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drumFantasy.10 Instructors
Dave
Weckl
For more than 20 years, Dave Weckl has developed and maintained a
reputation among fans, peers, and the international music community
as one of the great living drummers. For this, he has received
numerous accolades and honors; Modern Drummer inducted Dave into
their Hall of Fame and named him "one of the 25 best drummers of all
time."
But these honors, in addition to many more bestowed by the music
community, are the product of Dave's undying commitment to making
great compositions. Dave's incredibly dynamic and diverse drumming,
which has inspired musicians worldwide, is built on a solid
foundation of knowledge and respect for music.
Born in St. Louis Missouri, January 8th, 1960, to a mother who loved
music and a father who played the piano as a hobby, Weckl started
playing drums at the age of 8.
During his high school years, Weckl received many awards from the
NAJE (National Association of Jazz Educators) for outstanding
performances in his high school's competition-winning jazz band. He
was involved with numerous local groups from a very young age while
studying with St. Louis-area teachers Bob Matheny and Joe Buerger.
At age 16, Weckl began to work professionally with local pop and
jazz groups. In 1979, he moved to the East coast to study music at
the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. At just 19
years-of-age, he was getting recognized.
While playing the club scene in New York City with a band called
Nite Sprite, Weckl started to receive accolades from established
studio musicians such as Steve Kahn, Michael Brecker, and especially
drumming great Peter Erskine. It was Erskine who recommended Weckl
for his first 'big gig' in town with a group called French Toast,
forerunner to the Michel Camilo band, which has been recorded quite
extensively over the years.
From this group, legendary bassist Anthony Jackson recommended Weckl
for the prestigious Simon and Garfunkel reunion tour in 1983. After
this tour, it was not long before he was regularly being called for
radio and TV jingles, sound track sessions, and top recording dates
with such artists as George Benson, Peabo Bryson, Diana Ross, and
Robert Plant, to name a few.
In 1985, Michael Brecker suggested to Chick Corea that he look into
Dave's services for his new Elektric Band. That was the beginning of
a seven year relationship with both the Elektric and Akoustic Bands,
where nine recordings and three videos were produced. The Akoustic
Band release earned the group a Grammy.
The Elektric Band showcased Weckl’s cutting-edge drumming and
innovative use of electronic and acoustic drums, bringing him
world-wide recognition. Though the Elektric Band went on a 10-year
hiatus in the early '90s, the band is once again touring from time
to time. It released a 17-part conceptual album entitled "To The
Stars" in mid-2004.
As a solo artist, Weckl has recorded and produced nine recordings to
date, including GRP/MCA solo releases Masterplan, Heads Up, and
Hardwired. In 1998, Weckl realized his long-time goal of forming a
world-touring band. To date, the Dave Weckl Band has released five
studio records, including: Rhythm Of The Soul, Synergy,
Transition,
Perpetual Motion, and Multiplicity. The band has also released a hot
live album, entitled LIVE (and very plugged in), and a compilation
that includes songs and instructional videos, entitled The Zone.
The band keeps Weckl very busy, but he still enjoys sideman work. He
regularly joins guitarist Mike Stern, and has recently performed
live with saxophonist Bill Evans’ Soulgrass band, among others.
When off the road, Weckl keeps busy with session and production work
at his homestudio in Los Angeles. He also accepts a limited number
of private students - and offers classes through the Virtual Drummer
School. Additionally, Weckl has many instructional video/DVDs and
play-along packages on the market.
A constant student of the art of drumming and music, Weckl gives
back every chance he gets through clinics and classes all over the
world. Learn more
at
www.daveweckl.com or
www.myspace.com/daveweckl
Peter Erskine
Peter Erskine began playing the drums at
the age of four, and has been at the forefront
of world-class jazz ensembles for thirty-five years.
His first major professional work was
with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, which he joined in 1972.
After a three year stint with Kenton and a two year stay with
Maynard Ferguson, he joined Weather Report in 1978. The
excellence of the partnership between Erskine and bassist Jaco
Pastorius was an integral part of that group's success.
