemble of Habana'' with Commodo Depots records from Japan. Then he released his first recording with Stunt records ''Blanco Y Negro'' which was recorded in Cuba. His 3rd album ''El Conguero'' also with Stunt records, was awarded with The Danish Music award best album of the year in the world music category. You can find Eliel's playing on Mikkel Nordsoe ''7 Steps to Heaven'' and ''Diving in space for 3 dacades'' - Hanne Boel ''The Shining of sings'' - the Danish Radio Big Band ''Cuban Flavor'' and ''Spirituasl'', where Eliel is featured as percussionist and vocalist. His playing is also featured on CUBADISCO award winning CD, ''Andante'' of Cesar Lopez Y Habana Ensemble and Kylie Minogue ''Kiss me once''. He performs in the American movie about Cuban music ''Music Under the Radar''. He has taught at conservatories in Cuba, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Germany and Sweden. Eliel's last CD is call ''Eliel lazo and the Cuban funk Machine'' featuring American tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer and a line up of Cuban, Danish and Swedish musicians that make this album very unique. This CD is a tribute to the 70s funk and Cuban Songo. The inspiration is coming from bands such as Irakere, the Head hunters, The Meters and specially Los Van Van. The CD was nominated to the 2015 Cuban Grammys CUBADISCO and is nominated to 2 Danish Grammys (Danish Music Awards) World and Jazz. This CD is dedicated to master Jose Luis Quintana ''Changuito'' and Juan Formell (august 2, 1942 - may 1st, 2014)
Happy Birthday to Tony Lymon! Tony, is the former Assistant Director of Bands at Petal High School in Petal, Mississippi and current co-music arranger/show designer for the Petal High School marching band. Tony is the director and show designer for the Petal Indoor Percussion Theatre, a national WGI Percussion Scholastic World Finalist. He has twice been awarded the Outstanding Junior High Director of the Southeast Mississippi Band Directors Association and the 2008 Mississippi Bandmasters Association AE McClain Outstanding Young Band Director Award. Tony was also the Founder and Director of Eminence Indoor Percussion Ensemble, a regional and national WGI Open Class finalist and championship ensemble.
Tony holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Certification in 3D Architectural Rendering from The 3D Training Institute of New York. He was a member and principal percussionist in the world renowned Southern Miss Wind Ensemble and Southern Miss Symphony Orchestra. While at Southern Miss, Tony was the percussion arranger for the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band and USM indoor percussion ensemble. Tony was also a member of the World Champion Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps (Bloomington, IN) from 1991-1993. In his three years of DCI experience, he won the DCI-Midwest Solo Timpani Champion and the 1994 Percussive Arts Society International Solo Timpani Award. Tony’s original marimba composition “Of Thoughts and Thinking” has become a standard in percussion literature. The piece was most recently recorded by German percussion artist Cornelia Monkse on the CD Marimba 2 and was featured in the French documentary film Le Ciel.
After college, Tony pursued a professional performance career for eight years with the pop/rock band King Konga. While with King Konga, Tony toured the world selling out venues in nationwide. The group did a post September 11th USO tour for the US Military in Hawaii and South East Asia. The four-piece band gained critical acclaim reaching #81 on the AC Hot 100 Pop Charts with “Something Good.” With a rare accomplishment by an independent band, King Konga captured the eyes and ears of many major record labels and the band went on to perform at Woodstock ’99. Tony has also performed with The Mississippi Symphony, Mobile Opera, Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera and The Meistersingers Orchestral/Choral Ensemble.
Tony recently wrapped up a season as the sound designer for The Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps and currently serves as Creative Designer for Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps. He is the owner of Eidetic Creative, a multimedia creative designs solution business. He currently resides in Petal, Mississippi with his wife Emily and 12 year-old daughter Colette.
Happy Birthday to Kwame Henry Jones! Henry, the founder and Lead Instructor for Infinite Roots is a gifted artist, writer and musician. Mr. Jones has over 25 year’s experience in the field of music, with a strong focus on cultural arts. Currently, Infinite Roots provides instruction to over 300 students within the Fairfield and Westchester County areas. Workshop programs have taken place in Albany, New York, Baltimore, Maryland, Up-state Connecticut and Atlanta Georgia. Infinite Roots is also very active within local youth based organizations and public and private schools throughout Stamford and Norwalk Connecticut.
Happy Birthday to Magatte Fall! Three-time Grammy Award winner and credited drummer/composer for “Black Panther”, Magatte Sow, aka Magatte Fall represents the best of both worlds.
Coming from a long line of musicians. At a very early age, Magatte Sow has been around West African music and dance and was exposed to innumerable artists from around the world that influenced him greatly. So it is no surprise that Magatte’s first performance experience began at the youthful age of 2 years old for his parent’s West African Drum and Dance Company.
During this time Magatte knew that he wanted to be a percussionist, and studied intently on djembe, sabar, and tama. His djembe teachers includes his father Malik Sow, Maissa Thioubou and Kissima Diabate. For sabar, he’s studied with Omar Mboup, Chiekh Tirou Mbaye; and Tama he’s studied with the late great Ndongo Mbaye. As he learned, he continued to perform with different artists in Los Angeles; and served his own community by drumming for many dance classes that he continues to do until this day.
