#393 Jonathan Haas- Percussionist, Educator, Author and More!
This week’s guest is Jonathan Hass. Virtuoso timpanist Jonathan Haas has raised the status of the timpani to that of a solo instrument throughout his unique career that has spanned more than twenty years. From classical concertos to jazz and rock & roll, from symphonic masterpieces to the most experimental compositions of living composers, Haas has championed, commissioned, unearthed and celebrated music for his instrument, becoming, as Ovation magazine hailed him, "The Paganini of the timpani."
His concerts on the world's most prestigious musical stages and his ground-breaking recordings have delighted critics and listeners on both sides of the ocean. The New York Times wrote, "Wherever one finds a percussion instrument waiting to be rubbed, shook, struck or strummed, [Haas] is probably nearby, ready to fulfill his duties with consummate expertise... he is a masterful young percussionist."
Most recently, Haas has garnered widespread praise and attention for his performances of Philip Glass' Concerto Fantasy for Two Timpanists and Orchestra, a piece conceived by Haas and completed because of his quest to spotlight the timpani. The Concerto Fantasy features not only two timpanists, but also 14 timpani, all placed downstage in front of the orchestra. In 2000, Haas performed the world premiere of the piece with the American Symphony, and he has subsequently performed it at Carnegie Hall and in Phoenix, New Jersey, Baltimore, Pasadena, Long Beach (California), St. Louis and Mexico City. Haas also performed the European premiere with the BBC Symphony in London, the world premiere of a chamber orchestra version with the Iris Chamber Orchestra in Memphis, the Czechoslovakian premiere with the Prague Symphony Orchestra at the International Music Prague Spring Festival, the Norwegian premiere with the Bergen Philharmonic, and he will perform the Australian premiere with the Sydney Symphony and the Turkish premiere with the Istanbul Philharmonic.
As active an entrepreneur as he is an artist, Haas heads Sunset Records, Kettles and Company, and Gemini Music Productions which contracts musicians for Lincoln Center, New York Pops, and many other organizations. He also works closely with percussion industry manufacturers Pearl/Adams, Promark and Zildjian, among others. Read More
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to friend of the show Rolando Morales! Rolando Morales-Matos is a well sought after Latin, Jazz and Classical percussionist. He is a band leader/vibraphonist/composer of Latin Jazz group Rolando Morales-Matos & Forward. He has toured worldwide performing at the major jazz festivals and venues as a member of Ron Carter Foursight Quartet, as well as appearing with artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Dave Samuels, Dave Valentine, Willie Colon, William Cepeda, to name a few. Rolando has recorded with Ron Carter, Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, Birdland Big Band, as well as numerous film soundtracks and classical works. In 2006, Rolando was the recipient of Drum Magazine's World Beat Percussionist of the Year Award. Since 1997, he has been the Percussionist and Assistant Conductor of the Tony Award- winning Broadway musical The Lion King. Rolando has developed unique vocabularies of playing melodies on non-pitched instruments such as drums, cowbells, cymbals and more. His published works include the textbook “Techniques and Basic Patterns for Congas, Timbales, and Bongos” and over 20 compositions for percussion ensemble. In 2008, Rolando released his solo album “From The Earth” featuring the Hang Drum, and most recently, his Latin Jazz group’s debut album “Forward”.
Happy Birthday to friend of the show Bryan Carter! Carter attended The Juilliard School as a Jazz Studies major and studied with Carl Allen and Kenny Washington. He was the recipient of the Irene Diamond Scholarship as well as the Samuel L Jackson Scholarship. While at Juilliard, Carter took a strong interest in composition, orchestration and interdivisional cross-collaborative performance.
Bryan has toured the world with his band, “Bryan Carter & The Young Swangers”. He also served as the house drummer for NBC’S “Maya & Marty” starring Maya Rudolph, Keenan Thompson and Martin Short. The show has featured guests including Miley Cyrus, Nick Jonas, Tom Hanks, Drake, Steve Martin and Tina Fey.
Happy Birthday to friend of the show Vince Wallace! Vince is a percussionist, composer, and music educator based in Pittsburgh, PA. He founded and owns Wallace Music Services, LLC. He is the owner, founder, and director of Pittsburgh Steeline, which operates the official drumline of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Vince holds a Masters of Arts in Music from Truman State University. Wallace is a graduate of Gateway and IUP. He teaches music in the Propel charter schools, came up with the idea for a Steelers drum line in 2011, and with help from friend Dustin Lowes and a few others, brought Steeline to life. Article
Gig Alerts!
The Newport Folk Festival is happening July 26-28 in Rhode Island. Tickets are sold out however there are some waitlist tickets available on the website and through select third-party resellers like stubhub. Folk Festival after-shows are happening in and around Rhode Island.
The 47th Annual Telluride Jazz Festival is happening AUGUST 9-11, 2024 in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. Single and multiple-day passes are available for the event on the website. You can also camp out during this 3-day event.
Cirque du Soleil takes a surprising turn with the debut of its first country music show, Songblazers, in collaboration with Universal Music Group Nashville. Upcoming shows are happening in San Antoio, TX at the Majestic Theatre August 24-25. Article
Jas Aspen Snowmass has an experience happening Labor Day Weekend (Aug. 30- Sept. 1) 2024 | Snowmass Town Park. The line-up will include artists such as Brandi Carlile, Sting, One Republic, Tim McGraw, and The Black Crows and many others.
Educational Spotlight
This week’s guest Jonathan Haas, will be teaching in Aspen, CO this summer at the Aspen Music Festival and School You can attend recitals, chamber music concerts and much more.
