Practicing Drummer – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Recorded December 2025

Charles is a drummer from New York who started gigging at just 11 years old. 

We cover what it was like growing up on the bandstand, his time with Billy Drummond and Kenny Washington at Juilliard, studying with the incredible Marvin “Bugalu” Smith, and a lot more.

Despite being relatively young, Charles has an incredible amount of experience and drops a lot of knowledge in this episode.

https://www.charlesgooldmusic.com

https://www.instagram.com/chuckgeezy

https://charlesgoold.bandcamp.com

Full show notes and links:
https://www.practicingdrummer.com/podcast-e16-charles-goold

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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

For most of us, Steve Smith needs no introduction. He’s simply one of the most influential drummers of our time. 

• He was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame for his work with Journey
• He’s also considered one of the top jazz and fusion drummers
• He’s led his own group Vital information for more than 40 years
• On top of all that he’s produced some of the best educational books and videos for drummers - I’m currently obsessed with the brush video he did with Adam Nussbaum where they sit down with Billy Hart, Eddie Locke, Joe Morello, Charlie Persip and Ben Riley who demonstrate their technique. It’s incredible.

Anyway, it’s a huge deal that I got to talk to Steve. I’ve been a fan since I was a teenager. 

Before we get going I want to give a big thanks to friend of the show Scott Amendola for connecting us. And of course, I have to thank Steve for being so generous with his time. 

https://www.vitalinformation.com/

https://www.instagram.com/stevesmithdrums/

https://www.youtube.com/stevesmithchannel

The music included with this episode is Sumo by Vital Information.

Full show notes and links:
https://www.practicingdrummer.com/podcast-e15-steve-smith

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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Recorded March 2024

From performing with Duke Ellington at just nine years old, having his own band with Marcus Miller and Kenny Kirkland, to playing with Sonny Rollins, Pat Metheny, McCoy Tyner, and countless others, Ronnie has had a really impressive career. 

He's currently staying busy teaching, working with his non-profit called World Rhythm Academy, and playing with his band, Holographic Principle. 

Links:

• ronnieburrage.biz
• Instagram
• World Rhythm Academy
• Holographic Principle live at Clement's Place
• Ronnie with McCoy Tyner

The song featured in this episode is Village of the Darned from the album Neohippus by Jack Walrath. 

My blog post that I mentioned at the top of the episode:
A Hearing Test Saved My Life

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Recorded May 2023

Dan is a drummer and tabla player living in Brooklyn with a unique musical voice that draws from jazz, Indian classical, progressive rock, hip hop, metal, and more. In addition to his varied work as a sideman, he’s also a highly regarded bandleader and composer. Be sure to check out the Dan Weiss Trio and his band Starebaby.

Links

• danweiss.net
• Instagram
• Patreon
• Bandcamp
• Dan Weiss Trio

The song featured in this episode is Halfway to Hartford by Noah Preminger.

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Recorded May 2023

George Fludas is a staple of the Chicago scene who has toured extensively as a member of Ray Brown's Trio, and with groups led by Hank Jones, Diana Krall, Monty Alexander, Cedar Walton and Joey DeFrancesco. George is also a great rock drummer and a John Bonham expert.

Links:

• George's website
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Bonhamology
• People’s Front of Zeppelin
• Philly Joe Jones Brush Artistry
• Yurt Rock sample packs

Chicago Pizza

• Uno and Due
• Pequod's
• Villa Napoli (Tavern style)
• Jimmy's (New York style)

Other podcast interviews with George Fludas:

• Working Drummer
• Drum History Podcast

The song featured in this episode is Mr. PC played by the Benny Green Trio.

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Billy Drummond - Recorded April 2023

Billy Drummond is a jazz drummer based out of New York who has played with Horace Silver, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, J J Johnson, Sonny Rollins, and countless others. He’s also a great band leader with several wonderful records  under his own name. His most recent album as a leader, Valse Sinistre,  was a Downbeat Best Album of 2022.

Links:

• Billy Drummond's website
• Facebook
• Thelonious Monk biography by Robin D.G. Kelley
• Monk's Dreams by Frank Kimbrough
• The "Billy Drummond Sweep"
• Saxophone Colossus: The Life and Music of Sonny Rollins
• Billy trading with Sonny Rollins
• Blow Up (live) by Bobby Hutcherson
• Glass Bead Games by Clifford Jordan
• The Great Jazz Trio

Other podcast interviews with Billy Drummond:

• Working Drummer
• Cool Toddcast
• Drummer's Resource
• From the Drummer's Perspective

After the interview Billy sent over a video of albums he’s been listening to recently. You can find the list in the blog post about this episode.

