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We sat down with Mark Mondesir for a wide-ranging conversation about a career spent behind some of the most revered names in jazz, fusion and funk.

Mark talks us through meeting John McLaughlin, the session for The Promise that put him in a room with Jeff Beck, and the surreal week that ended with Jan Hammer on a plane to London to play with him.

We also get into his three north stars on the kit: Billy Cobham, Tony Williams and Elvin Jones, plus the one-word piece of advice Elvin handed him at a soundcheck.

If you've ever wondered how the great gigs actually find a player, Mark's answer is not what you'd expect.

00:00 The Vienna Hi-Fi Show
06:39 Meeting John McLaughlin
10:43 The Promise: Recording with Jeff Beck
13:35 Touring with the Fourth Dimension
15:06 What John Is Like as a Band Leader
18:14 The Promise and the Electric Guitarist
20:48 Why He's Never Felt He's "Made It"
25:09 No Plan, Just Play
27:42 The Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer Story
34:35 Manifestation and Advice for Drummers
39:40 Playing with Half of James Brown's Band
41:12 Influences: Cobham, Williams and Jones
49:55 Mentored by Art Blakey
51:21 Wrap Up

👉 Check out Drum Dog for more lessons from world-class drummers: https://drum.dog
#markmondesir #johnmclaughlin #drumdog

🥁 Drum Dog is a membership built for drummers — gear discounts, members-only flash offers, artist sessions and interviews, prize draws, event and ticket perks (including free Drum Show tickets), and full access to the lesson library.

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I put on Chick Corea's My Spanish Heart this week, sat there marvelling at the drummer, and only then realised it was Steve Gadd. This week: Levon Helm's genius behind the kit and the mic, the Eezee Sticks throne holder, and a question about the bands we all underrate.

00:00 - Cold open / what's on this week

00:16 - Heavy Rotation: Chick Corea, My Spanish Heart (feat. Steve Gadd)

01:16 - Drummer Spotlight: Levon Helm, saying more with less

03:39 - New Gear: Eezee Sticks throne-mounted stick holder

04:35 - Think Piece: which underrated bands deserve more credit?

05:57 - Outro & fanmail

Referenced in this episode:

→ Chick Corea, My Spanish Heart (highlight track: Night Streets): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpA2ckaAStY

→ Levon Helm & The Band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dDbnwQlCek

→ Eezee Sticks: https://www.eezeesticks.com/

Got a drummer you want spotlighted, gear you reckon I should check out, or an album that's been on your heavy rotation? Drop me a message:

📩 Spotify fanmail (built into the app)

📷 Instagram: @drumdoguk

✉️ dan@drum.dog

New episodes every Tuesday. Hit follow so you don't miss out on any drum chat!

About Drum Dog:

Drum Dog is the UK membership platform for drummers, combining world-class lesson packs, live events, gear discounts, and an ad-free community. Join at drum.dog.

#TheBackBeat #DrumDog #Drumming #Drummers #DrumPodcast #SteveGadd #LevonHelm #ChickCorea #TheBand #EezeeSticks #Supertramp #Toto #DrumCommunity

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This week, the case for the drummers who made the whole song by doing almost nothing, from Charlie Watts to Ringo. Plus Alex Acuña lighting up Montreux, Kenny Buttrey's touch all over Nashville Skyline, and the app we're actually using behind the scenes at Drum Dog.

00:00 - Cold open / what's on this week
00:29 - Heavy Rotation: Bob Dylan, Nashville Skyline (drums by Kenny Buttrey)
02:15 - Drummer Spotlight: Alex Acuña, feel over speed
03:48 - New Gear: Beatnote
05:37 - Think Piece: Which drummer made the whole song by playing less?
07:09 - Outro & fanmail

Referenced in this episode:
→ Alex Acuña with Weather Report, Montreux: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfvfXA2SIRU
→ Alex Acuña with Steve Gadd & Luis Conte: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pctsGH9EABY
→ Nashville Skyline, Bob Dylan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PfDSQSWuGI&list=OLAK5uy_k7RFXzJVIrZJuX3lkezse6UNXE4i1wzN8&index=2
→ Beatnote: https://beat-note.app/

Got a drummer you want spotlighted, gear you reckon I should check out, or an album that's been on your heavy rotation? Drop me a message:
📩 Spotify fanmail (built into the app)
📷 Instagram: @drumdoguk
✉️ dan@drum.dog

New episodes every Tuesday. Hit follow so you don't miss out on any drum chat!

About Drum Dog:
Drum Dog is the UK membership platform for drummers, combining world-class lesson packs, live events, gear discounts, and an ad-free community. Join at drum.dog.