Following his four years in Weather Report (having recorded
five albums with them including the Grammy Award winning "8:30"), he
began to play with Mike Brecker, Mike Mainieri, Don
Grolnick and Eddie Gomez in the group Steps Ahead
. His other touring and recording credits (500 albums & film scores)
include: Steely Dan, Diana Krall, Chick Corea,
Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Gary Burton &
Pat Metheny, Joni Mitchell, Kurt Elling,
Mike Stern, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Berlin
Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles
Philharmonic, Ensemble Modern, the ASKO, Avanti,
Remix & Absolute Ensembles; "Bass Desires " (with John
Scofield, Bill Frisell, and Marc Johnson), the
John Abercrombie Trio, the Kenny Wheeler Quintet & Big Band,
the Yellowjackets and the Bob Mintzer Big Band, as
well as his own groups, including trios with John Taylor, Palle
Danielsson, Rita Marcotulli, and his current bands with
guitarist Nguyen Le and bassist Michel Benita ("Trio
E_L_B"), pianist Alan Pasqua and bassist Dave Carpenter,
and saxophonist Bob Sheppard and Dave Carpenter ("The
Lounge Art Ensemble").
Erskine is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy in
Michigan, and studied percussion with George Gaber at Indiana
University. His own pedagogical efforts include 4 instructional
videos as well as 6 books, including "Drumset Essentials, Vols. 1, 2
& 3 " (a trilogy of instructional methods), plus the "Erskine
Method" book and DVD, and "Time Awareness for All Musicians"
(published by Alfred Music Publishing).
His other books include "Drum Concepts &
Techniques" and "The Drum Perspective", both published by the Hal
Leonard Corp. Peter conducts clinics, classes and seminars
world-wide. Peter is the Director of Drumset Studies at USC
Thornton School of Music, and is the "Jazz Drumming Consultant"
to the Royal Academy of Music in London.
He has won the Modern Drummer
magazine Readers' Poll in the "Jazz Drummer" category nine times,
and was awarded an honorary Doctorate degree from the Berklee
College of Music. Peter was the soloist along with Evelyn
Glennie at the world premiere of a new Double Concerto for
Percussion, titled "Fractured Lines," composed by Mark-Anthony
Turnage, in London at the Proms in July 2000 with Sir Andrew
Davis conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra. That work
was recorded for the Chandos label.
Peter is 53 years old and makes his home in Southern California.
Learn more at
www.petererskine.com and
www.fuzzymusic.com
Tommy Igoe
Tommy has been on a mission to
reinvent large ensemble jazz. His Birdland Big Band
tears it up to a FULL HOUSE every Friday night at New York's
famous Birdland jazz club.
The band was first-call by
Cathie Rich for the recent Buddy Rich Memorial Concert
in New York City. Tommy was joined by fellow drumming icons
Neil Peart, Terry Bozzio, Chad Smith,
Peter Erskine, John Blackwell, and more.
Tommy is one of the most
renowned clinicians in the world. His technical and musical
mastery has inspired scores of drummers through his series
of instructional products. Most notably, Groove
Essentials and Groove Essentials 2.0 (Hudson
Music) have been worldwide best-sellers. His backlog for
private lessons is more than six months long!
Tommy is also well-known for his
work with Stanley Jordan, Lauren Hill, James Genus and more.
He is the assistant musical director for the Broadway
production of The Lion King.
Learn more at
www.tommyigoe.com
Thomas Lang
“To play the unplayed” - that is the
self-proclaimed lifelong aspiration of drummer/producer
Thomas Lang. Given his astonishing independence of limb and
his stalwart dedication to improving his craft – Lang’s
aspiration is more than well on the way to reality.
Thomas Lang has dedicated his life to the
exploration of all things drum. In addition to his
relentless touring, recording and performing schedules,
Lang’s instructional DVD “Creative Control” (Hudson Music)
is now the biggest-ever selling instructional DVD of all
time and he has managed to find time to lend his expertise
to Meinl Cymbals, the Remo Corporation and Sonor Drums to
help develop new and exciting gear and drums accessories.
