Working Drummer

With 500 episodes and counting, Working Drummer Podcast is the source for those interested in what it’s like to be a professional drummer. Hosted by Matthew Crouse and Zack Albetta, Working Drummer covers it all with a dynamic range of pro drummers who represent many different genres and scenes. Each weekly interview features a different performer, sometimes with a less recognizable name, but always with an impressive and distinct body of work. This unique approach has garnered a loyal audience hungry for unfiltered stories about making a living as a musician today.

Careers Performing Arts Music Arts Music Interviews Business

Update frequency: every 7 days
Average duration: 82 minutes
Episodes: 535
Years Active: 2015 - 2025

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335 - Bobby Jarzombek: From Fates Warning to George Strait, Splitting Duties Between Metal and Country

Bobby Jarzombek is currently the drummer for progressive metal band Fates Warning, vocalist Sebastian Bach, and country music legend George Strait. He has also recorded and toured extensively with t…

01:02:23 | Thu 09 Sep 2021

334 - George Sluppick: The Memphis Vibe, The Sample Pack Business Model, Erasing Genre

George Sluppick is an American drummer born in Memphis, Tennessee, specializing in blues, funk, soul and R&B music. In 1986, he graduated from Overton, a prestigious creative & performing arts high s…

01:09:21 | Thu 02 Sep 2021

333 - Joe McCarthy - Band Leading the New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band, His B.A.S.I.C. Training Lesson Program, Living and Working in Miami Florida

Joe McCarthy has led a diverse career as drummer/percussionist, bandleader, producer and educator in a myriad of settings from symphony orchestra to bebop, big band, afro cuban, theater and beyond. J…

01:45:05 | Wed 25 Aug 2021

332 - Stephen Chopek: Playing with John Mayer, Charlie Hunter and More; Writing, Recording, and Mixing His Own Original Songs

Stephen Chopek is a musician living and working in Atlanta, GA. Prior to releasing his first solo album in 2012, he spent over 10 years drumming on tour and in the studio with Charlie Hunter, John Ma…

01:25:06 | Thu 19 Aug 2021

331 - Music City Drum Show: "Flash Interviews" Featuring Former and Future Guests and Many More

August 7th, 2021 the first annual Music City Drum Show was held in Nashville Tennessee. Music City Drum Show was created to unite the drumming community in the Greater Nashville area and beyond. Orga…

00:55:57 | Thu 12 Aug 2021

330 - Aaron Serfaty: Playing With Your "Accent," A Universal Teaching Approach, Paying Attention to What Your Drums Tell You

Aaron Serfaty was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He began playing drum set at the age of fifteen and started to play professionally at seventeen. He did extensive work as a session and touring drummer f…

01:28:34 | Thu 05 Aug 2021

329 - Nashville's Lower Broadway Roundtable: Kelly Bamberger, Eddie Bell, Billy Freeman, Jake Gammon, John Root & Derek Smith

This episode features six amazing drummers with a wide range of experience, discussing the many unique aspects of gigging in Nashville's downtown tourist district known as lower Broadway. Some have r…

01:38:16 | Thu 29 Jul 2021

328 - Rod Elkins: Playing with Tyler Childers, Overcoming Anxiety Issues, Staying in His Small Hometown

As the touring drummer for Childers, Rod Elkins is the heartbeat of a rhythm section that includes Elkins’ high-school friends and college bandmates who’ve been playing together for the past 10 years…

01:08:51 | Thu 22 Jul 2021

327 - Blake Fleming: Quality Over Quantity, The Book of Rhythm, Speaking Honestly About the State of Music and Drumming

Blake Fleming is a percussionist known for his involvement with several influential experimental bands and has recently written his first book, The Book of Rhythm, an unprecedented collection of 5,09…

01:55:20 | Thu 15 Jul 2021

326 - Joe Bergamini: The Working Drummer's Chart Book, "Knowing the Job," Remembering His Friend Neil Peart

Joe Bergamini maintains a diverse career as a drumming performer and educator. Joe is constantly behind the kit for everything from prog rock to Broadway to his touring gig, The Doowop Project. He st…

01:06:24 | Thu 08 Jul 2021

325 - Stephen Bidwell: Playing with Black Pumas, Studying with Johnny Vidacovich, "I'm Not Here to be Drummer Guy"

Stephen Bidwell was born in Washington, DC and grew up in nearby Reston, Virginia. Since being first handed drumsticks in the late 80s he has studied and lived in West Virginia, Pittsburgh, New Orlea…

01:16:00 | Thu 01 Jul 2021

324 - Jim White: The Importance of Mentorship, Overcoming Cancer, Life Experiences that Inspires Our Drumming

Drummer Jim White is an active performer and educator. His first musical experiences took place in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, where he studied percussion with Paul Yancinch, Mike Cebulski, Son…

01:19:40 | Thu 24 Jun 2021

323 – Roundtable with Nick Ruffini

Once a year, we sit down with our buddy Nick Rufinni of Drummer’s Resource to shoot the shit. Each of our careers and podcasts are always on the move, heading in different directions with different c…

01:34:26 | Thu 17 Jun 2021

322 – Jeff Fabb: Drumming for Black Label Society, Employable Skills Beyond Your Playing, Overcoming Physical Barriers

Originally from a small town in Long Island, New York, Jeff Fabb made the move to Los Angeles shortly after high school at the age of 18. Jeff moved to L.A. looking for more opportunities in music an…

01:19:37 | Thu 10 Jun 2021

321 – Dena Tauriello: From Rock Touring to Broadway, and What They Have in Common

A Grammy-nominated and studied musician of several decades, Dena’s versatility has afforded her opportunities to play in a variety of settings – from arenas to rock clubs and Broadway to recording st…

01:11:11 | Thu 03 Jun 2021

320 – Mark Stepro: Recording in the 21st Century, Working with Butch Walker, Drumming for The Wallflowers

Mark Stepro is a Los Angeles-based musician originally from Galion, Ohio. He is currently performing and recording with singer-songwriter-producer Butch Walker (Dangerbird Records), with whom he h…

02:07:25 | Thu 27 May 2021

319 – Ross Pederson: Playing with Grace Kelly and Manhattan Transfer, Designing a New Home Studio, The North Texas Pedigree

Ross Pederson has been in New York for over a decade after going through the famed North Texas program and studying with Ed Soph. He tours and records with a number of notable New York based acts inc…

01:07:50 | Thu 20 May 2021

318 – Doane Perry part 2: Composing and Creating, More Jethro Tull Stories, Doane’s Sustained Passion for Music and Creating

A professional musician since 1972, Doane Perry has been called one of the most prolific and versatile drummers in contemporary music. His career spans over 28 years with the internationally accla…

01:26:33 | Thu 13 May 2021

317 – Doane Perry part 1: His Work With Jethro Tull, Bringing Your Ideas to the Session, Working with Lou Reed Early in His Career