#TheBackBeat #DrumDog #Drumming #Drummers #DrumPodcast #CharlieWatts #AlexAcuna #Beatnote #PlayingForTheSong #DrumCommunity

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Geese are the band of the moment, so this week I'm into Max Bassin's snare-heavy groove on Bow Down. Plus the German fusion of Passport's Cross-Collateral and a nod to the late Klaus Doldinger, the Dr Liston's cymbal care range, and your best kit maintenance tips.

00:00 - Intro
00:16 - Passport - Cross-collateral
01:26- Max Bassin of Geese,
02:16 - Dr Liston's cymbal care
03:14 - Think Piece: Your top kit maintenance and care tips
04:06 - Outro

Referenced in this episode:
→ Geese, Bow Down (live): https://youtu.be/qIol9hig2G4?si=tuK8qSP-IlfsMD3V&t=1795
→ Passport, Cross Collateral: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9stuc6hY70
→ Dr Liston's cymbal care, Graham Russell Drums: https://www.grahamrusselldrums.com/copy-of-dr-listons-drum-care-gift-set.html

Got a drummer you want spotlighted, gear you reckon I should check out, or an album that's been on your heavy rotation? Drop me a message:
📩 Spotify fanmail (built into the app)
📷 Instagram: @drumdoguk
✉️ dan@drum.dog

New episodes every Tuesday. Hit follow so you don't miss out on any drum chat!

About Drum Dog:
Drum Dog is the UK membership platform for drummers, combining world-class lesson packs, live events, gear discounts, and an ad-free community. Join at drum.dog.

#TheBackBeat #DrumDog #Drumming #Drummers #DrumPodcast #Geese #MaxBassin #Passport #KlausDoldinger #DrumMaintenance #DrumCommunity

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Anika Nilles has stepped into Rush, and the drumming world is buzzing. This week I get into her first show, dig into Djo's synthpop record Decide, put you onto UK rod brand Ramrods, and ask the question that splits every drummer: does the click kill your feel?

00:00 - Intro
00:27 - Heavy Rotation: Djo - Decide
01:40 - Drummer Spotlight: Anika Nilles joins Rush
03:25 - New Gear: Ramrods percussion rods
05:16 - Think Piece: Does the click kill feel?
07:24 - Outro

Referenced in this episode:
→ Djo, Decide (album): https://open.spotify.com/album/4JDXBZdRPId4devseaAOKH?si=Szzgxd3ERgiLINufPSqEFw
→ Anika Nilles with Rush (Anika cam full show): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsAgGYM8_-A&t=
→ Ramrods percussion rods: https://www.ramrods.co.uk/
→ Last week's episode (self-taught vs academia): https://youtu.be/ugD8ed1PJzg

Got a drummer you want spotlighted, gear you reckon I should check out, or an album that's been on your heavy rotation? Drop me a message:

📩 Spotify fanmail (built into the app)
📷 Instagram: @drumdoguk
✉️ dan@drum.dog

New episodes every Tuesday. Hit follow so you don't miss out on any drum chat!

#TheBackBeat #DrumDog #Drumming #Drummers #DrumPodcast #AnikaNilles #Rush #Djo #Ramrods #DrumCommunity

🥁 Drum Dog is a membership built for drummers — gear discounts, members-only flash offers, artist sessions and interviews, prize draws, event and ticket perks (including free Drum Show tickets), and full access to the lesson library.

Want to try it? 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. 👉 https://link.drum.dog/join

🎧 Listen to the Drum Dog Podcast wherever you get your podcasts:

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2s8IAlRWNnu3SGOZo0BxTW
Apple → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drum-dog-podcast/id1806605706
Amazon → https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/b859c830-c051-46c6-a094-cc9b92973e4a/drum-dog-podcast

🔔 Subscribe for interviews, lessons, gear and performances from world-class drummers.

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You can practise on your own for ten years and just get really good at doing it wrong. This week I'm asking whether learning drums alone is quietly holding you back. This week on The Back Beat: a Bad Bunny record that genuinely surprised me, Keith Carlock's vocabulary with the Wayne Krantz trio, and a drum carved from a single log.

00:00 - What's on this week

00:21 - Heavy Rotation: Bad Bunny, Debí Tirar Más Fotos

03:04 - Drummer Spotlight: Keith Carlock with the Wayne Krantz trio

04:21 - New Gear: Pollner drums (one drum, one log, no cuts)

05:57 - Think Piece: Do you lose out on learning drums alone?

08:34 - Outro & fanmail

Referenced in this episode:

→ Keith Carlock with Wayne Krantz & Tim Lefebvre, "Why" solo from 1:13:00: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8to1EpkKVEE

→ Pollner Stave Drums, our interview with Martin: https://youtu.be/qvZAsTIDViU

→ Pollner Stave Drums, our interview with Martin: https://youtu.be/qvZAsTIDViU

→ Bad Bunny, Debí Tirar Más Fotos on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5K79FLRUCSysQnVESLcTdb

Got a drummer you want spotlighted, gear you reckon I should check out, or an album that's been on your heavy rotation?

