#428 Quintin Mallette- Percussionist, Educator, Researcher and More!
This week’s guest is Quintin Mallette. Quintin Mallette is a dynamic percussionist dedicated to exploring new and underrepresented voices in percussion through performance, commissioning and research.
Quintin is currently a section percussionist with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and has performed with various orchestras and chamber groups across the southeast including the North Carolina Symphony, Carolina Philharmonic, Hilton Head Symphony, Savannah Philharmonic, and Verge Ensemble. As an educator, he has presented clinics at the Georgia Music Educators Association State Convention, NC Day of Percussion, Georgia College Day of Percussion, as well as various high schools and universities throughout Central and Eastern United States.
As a strong supporter of new music, he has recently commissioned several new solo and chamber works by rising composers including Jonathan Bingham, Jennifer Jolly, Molly Joyce, Shruthi Rajasekar, Juri Seo, Finola Merivale, Aeryn Santillan, Susanna Hancock, and Emma O’Halloran through the Everybody Hits! and Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History Consortiums. Additional performing interests include electroacoustic music with a special interest in the vibraphone as highlighted through commissioning projects with Von Hansen and Paul Lansky, and Alex Dowling.
Quintin is published in Percussive Notes, the official research journal of the Percussive Arts Society, as both an author and reviewer. He currently serves on the scholarly research committee of the Percussive Arts Society, is co-chair of the research committee for the Vibraphone Project and serves on the Racial Diversity sub-committee within the PAS Diversity Alliance.
Quintin will be joining the faculty of East Carolina University in the Fall of 2022. Prior to this he has served on the faculties of Fayetteville State University, Barton College, and the University of Mount Olive. He received his DMA and MM from the University of Georgia and his BM from Howard University. His Primary teachers include Mr. Timothy Adams Jr, Ms. Kimberly Toscano Adams, Mr. William (Bill) Richards II, Dr. Janis Potter, Dr. Jonathan Wacker, and Mr. Chris Nappi. He currently resides in Greenville, NC with his wife Jacquelyn and three kids Cadence, Dorian, and Ellington. Quintin is a proud endorser of Pearl/Adams instruments and Vic Firth sticks and mallets.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Rusty Burge! Rusty joined the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music faculty in 1992 as a member of Percussion Group Cincinnati, with whom he has performed extensively throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Recent performances include the Japan World Drum Festival, Chinese International Music Festival, Taipei International Percussion Convention, the Ravinia Festival, Merkin Hall in New York City and the International Percussion Convention. He has recorded with the Group for the Mode, Centaur, Einstein and Ars Moderno labels. The Group has also made concerto appearances with more than twenty different symphony orchestras. He was formerly principal percussionist with the West Virginia Symphony and plays extra with the Cincinnati Symphony. He received his undergraduate degree from the Eastman School of Music and a masters degree from CCM.
Professor Burge teaches percussion, jazz vibraphone and directs the CCM Steel band. He is an active jazz vibraphonist who has recorded for Summit, J Curve Records, Human Records and Telarc. Recent jazz performances with Ted Nash, Rich Perry, Peter Erskine, Dave Liebman, Rufus Reid, Steve Allee, Steve Houghton, Roland Vazquez, Michael Spiro and Jim Rupp. Recent performances at the 2016 PASIC Convention, the 2016 Midwest Clinic and the 2017 JEN Convention with the BAHA Quartet (Burge, Allee, Houghton and Allen.) His latest recordings are Faraway (with Steve Allee) and Driftin' with Steve Houghton, Steve Allee and Jeremy Allen. In 2017 Burge (as a member of PGC) was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.
Happy Birthday to Jon Shiffman! Growing up in Teaneck, NJ - Jon's love of drumming was forged under the tutelage of his high school band director Bob Hankle (Aretha Franklin - Trombone), and his son Matt (Blue Man Group, Tom Morello - Drums).
After jazz studies at both New School University and City College of New York, Jon began his career as a touring rock/pop drummer.
Most of his time on the road was spent with his band Steel Train - led by Grammy Award winner Jack Antonoff. Garnering a cult following throughout the States, Steel Train's performance highlights included performances at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Conan O'Brien, and David Letterman.
After Steel Train disbanded, Jon went on to record with Antonoff's Grammy award winning, Fun, and was hired as drummer and Music Contractor and Musical Director for Antonoff's solo project, Bleachers. With Bleachers, Jon received a Gold record for his contribution to the record, "I Wanna Get Better".
Since retiring from touring in 2015, Jon maintains a busy schedule that includes drumming for various NYC artists, jingle work, drumming and bandleading in event bands (namely Atomic Funk Project).
He also writes music under the moniker, Sports and Arts, and hopes to release solo material independently in 2023.
Happy Birthday to Brendan Buckley! Brendan is a freelance drummer based out of Los Angeles, CA. Over the course of his career, he has worked with the following artists: Perry Farrell, Shakira, Tegan And Sara, Miley Cyrus, Damien Rice, Shelby Lynne, Daniel Powter, Leighton Meester, Roberto Carlos, Minnie Driver, The BoDeans, Aleks Syntek, Leehom Wang, Beto Cuevas, Idina Menzel, Melissa Ethridge, Alejandra Guzman, Julio Iglesias, Emmanuel, Dallas Austin, Gustavo Santaolalla, Alejandro Sanz, Debi Nova, JJ Lin, Brie Larson, Ozomatli, Madame Recamier, DMX, Nil Lara, Chayanne, Jeff Chang, Michael Miller, Fulano De Tal, Gloria Estefan, and MIYAVI either as a drummer, percussionist, music producer, or songwriter. He grew up in Mount Arlington, NJ, and went to college at the University of Miami’s School of Music. Brendan is also a faculty member at Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, CA.
