Topic: "Top 5 Session Percussionists" (Read 2515 times)

Misterkamikazi · « **on:** July 14, 2008, 02:25 PM »

Interested in hearing who you all think are among the best studio percussionists.

I thought this over a while and I came to the conclusion that my top 5 favorites are:

1) Paulinho Da Costa
2) Lenny Castro
3) Danny Cummings
4) Ray Cooper
5) Pandit Dinesh

Get back at me, ya'll!

elpol · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2008, 01:19 PM »

What about Luis Conte and Alex Acuna? Pete Lockett from UK rocks too!

Misterkamikazi · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2008, 01:51 PM »

Wow, Luis Conte completely slipped my mind. Alex Acuna, too. Steve Scales (Talking Heads) also came to mind after the list was finalized.

Jim Martin (cavanman) · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2008, 11:09 AM »

I have a friend who is an LA studio percussionist. Here are some names of guys who have consistently played on films, TV and records over the years:

Emil Richards
Michael Fisher
Steve Forman

We can't forget about Ralph MacDonald either

Jim

Drumlooney · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2008, 04:31 PM »

Lets not forget Richie Gajate Garcia

Bart Elliott · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2008, 04:42 PM »

Joe Porcaro would be another name I'd throw into the hat. I don't know how much session work he's doing these days.

Misterkamikazi · « **Reply #6 on:** July 18, 2008, 07:14 PM »

Joe Porcaro is a very talented percussionist indeed. However, I think he's laying low these days. Oh, and since when did Ralph MacDonald leave us? This is news to me.

Bart Elliott · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2008, 08:14 PM »

Quote from: Misterkamikazi on July 18, 2008, 07:14 PM

Joe Porcaro is a very talented percussionist indeed. However, I think he's laying low these days. Oh, and since when did Ralph MacDonald leave us? This is news to me.

My bad I guess. I thought I had reported this here at the Drummer Cafe last year, but I can't find it nor any information to support it (I.e. his website). Please forgive me; my mistake. I know Don Alias passed away last year, maybe I was confusing him with Ralph for some bizarre reason.

Misterkamikazi · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2008, 02:55 PM »

No problem, man. By the way, does anyone here have any additional information on Danny Cummings. I'd like to know more about him and hear his story as to how he got into the music business. Wikipedia has a small entry on him, but nothing too in depth.

dogxray · « **Reply #9 on:** July 19, 2008, 06:41 PM »

Chris McHugh country session drummer but currently touring with Keith Urban also Shannon Forrest country session player.

Chris Whitten · « **Reply #10 on:** July 19, 2008, 07:31 PM »

Quote from: Misterkamikazi on July 19, 2008, 02:55 PM

does anyone here have any additional information on Danny Cummings.

Not sure about his earliest beginnings, but he emerged on the session scene at a time when proper percussionists were thin on the ground. I mean guys who studied percussion as opposed to drummers looking for extra work.

As well as some high profile session work, he really made a name for himself as a key member of Wham, and then George Michael's band as he went solo.
Danny also played on many hits in the 80's, including those by The Pet Shop Boys.
He used to arrive at the studio with two or three huge flightcases full of gear, but could transform a track with a simple shaker part, perfectly executed.
Now, apart from continuing his studio percussion career, he can be found playing drums (Sonor) on most Mark Knopfler gigs.
Another great British percussionist is Paul Clarvis.

Bart Elliott · « **Reply #11 on:** July 19, 2008, 09:30 PM »

Quote from: dogxray on July 19, 2008, 06:41 PM

Chris McHugh country session drummer but currently touring with Keith Urban also Shannon Forrest country session player.

Session Percussionists ... not Session Drummers!

dogxray · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2008, 05:40 PM »

opps sorry, new glasses coming this week, seriously my eyes are really getting bad.
carry on

Misterkamikazi · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2008, 11:47 PM »

Thanks for that bit of info, Chris. Cummings sure seems like a very friendly/enthusiastic fellow. Must have been quite a treat to play alongside him during your tenure with Dire Straits. I just purchased some timbales a few months ago and am still trying desperately to imitate his solo on 'Calling Elvis', but much to my chagrin, haven't quite gotten there yet, haha.

Chris Whitten · « **Reply #14 on:** July 21, 2008, 01:53 AM »

Do you have 4 x Timbales, an N&C popcorn snare and a rack of e-drum triggers at your disposal?

Misterkamikazi · « **Reply #15 on:** July 21, 2008, 03:40 AM »

Hmmmm, always thought he was playing more than just a standard set of timbales, so it makes sense why I can't imitate the sound. Can't say I have any of those gadgets aside from the timbales, but I'm workin' on it! And oh yeah, I was watching a live performance of Talk Talk's 'It's My Life" from the 80s and was amazed to see how much Danny's conga solo reminded me of the solo he did with you. Check it out, if you haven't already! http://youtube.com/watch?v=WufWHtEbsu0

Chris Whitten · « **Reply #16 on:** July 21, 2008, 07:12 PM »

Nice video.

rebuskyle · « **Reply #17 on:** July 23, 2008, 12:06 PM »

Can't believe no one mentioned Airto!!!! I mean.....two words......

Bitches Brew

Chris Whitten · « **Reply #18 on:** July 23, 2008, 06:13 PM »

There's so many to mention.
Is Airto still working a lot?

I played on a couple of songs that had Alex Acuna on percussion and his playing was smoking (I never met him unfortunately).
Also, one of the top guys in the UK is Luis Jardim. He doesn't get much publicity, but he's played on a ton of huge hit records. He can play drums and bass as well. I think a lot of record producers used to use him as a one man rhythm section.

Misterkamikazi · « **Reply #19 on:** July 24, 2008, 02:52 AM »

Luis Jardim is indeed a very good percussionist. He's worked with everyone from ABC to Eric Clapton to They Might Be Giants. Jardim can be found on just about every album produced by Trevor Horn, too.

Misterkamikazi · « **Reply #20 on:** July 24, 2008, 08:52 PM »

I think Luis Jardim was credited as playing berimbau on that Swing Out Sister album that featured you drums, am I correct? Another guy who did percussion on that same album was Frank Ricotti, who like Jardim, is not a household name but is featured on trillions of hit albums.

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