As he got older, the demand for his budding talents got greater. He was casted in the movie “Amistad” and has recorded on albums for Ashley Maher, Angelique Kidjo, Rob Thomas, and many other artists. He has performed on many televised award shows as a percussionist, including the Nobel Peace Prize Awards; and has performed with artists from many different styles of music like Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire, The Very Best, Ashley Maher, Andre Manga, Munyungo Jackson, Leon Mobley, Youssou N’Dour, Baba Maal, and Salif Keita, John Legend, Jill Scott, Janelle Monae, Dianne Reeves, Pedrito Martinez and etc.
Happy Birthday to Kris Pooley! Born and raised outside Detroit Michigan. Now living in California, Kristopher primarily composes and produces music for television and film. Also a highly experienced live music director Kristopher is currently the musical director for American Idol and has worked all over the world for more than two decades. Music directing tours and performances on nearly every major awards show and TV show in the world.
Gig Alerts
PASIC is coming up next week. The deadline to get tickets ONLINE was Oct 31st. If you plan to go, you need to get them in person at the Indianapolis Convention Center.
Area4Labs’ Hearby Cares is a new AI-powered initiative to highlight live benefit shows providing relief for areas affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. -Article
Educational Spotlight
Damon has some clinics and masterclasses coming up at universities before heading out to PASIC.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording, chosen by Steve is, “Daahoud” performed by the Clifford Brown (trumpet) and Max Roach (drums) Quintet. It’s from the album, ‘Clifford Brown And Max Roach’. Also performing are: Saxophone: Harold Land, Piano: Richie Powell, and Bass: George Morrow.
Music News
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Just how much money does the music industry contribute to the United States’ GDP? Courtesy of a new report, we have an answer to the question – on top of more intricate information about specific states’ own contributions. -Article
Phish performed a three-night live concert at Albany, NY’s MVP Arena this past weekend, raising over $4 million to support addiction recovery. 100% of net proceeds from ticket revenues, merch sales, and pay-per-view livestream will support the Divided Sky Foundation’s recovery program and new facility in Ludlow, Vermont. -Article
The Grammy Awards have aired on CBS for over 50 years, but that’s about to change as Disney strikes up a significant 10-year deal with rights to the annual music awards show. The Grammys will air on ABC, Hulu, and Disney+ from 2027 through 2036. -Article
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court has upheld a lower court ruling that denied Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s claim that customer antitrust complaints should be resolved through arbitration—based on the terms of service when purchasing tickets. -Article
Hope everyone made a plan to Vote and you will continue to do so in future elections.
Steve Hass Interview
The song leading into the interview is, “26-2” by John Coltrane, performed by his son, Ravi from the album, ‘Mad 6’.
Damon re-aquainted with Steve on a recent gig. Before that, the last time he saw him was ages ago with the Manhattan Vibes, led by friend of the show, Christos Rafalides.
Steve talks about the shortening and origin of his Greek last name.
Steve grew up playing folkloric Greek music before shifting over to Jimi Hendrix.
Shout-out to Panagotis Andreou.
Steve talks about his parents bringing him to some bouzouki festivals as a kid.
“This is for Albert” from the Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers album, ‘Caravan’ is one of the first inspirations in jazz for Steve.
Steve was deciding between Musicians Institute and Berklee. He ended up at Berklee with a scholarship. He talks about some of the connections he made and some of the classes he took.
He mentions some of his classmates like John Blackwell Jr., and Antonio Sanchez.
Steve talks about how some of his school sponsored gigs led him to playing professionally with musicians like Ravi Coltrane.
Shout-out to drummers (friend of the show) Gene Lake and Sean Rickman.
Steve talks about becoming more well rounded and playing many styles and genres in NYC.
Steve talks about getting into and doing jingles, along with other drummers like Tony Mason and (friend of the show) Shawn Pelton.
Studio City Sound is where he would do some remote tracks.
Steve talks about having to change his number and some of the issues that came with that.
Damon and Steve talk about other people with the same names.
R.I.P. to Steve’s uncle Dimitri who owned the Olympic Diner in Midtown Manhattan. Damon and Steve talk about diners as an importance.
Steve has been on the road with Ravi Coltrane, John Scofield and Manhattan Transfer among other groups.
Steve talks about his online drum school called The Drum Squad.
Shout-out to Dave Ratajczak, Tommy Campbell, and (friend of the show) Marvin “Smitty” Smith.
Steve mentions his Patreon Page.
Damon and Steve talk about technology and finding information to be able to get better at music and understanding the music business.
Steve talks about teaching to be a professional and not just learning licks. Knowing what to use and where to use it.
Damon mentions being versatile and Steve mentions all the genres he does regularly.
Shout-out to Steve Jordan, Steve Ferrone, and John J.R. Robinson.
Steve picks the iconic recording for the week.
Steve uses Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, and Vic Firth Sticks. If you are interested in getting Steve’s signature sticks, CLICK HERE.
Shout-out to Tommy Campbell, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Ron Savage, (friend of the show) Jamey Haddad, John LaMattina, Jim Chapin, Dom Famularo, and more!
You can follow Steve on his Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
The song leading out of the interview is, "Last Drag" by Traci Lords from the album with the same name.