There is also JAS Academy of Music (Jazz Aspen Snowmass) that has a host of educational programs like the Jazz Academy where you can study with artists like Christian McBride and Etienne Charles.
Iconic Recording
Jonathan picked this week’s iconic recording which Music from his forthcoming album “Journeyisms”. You can hear a snippet below.
The honorable mention is: “The Black Page 1 & 2.” by Frank Zappa. Known for being extraordinarily difficult to play. Originally written for the drum kit and melodic percussion (as "The Black Page Drum Solo"), the piece was later rearranged in several versions, including the "easy teenage New York version" (commonly referred to as "The Black Page #2") and a so-called "new-age version", among others.
Music News
American Airlines Adds Entire Ticketmaster Inventory to Frequent Flyer Redemption Menu. The AAdvantage Events website now presents Ticketmaster’s entire inventory, from concerts, festivals, family live shows, and sporting events. The new inventory includes standard event tickets and verified resale tickets. Users can login to the website to see the number of miles needed to redeem specific ticket packages. Article
AXS Lawsuit Reveals Scalpers Have Reverse-Engineered Ticketmaster’s ‘Non-Transferrable’ Tickets. A lawsuit filed by AXS in a California court revealed the battle that’s underway between Ticketmaster and ticket scalpers. 404 Media details how scalpers have cracked the code behind the tickets, generating entry barcodes on parallel infrastructure that the scalpers control. These tickets can then be sold and transferred to unwitting customers who think they bought legitimate resold tickets. Article
Jonathan Haas Interview
The music leading into the interview is “Cubano Chant” by Ray Bryant. Produced by Jonathan Haas, with Jonathan on Timpani.
Damon talks about meeting Jonathan at NYU.
Jonathan talks about teaching at the Aspen Music Festival and School for 39 years as well as his other current teaching positions at NYU, Juliard and his work teaching in China.
Damon mentions there’s a Thai saxophonist with the same name and spelling as Jonathan’s and Jonathan clarifies his website was actually stolen and taken over.
Jonathan discusses the Percussion collective with Robert Van Sice.
Jonathan talks about his sister who was instrumental in his introduction to playing music while she was the principal cellist at their Chicago high school. He joined the school orchestra and this led to his lifelong study of music.
Jonathan is from the Chicago, Illinois area and discusses his life in Chicago’s music scene. Jonathan talks about pizza in Chicago vs. New York. He prefers Chicago’s pizza. Damon talks about New Haven pizza.
Jonathan talks about his love of the timpani and what drew him to the instrument.
Jonathan used to watch concerts at the Chicago Stockyards.
Shout-out to the late Jake Jerger and the Percussorama he hosted with his students. Shout-out to the late Dave Samuels.
Apologies to Debbie Katz.
Briefly discusses his dad’s role as CEO of Sealy Posturepedic® Mattresses.
Jonathan talks about why he chose Washington University in St Louis after high school. He credits Rich O’Donnell as his greatest mentor at this time.
Jonathan talks about the importance of athletics in his life.
Jonathan talks about playing in the St. Luis Symphony and going to Juilliard to study with Saul Goodman ultimately obtaining his Master of Artist diploma in 1979 and the job that followed immediately.
Jonathan performed with the Charlotte Symphony after graduating from Juilliard.
Jonathan tells a wonderful story about his early experience with the Rockefeller Foundation and how Vic Firth inadvertently helped him achieve his goal within the organization.
Damon and Jonathan discuss patience and perseverance while navigating a career in music.
Jonathan sold the Encyclopedia Britannica when he was younger.
Shout-out to friend of the show Stefon Harris.
Jonathan tells the story of why he wrote to Frank Zappa’s publisher and how it culminated in a successful performance of Zappa’s music ten years later. Damon shares a similar story about writing to iconic musician Stefon Harris. Both artists reflect again on the importance of patience.
Jonathan talks about playing and teaching at the Aspen Summer Music Festival
Jonathan discusses teaching at NYU.
Damon mentions hoiw Def Jam started in an NYU dorm room and makes a Hip Hop connection for Jonathan.
Damon asks Jonathan if he and Master Christopher Thompson (Friend of the show) ever crossed paths.
Damon and Jonathan discuss Jonathan’s other jobs aside from teaching at NYU, Juilliard, and Aspen Chamber Orchestra/Aspen music festival and school, and Peabody Conservatory.
Jonathan discusses Gemini Music productions, the largest employer of musicians in the New York City area, and music contracting.
Jonathan discusses writing the Jazz Virtuostics for Timpani book. Influenced by Vic Benton
Damon ask Jonathan how he built the world’s largest timpani, nearly 6' wide, nearly 4' tall, and 70 inches in diameter, almost twice the size of the world's second-largest timpani.
Jonathan discusses his heavy metal band 'Clozshave’
Jonathan talks about his forthcoming album “Journeyisms” with Tim Adams and Lenny White.
Jonathan uses Yamaha drums and percussion instruments, D’Addario/Promark sticks and mallets.
Shout-out to Tom Stubbs, Richard O’Donnell, John Kasica, Rick Holmes, Charlie Owen, Saul Goodman and all of his students.
You can follow Jonathan on Facebook.
The song leading out of the interview is Sweet Georgia Brown by Maceo Pinkard produced by Jonathan Haas, with Jonathan on Timpani. "Sweet Georgia Brown" is a jazz standard composed in 1925 by Ben Bernie and Maceo Pinkard, with lyrics by Kenneth Casey.