A native of Vienna, Austria, Lang took up
drums at the tender age of five. Inspired by a televised
performance of a heavy metal band, Lang assessed (quite
rightly!) that he wanted to be a drummer when he grew up
because, “the drummer looked like he was the boss – AND he
got to sit down!”
In addition to years of private tuition, Lang was formally
educated at the Vienna Conservatory of Music. As the
youngest student enrolled at the legendary institution,
early on Lang received a diverse education in a multitude of
styles including Jazz, Classical, Fusion and Big Band.
After leaving the conservatory, Lang began
working professionally – slowly working his way through the
European Pop, Rock and Jazz scenes. Working obsessively
(sometimes with up to 15 projects simultaneously) Lang
earned his stripes by working with some of Europe’s most
demanding recording and touring outfits including Falco,
John Wetton, Bonnie Tyler, and many others.
In addition to his work with other artists, Lang’s 1995 solo
release, “Mediator” topped the charts in Europe and garnered
rave reviews for its innovative Jazz/Dance/ProgRock sound.
Despite his grueling touring and rehearsal schedule, Lang
remains committed to a rigorous daily practice schedule. “I
religiously follow a constantly-evolving practice routine.
It’s not glamorous, but for me daily practice is a principle
source of growth and inspiration in my playing,” says Lang.
Lang’s daily practice regime eventually became the basis for
his 2-part series of instructional videos, “Ultamatives
Schlagzeug I & II” which were originally released in 1995.
Due to overwhelming demand, these videos were re-released on
DVD in 2004 by Hudson Music.
In his quest to, “play the unplayed,” Thomas has worked
cooperatively with the research and development team at
Meinl Cymbals to create, “Tom’s Becken” – a pitch-matched
range of contemporary crash cymbals that provide acoustic
and electronic drummers with modern sounds that resemble
artificially engineered cymbal samples. Launched in 2002,
“Tom’s Becken” were so well received that in 2004 Thomas
Lang worked with Meinl once again to design the “Fast Hats."
In 2002, Meinl approached the Remo Corporation to produce
the “Thomas Lang Practice Kit” -- a totally silent,
completely portable practice kit. “When I travel its hard
for me to keep up with my practice because I worry about
disturbing people in hotel rooms, or backstage. Then, it
occurred to me that tons of drummers must give up playing
because it’s too expensive or not feasible to keep up
practicing. I took my idea for a totally to the guys and
Remo – and the rest is history,” says Lang.
Thomas Lang currently plays Sonor drums, Meinl cymbals, Vic
Firth sticks, Remo drum heads, Roland electronics, Gibraltar
hardware, Hardcase road cases, AKG microphones
Presently, Thomas Lang lives in Los Angeles with his wife
and identical twin boys. He is presently working on the
highly anticipated follow-up DVD to “Creative Control” which
is scheduled for release by Hudson Music in late 2006.
Thomas is also working on various solo projects and is
launching a music-inspired clothing line.
Learn more at
www.sticktrix.com
Steven Orkin
Camp Director
Steven Orkin is the owner and
executive director of Drum Fantasy Camp. He also runs
Orkin Marketing Consultants, LLC, a marketing
communications firm in Cleveland, Ohio.
Orkin started his working career in 1993 behind
the news desk of television stations in Cincinnati and
Cleveland. He wrote and co-produced hundreds of stories for
broadcast news programs.
After nearly two years in television, Orkin
accepted a marketing position at MBNA Corporation, then
the world's largest independent issuer of credit cards. It was
at MBNA where Orkin gained expertise in direct response
and customer relationship marketing.
After four years with MBNA, Orkin wanted
to expand his knowledge of marketing and accepted an account
management position at Wyse Advertising, in Cleveland.
He spent the next five years in the ad agency world before
starting his own marketing communications firm.
Orkin met Dave Weckl
and his longtime collaborator Jay Oliver at the
NAMM show in 2004. Since then, he has added several
world-class clients including drummers Steve Smith,
Tommy Igoe, and Peter Erskine.
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