The song featured in this episode is Frankenstein by Billy Drummond & Freedom of Ideas from the album Valse Sinistre.

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Colin Stranahan - Recorded April 2023

Based out of Brooklyn, Colin plays and tours with a wide range of artists and is a member of Kind Folk, Real Feels, and the Stranahan/Zaleski/Rosato Trio.

Links:

• Colin's Instagram
• Colin with Kurt Rosenwinkel in New Orleans
• Colin's online courses
  • Elite Music Mentor
  • My Music Masterclass
  • Patreon
• Gilad Hekselman / Cécile Mclorin Salvant @ Cornelia St. Cafe
• Square Song by Theo Kapilidis 
• JK Kim
• Timothy Angulo
• Sasha Berliner
• Immanuel Wilkins
• Kweku Sumbry

The songs featured in this episode are Forecast (intro) and Joy Ride (outro).

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Brad Webb - Recorded April 2023

Brad is a drummer from Louisiana and after studying classical percussion for most of his life, he switched his focus to drum set.

He’s living up in Boston now and it was great to catch up with him and learn more about his development as a player.

Links:

• Brad Webb's site
• Extended Trio
• Extended Trio live at Monks
• Calvin and Hobbs kit
• LA Backbeat drumsticks
• Basher plays halftime at a Pelicans game
• Kenny Barron Live at Bradley's
• Oscar Rossignoli (piano) playing with Alexey Marti
• Paul Tibedeaux clinic on New Orleans drumming (Facebook)

The song featured in this episode is Prominent Randy by Extended.

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Recorded June 2025

Ron Tierno's name first came up in my interview with Hank Allen-Barfield, who mentioned studying The Melodic Snare Drummer—a book by Ron—while working with Billy Drummond at Juilliard.

Ron has spent his entire career based in New York, where he did some recording and worked extensively as a Broadway musician. He played on the first national tour of CATS and later joined the show's long-running Broadway production.

These days, Ron teaches out of Good Hands Drum Shop in Manhattan and continues to take on some freelance gigs. For the past decade, he’s also performed in holiday concerts with the Boston Pops. While he still enjoys playing, Ron now primarily identifies as a Broadway veteran and educator, drawing on his decades of experience.

https://www.rontierno.com

Ron's Broadway Drumming 101 interview

Ron's Books

The Melodic Snare Drummer

The Hip-Hop Snare Drummer

The Swingin' Snare Drummer

Good Hands Drum Shop in New York City

https://goodhandsdrumshop.com

Other Links

Andy Lalino – Sit In And Play Along On Drums

Jim Chapin – Profile Of A Jazz Drummer: Skin Tight

Music Minus One – For Drummers Only

The Sons of Champlin - Follow Your Heart

The music included with this episode is The Old Man by Frank Weber.

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.

Recorded June 2025

Drummer Mark Ferber appears on more than 200 recordings and remains active with several ongoing projects, including ECM artist Ralph Alessi’s This Against That, the Marc Copland Quartet, the Brad Shepik Organ Trio, and the Grammy-nominated big band and nonet led by his twin brother, Alan Ferber.

He maintains a full schedule, performing regularly in jazz clubs and recording studios across Los Angeles and New York, as well as touring internationally. His past collaborations include tours and recordings with a wide range of artists such as Lee Konitz, Gary Peacock, Jonathan Kreisberg, John O’Gallagher, Don Byron, Fred Hersch, Tony Malaby, Anna Webber, Mark Helias, Pete McCann, Matt Pavolka, Michael Attias, and Billy Childs, and many others.

In addition to his work as a player, Mark also teaches at Cal State Fresno and in the Masters program at Musicians Institute in Hollywood.

https://www.markferber.com

Elvin Jones - Different Drummer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igdN9kFCM-s

Charlie Parker Omnibook
https://amzn.to/4eiNDtu

Dave Weckl - Contemporary Drummer + One
https://amzn.to/3TCREPY

Mark Ferber - Anemone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK15bQ6gGK8

Spotify Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Qr8yzWpyj5aSGyUyWnkcT?si=c4fd160435ad45f1

The music included with this episode is the song Spinning Things by Marc Copland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxOK8dXrPXw

Practicing Drummer
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The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero's Loop Loft sample pack.

Thank you to Bart over at the Drum History podcast for his technical advice and help getting this podcast started.