265 – Steve Hass: Finding Success in NYC then LA, Identity vs. Versatility, The Setup/Motion/Sound Connection

Over his multi-chapter career, Steve Hass has found success on both coasts playing with Ravi Coltrane, Richard Bona, and John Scofield, and The Manhattan Transfer among others. He has recently launched a new Patreon endeavor which combines some playing-based lessons with “behind the scenes” info from gigs he’s been on over the years.

In this episode, Steve talks about

* How being versatile can make it hard to find your own identity* Finding your “local flow”* The LA scene being a bit less welcoming to new voices than New York, although that’s changing* How to behave when bandleaders don’t set you up to succeed* Physical issues (pain, numbness, etc.) that are tied to set-up issues, which are sometimes tied to vanity* How finding your motion will help you find your sound* Making a couple easy choices go a long way in capturing multiple vibes on a single gig

Steve Hass endorses Yamaha drums, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Evans drumheads, and GonBops