Gig Alerts
The Ground Up Music Festival Italy is happening in Alberobello, Italy from June 26th-28th.
The Europe Drum Show is happening in Friedrichshafen, Germany from March 29th-30th from 9am-6pm each day (local time).
The Music City Drum Show is happening July 19th-20th in Nashville, Tennessee.
JammCard is celebrating Women’s History Month with an all women jam in Nashville at the Hard Rock Cafe this Wednesday the 19th. 8pm. Free admission!
Lollapalooza has announced their lineup for this year’s festival being held in Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois from July 31st-August 3rd.
Educational Spotlight
Damon will be doing some clinics at UMass Amherst on March 31st from 4.30-6.30pm, and then at UMass Dartmouth on April 2nd from 5-9pm.
There are some upcoming Day of Percussion events this coming weekend, which can be found on the Percussive Arts Society website on the ‘chapters’ tab.
Iconic Recording
Quintin picked the iconic recording for the week. He chose Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 in E Minor, Op. 93: II. Allegro, performed by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Music News
After an executive order ending DEI initiatives, the U.S. Marine Band canceled a concert featuring young musicians of color. Veterans stepped in to mentor the aspiring musicians. However, the U.S. Marine Band was forced to cancel concert with students of color after Trump’s DEI order.
You can see friend of the show, Julie Angelis in the video below make a cameo with the timpanist.
Yankees Will No Longer Play Frank Sinatra’s ‘New York, New York’ After Losses. They will play the crooner's "That's Life" instead. -Read More
The long-awaited sequel to the rock mockumentary ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ (1984) is dropping this summer. Dubbed ‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,’ the original trio are returning—with plenty of all-star cameos. -Read More
Quintin Mallette Interview
The song leading into the interview is called “Improvisation 4”
Shout-out to the Percussive Arts Society and the Diversity Alliance Committee. Damon got to interview that committee’s chair, Elizabeth DeLamater.
Damon mentions the news with DEI initiatives and the department of education.
Quintin talks about what he teaches (he teaches at Eastern Carolina University) and some of the groups he performs with (like the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra).
Damon and Quintin talk about people of color in an classical or contemporary setting.
Shout-out to friend of the show, Raynor Carroll and ABOP.
These were some of the black musicians Damon mentioned that were classical musicians.
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799):
A virtuoso violinist and composer, Saint-Georges is considered one of the first known classical composers of African descent, creating operas, symphonies, and more.
William Grant Still (1895-1978):
Often referred to as "The Dean of African-American Composers," Still's work, including orchestral pieces and ballets, gained acclaim and began appearing on orchestral programs, despite the focus on European composers.
Julius Eastman (1940-1990):
A controversial figure, Eastman was a minimalist composer who defiantly affirmed his identity as an African American gay man in his works.
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912):
A biracial Black composer whose compositions often reflected his African heritage.
Francis “Frank” Johnson (c. 1792 - c. 1844):
A highly skilled musician (trumpeter, violinist, conductor, and composer) who faced racial discrimination in Philadelphia during the pre-Civil War era.
Quintin played football and transitioned to the marching band drumline. After playing in the jazz band he got into composing. He started as a music education major.
Shout-out to Chris Nappi for introducing the music of Steve Reich.
Shout-out to Ross Aftel for introducing the music of Shostakovich.
Quintin mentions the “Pines of Rome” the first time he was in a group with strings.
He started his bachelors degree at East Carolina University, and finished it at Howard University. While at Howard, Quintin played with the Catholic University of America’s Orchestra.
Quintin went on to get his masters and doctorate at The University of Georgia with Tim Adams.
Quintin talks about how he chose each university he attended.
Shout-out to Dr. Fred Irby.
Quintin switched from Music Education to Music Performance while still in his undergrad.
Quintin talks about mental health and a work/life balance. He also encourages his students to experience different things and different parts of the world.
Quintin talks about the translation of music and the book that Nicholas Cook wrote.
Damon and Quintin talk about the translation of music from the African diaspora to other genres of music.
Quintin and Damon touch on syncopation and how it was perceived in earlier times.
Quintin talks about how he finds new music. Shout-out to Alex Smith and the aforementioned Ross Aftel.
Quintin talks about his new ensemble and the use of things like Abelton and improvisation outside of jazz.
Damon mentions the Harmony Cloud app by friend of the show, Stefon Harris.
Quintin talks about Stefon as well.
Quintin talks about his work/life balance with his teaching, playing, and family.
Shout-out to Jonathan Wacker.
Quintin is part of the Scholarly Research Committee and New Music Research Committees for the Percussive Arts Society.
Quintin is involved with The Vibraphone Project. Quintin mentions the Spring Vibefest.
Quintin talks about the marimba vs. vibraphone in an academic situation.
Quintin is a coffee aficionado and takes it black. He uses a Chemex coffee maker.
He enjoys the Lanoca Coffee Roaster company.
Quintin chooses the iconic recording for the week.
Quintin uses Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, and Pearl Drums and Adams Percussion Instruments.
Shout-out to Bill Richards, Jon Wacker, Tim Adams Jr., Alex Smith, Ross Aftel, and his kids.
You can follow Quintin on his Website, Facebook, and Instagram.
The song leading out of the interview is “Birds of Dune”
