Session Drums/Percussion/Loops

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: Worked on a song a few years ago with a singer/songwriter out of LA where I ended up recording 22-23 tracks of drum kit, percussion and multi-track tom parts. It's just a good representation of what I can do for a client. Coming soon will be a promo of my "Boom Boom Drum Room" using part of this song. Also, the Jett Blakk project, one song of which is on my profile....that's when I really got my playing where I wanted it for recording. Plus, it was recorded pretty much with no accompaniment except click track and chart sheets so it gave for confidence to that skill as well.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Shure, Senheiser, AKG, Solomon Mics into 16 Channel Focusrite Pres into a MacBook Pro running Logic Pro. Live Drum kit in 13 channels. Other percussion/electronic percussion added depending on the song.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: George Martin, Tom Petty, Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Hal Blaine, Rick Rubin, Sturgill Simpson, Tony Brown, Eddie Bayers, Jeff Porcaro, Jim Keltner, Levon Helm, Pete Townshend, Dave Grohl

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: North American Musical Groove.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Recording stuff for clients out of here & doing a bit of freelance gigging until Hank Williams Jr. goes back on the road next year.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I like the purity and warmth of analog but the portability and function of digital. As long as digital is used like analog in not altering to much what is laid done so the feel isn't lost.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: That I will make sure they are happy with what I've done for them.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That I get to do something I love and create.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That it's easy. It's only easy because I've done it so long, I now know where to take it.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: See above question.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Please supply me with all the tracks you have along with the click for me to have the most information to do the best job for you.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: Kick, Snare, Hat, Record console, record collection

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: My complete bio is on my website but heres the short version. Been a professional musician for right on 25 years and have been playing and practicing my craft for 40 yrs. I began life as a professional musician straight out of college. Spent 5-6 year touring the SouthEast with various bands while living in Charlotte, NC. Moved to Nashville, TN in 1997 and have been living, working, gigging, touring and recording out of here since then. Many of the acts I've worked with are listed on my profile.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Paul McCartney...Because of his openness to suggest or try anything along with some of the most amazing song sensibility of the past half century.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Make sure to have clean, clear signals between instruments and tracking. And keep an open mind.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: It varies...Rock, Pop, Country, Americana, etc.....Kind of anything or anyone looking for a good feeling groove under what they are trying to convey.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: In the musical realm, it's having empathy for the song, song writer and producer and being able to interpret what they would like to hear from me while keeping an open mind.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Sensibility to the song itself and to give that song the support it deserves and requires. It is my work to help bring the artist's vision to fruition along with understanding what they want.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: If available, request all of the stems from the client. The more information I have, the better job I do for them. Set up the session and create a click (if not supplied) and a cue mix that gives me the best parts to lock in with. Essentially, in a lot of my work, I'm replacing drum programming that have real time instruments and vocals recorded on top so I'm "picking up a house and replacing the floor." Next is charting the song using the Nashville Number System form and getting the song under my hands and into my ears. Once I get a little comfortable with the form, I begin tracking. In tracking the full drum kit for a song, I will get the whole performance. By that, I mean: No Punch ins on the drum track performance because that's what it is. A performance that is connected from start to finish. Once getting the whole drum track, I go back to add any needed percussion; which I do punch in from section to section where needed. A rough MP3 mix is then created to send to the client for approval and any changes or additions requested are made. Once done, approved and payment is received, all drum/percussion stems are sent to the client and I retain all original stems for my files for any future reference or possible promotion with the original creators permission.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: I record and send live acoustic drum and percussion tracks for clients. Live drum replacement for programmed drums and a bit of electronic programming if required or requested.