Drop me a message:

📩 Spotify fanmail (built into the app)

📷 Instagram: @drumdoguk

✉️ dan@drum.dog

New episodes every Tuesday. Hit follow so you don't miss out on any drum chat!

About Drum Dog: Drum Dog is the UK membership platform for drummers, combining world-class lesson packs, live events, gear discounts, and an ad-free community. Join at drum.dog.

Check out Drum Dog: https://join.drum.dog/upgrade

#TheBackBeat #DrumDog #Drumming #Drummers #DrumPodcast #KeithCarlock #WayneKrantz #BadBunny #PollnerDrums #FusionDrumming #SelfTaughtDrummer #DrumCommunity

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Steve Jordan stripped his kit back to four pieces and somehow made it the most talked-about groove of the year. This week on The Back Beat: a Japanese jazz album that's been on heavy rotation, Eloy Casagrande's new signature stick with Promark, and the grip debate that won't go away.

00:00 - What's on this week
00:56 - Heavy Rotation: Chihiro Yamanaka, Guilty Pleasure
02:33 - Drummer Spotlight: Steve Jordan's minimalist groove (ride, snare, kick, hi-hat, no crash)
04:45 - New Gear: Eloy Casagrande's Promark signature stick
06:18 - Think Piece: Does grip actually matter?
08:09 - Outro & fanmail

Referenced in this episode:
→ Steve Jordan's Europe Drum Show clip (groove starts ~5:20): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOwtLx5waRY
→ Eloy Casagrande's new Promark signature stick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=End6tqaWejY
→ Chihiro Yamanaka, Guilty Pleasure on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/433TtbOGVFXo5LZjEvNOKc

Got a drummer you want spotlighted, gear you reckon I should check out, or an album that's been on your heavy rotation? Drop me a message:
📩 Spotify fanmail (built into the app)
📷 Instagram: @drumdoguk
✉️ dan@drum.dog

New episodes every Tuesday. Hit follow so you don't miss out on any drum chat!

About Drum Dog:
Drum Dog is the UK membership platform for drummers, combining world-class lesson packs, live events, gear discounts, and an ad-free community. Join at drum.dog.

#TheBackBeat #DrumDog #Drumming #Drummers #DrumPodcast #SteveJordan #EloyCasagrande #Promark #ChihiroYamanaka #JohnDavis #JazzDrumming #DrumGrip #DrumCommunity

🔔 Subscribe for interviews, lessons, gear and performances from world-class drummers.

Follow us:
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Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/drumdoguk
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We sat down with Ari for a remote conversation that came about after Bill Bruford name-dropped him in an earlier Drum Dog interview. What followed was a properly philosophical chat about music as a communication tool, how to practice creativity rather than chops, and why learning an instrument and learning music are two completely different things.

Ari opens up about his solo drumming approach, the three sources of inspiration that shape every note he plays, and why he hasn't sat down to practice technical exercises in years. We also get into his composing process, picking up piano during Covid, and how he runs his Patreon as an alternative to traditional drum education.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by how much there is to practice, or wondered how a player like Ari thinks his way around the kit, this one is essential listening.

00:00 – The Bill Bruford Moment
03:01 – Performing, Teaching, and What Drives the Music
05:24 – Music as a Language
10:12 – Solo Drumming and the Three Sources of Inspiration
14:16 – Why Simplicity Wins Over Density
16:08 – Playing on the Edge of a Mistake
17:28 – Jim White, Free Improvisation, and Warming Up Musically
20:49 – What Ari's Practice Actually Looks Like Right Now
23:04 – Drumming Like Swimming
27:10 – Picking Up Piano During Covid
33:53 – Teaching at NYU and the Limits of Academic Music
36:35 – Learning an Instrument vs Learning Music
42:52 – The Books, the Videos, and the Patreon
49:21 – Information Should Be Shared
52:24 – Being a Coach as Much as a Teacher
54:29 – Final Words and Future UK Visits

Check out Ari's Patreon for tutorial videos on drumming, composition, and rhythm: https://www.patreon.com/arihoenig

#arihoenig #punkbop #drumdog

🥁 Drum Dog is a membership built for drummers — gear discounts, members-only flash offers, artist sessions and interviews, prize draws, event and ticket perks (including free Drum Show tickets), and full access to the lesson library.

Want to try it? 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. 👉 https://link.drum.dog/join

🎧 Listen to the Drum Dog Podcast wherever you get your podcasts:

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2s8IAlRWNnu3SGOZo0BxTW
Apple → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drum-dog-podcast/id1806605706
Amazon → https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/b859c830-c051-46c6-a094-cc9b92973e4a/drum-dog-podcast

🔔 Subscribe for interviews, lessons, gear and performances from world-class drummers.

Follow us:
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/drumdoguk/
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/drumdoguk
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@drumdoguk

Support the show