#427 Brian Griffin- Drummer, Composer, Session Musician and More!
Photo of Brian taken by Tony Kurz.
This week’s guest is Brian Griffin! A first-call sideman and in-demand session musician, Los Angeles-based drummer and recording artist Brian Griffin has forged a singular path as a versatile and dynamic performer, known for balancing sparkling technique with a warm vintage sound and deep musicality in his work with some of the most respected roots, rock and Americana artists today. He has worked extensively with The Black Crowes, Lana Del Rey, Brandi Carlile, Patti Smith, and Richard Marx, and performed or recorded with Roseanne Cash, Rodney Crowell, Alessia Cara, Dionne Warwick, the Wallflowers, Brett Dennen, Nikki Lane, Greg Holden, Sharon Jones, Iggy Pop, Rumer, Gogol Bordello, David Gray, Ivan Neville, Anders Osborne, Butch Walker, Fee Waybill, Lera Lynn, The Lone Bellow, John Popper, and Taylor Hicks, among many others.
Brian’s many recording credits include the Black Crowes Grammy-nominated record “Happiness Bastards”, Brandi Carlile’s Grammy-nominated record The Firewatcher’s Daughter; Lana Del Rey’s Certified Gold albums Ultraviolence and Honeymoon; and Alessia Cara’s Top 40 hit single Out of Love.
Most recently, Brian produced and recorded his debut album “BG & Coyote Radio – Drive West” which features NYC luminaries Adam Levy, Jamie McLean, Andy Hess and Jon Solo.
Brian plays Gretsch drums, Istanbul AGOP Cymbals, Evans drum heads and Vater drumsticks.
R.I.P.
Rest in peace to the great Roy Ayers.
Roy Ayers, whose 'Everybody Loves The Sunshine' charmed generations, dies at 84 -Read More
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Leigh Howard Stevens! There isn’t a single aspect of marimba technique, repertoire or design that has not been profoundly influenced by the work of Leigh Howard Stevens. From “Stevens Grip” to the types of motions used to play the instrument; from the length and material of the mallet handles to the wrapping and stitching of the heads; from the first height-adjustable all wooden marimba frame in the 1980s to the first fully-tunable resonators in the 1990s; from one-handed rolls and baroque ornaments to the use of expressive contrasting roll types; from the early polyphonic Helble Preludes to the works of John Serry, David Maslanka and Joseph Schwantner, to his own original compositions and transcriptions.
Considered “revolutionary” at the time, many of his ideas are now considered to be basic technique, and in fact, have become routine in contemporary marimba compositions and performance. It’s no exaggeration to say that Leigh Howard Stevens has been at the very heart of the growth of marimba repertoire, development of its pedagogy, and improvement of the instrument’s design over the last 45 years.
This fresh approach to music making on the marimba has greatly expanded the instrument’s compositional possibilities, stimulated composer enthusiasm for the marimba’s use in solo and chamber music and ultimately led to a series of more than 30 world premiere performances by Mr. Stevens. The first performance of Raymond Helble’s Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra by Leigh Howard Stevens and the Denver Symphony in 1980 was a milestone in the development of marimba literature. His digitally recorded all-Bach album has been greeted with rave reviews for its artistry by magazines as diverse as Stereophile and Billboard.
Devoted marimba lovers have sprung up all over the world – both players and the general public – converted by Leigh Howard Stevens’ solo recitals, hundreds of college campus appearances, concertos with symphony orchestra, European concert tours, masterclasses and radio and television appearances both here and abroad. He has been featured in Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and appeared on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, and Voice of America’s internationally broadcast, New York, New York. His celebrated musicianship, imaginative programming and exciting performances have inspired critical acclaim and standing ovations in 48 states in the USA and in 18 foreign countries. Mr. Stevens introduced the marimba to The People’s Republic of China in a televised performance in 1994 that reportedly reached an audience of 80 million viewers.
Mr. Stevens is the founder and chief creative force behind Malletech, the world leader in design and manufacturing of keyboard percussion instruments used by professional percussionists. He has been awarded eleven U.S. Patents for musical instrument design. In addition to the 5-octave Malletech Imperial Grand Marimba that he performs on, he also led the creative team that developed the company’s game-changing Omega Vibe and Love Vibe. Mr. Stevens taught for many years at the Royal Academy of Music in London, England, where he was Professor of Marimba. He was elected to the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 2006.
Leigh Howard Stevens’ repertoire ranges from Renaissance music and the Preludes and Fugues of J. S. Bach, to original marimba works written by contemporary composers expressly for him. Many of these original compositions were considered too challenging, both technically and musically, to be performed by solo marimbists until the development of Mr. Stevens’ new system of four-mallet technique. Percussionists and marimbists, the world over, have adopted his revolutionary approach to 4-mallet technique, as set forth in his ground-breaking book, Method of Movement, which has been published in six languages.
Mr. Stevens can be heard on past releases of the Delos, Musical Heritage Society, Musicmasters and CRI record labels, as well as current releases on Resonator Records.
Happy Birthday to John Roesch! John is a professional foley artist that has worked in the film business for over 30 years. He was an actor at Radnor High School and attended the United States International University School for Preforming Arts in San Diego for one year. During that time, he, along with 3 other peers, created a short film called " Indian Magic is What You See". This won the San Diego Film Festival in 1972, Spring-boarding from there, he attended New York University and graduated with a BFA in Film. He then applied and was accepted to the American Film Institute as a Directing Fellow . As fate would have it, a fellow filmmaker asked if he could "help" with the sound on the film she was working on and that was his first taste of foley and he never looked back from there. He is a member of Local 700 , Motion Picture Sound Editors, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He still loves his job to this day. He credits much of his success to those he has met along the way.
Gig Alerts
The Bottlerock Festival is happening in Napa Valley, CA from May 23rd-25th.
The Glastonbury Festival is happening in Pilton, Somerset, England from June 25th-29th.
Alanis Morissette is doing a residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas from October 15th-November 2nd. -Read More
Educational Spotlight
There is a Day of Percussion event in Riverton, UT this coming Saturday March, 15th. Friend of the show Brendan Mason will be one of the clinicians.
The Drum Fantasy Camp is back in Los Angeles, CA from August 2nd-6th. The drum coaches have all been revealed as Dave Weckl, Dennis Chambers, Peter Erskine, and Gavin Harrison. Tickets are already going fast!
Iconic Recording
Brian picked the iconic recording for this week. He chose, "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" by The Delfonics. Damon talked about the Philadephia Soul sound or “The Sound of Philadelphia” aka T.S.O.P. with Earl Young on drums, and Vincent Montana Jr. on vibes and bells. Possibly Larry Washington on percussion.
Here are the two playlists Damon mentions for other T.S.O.P. artists or bands backed by the MFSB rhythm section.
Music News
The 2026 World Cup is taking a page out of the NFL’s playbook with a musical half-time performance. Gianni Infantino, the FIFA President, announced the move—stating Coldplay would help choose the performers. -Article
Help get Clyde Stubblefield into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame! Sign the petition!
Protect your art with the following video.
And with THIS WEBSITE.
Check out this particular lawsuit filed on behalf of artists by the ACLU.
The Las Vegas Drum Show is happening Sunday March the 30th.
Brian Griffin Interview
The song leading into the interview is “Dirty Cold Sun” performed by The Black Crowes, from the album, ‘Happiness Bastards’ with Brian on drums.
Brian attended Darien High School in CT. Damon went to Norwalk High School with friend of the show Gerald Myles. All of them took lessons at Norwalk Music, owned and run by the Spremulli family.
Damon mentions some other Connecticut musicians.
Brian attended the University of Virginia.
After Virginia, Brian came back to NYC (in Brooklyn) and interned at JSM Studios.
He then attended and got his masters at the Manhattan School of Music.
Brian ended up studying in Rio de Janeiro. Shout-out to Mike Stevens and Alex Shaw.
Brian studied Portuguese by using the Pimsleur method.
Brian has played with and still plays with Jamie McLean. Shout-out to his brother, and friend of the show Carter McLean.
Brian takes photos on the road.
Brian has toured with artists like The Black Crowes, Brandi Carlile, Brett Dennen, Matt Nathanson and several others.
Brian played with the Lone Bellow out of Brooklyn for a while.
Brian talks about recording and touring with Brandi.
Brian moved to Los Angeles next.
Brian and Damon talk about different Sixthman Cruises.
Brian talks about Living Colour and some other bands on the Sail Across the Sun cruise.
Shout-out to Johnny’s Records in Darien, CT, and Sally’s Place in Westport, CT.
Brian talks about seeing his first concerts. Miles Davis and The Count Basie Orchestra at the Palace Theater in Stamford, CT. Later Phil Collins as well.
Brian talks about recording his new album, “Heading West”
Shout-out to Andy Hess, Charley Drayton, and friend of the show, Shawn Pelton.
Brian talks about the “Bass Desires” album.
Brian picks the iconic recording for the week. It was in the movie Jackie Brown.
Brian Uses Vater sticks and mallets, Istanbul Agop cymbals, Gretsch drums, and Evans drumheads.
Shout-out to Mike Spremuilli, Jeff Kunkel, Tom Miner, Robert Jospé, John D'earth, John Riley, Bob Moses, and Shawn Pelton.
You can follow Brian on his Website, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
Brian and Damon talk about some great times in NYC in the Lower East Side and West Village.
The song leading out of the interview is, “Professor Tubbs” performed by BG & Coyote Radio from Brian’s new album, ‘Drive West’
