#246 Joel Rosenblatt- Drummer for Bernie Williams, Spyro Gyra, Michel Camilo & More!
Photo of Joel by Porter Carroll Jr.
Joel Rosenblatt is best known as the drummer for Spyro Gyra, one of the most successful pop-jazz groups ever. Joel’s varied early work including Dominican pianist Michel Camilo, bluesman Matt “Guitar” Murphy, jazz artist Paquito D’Rivera, and country-rock band Pure Prairie League, has given him a wide range of experience as well as making him one of the most diverse drummers around.
Having toured the world many times over, Joel brings an international musical awareness to the music. Currently the owner and main engineer at world class CliffSound Productions, Joel is also actively involved in producing and cultivating new artists. Below is a partial list of credits:
Bill Evans, Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, Chieli Minucci and Special EFX, Ken Navarro, Oz Noy, Chuck Loeb, Mike Manieri, Steve Khan, Randy Brecker, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Russel Ferrante, Michel Camilo , Bernie Williams, Eliane Elias, Michael Davis, Peter White, Manhattan Transfer and many more.
R.I.P to Ralph Irizarry
Shout-out to the Black Pumas and drummer Stephen Bidwell.
Happy Birthday
Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba, Sept 12, 1973 in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood of Old Havana, and began his musical career at the age of 11.Since settling in New York City in the fall of 1998, Pedrito has recorded or performed with Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Paquito D’Rivera, Chucho Valdez, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Matthews, Jackson Browne, Elton John, James Taylor and Sting, and has contributed to well over 100 albums. A consummate master of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and the batá drum he is also the world’s first-call rumbero—playing, singing, and dancing with dozens of Cuban rumba groups and contributing to, or appearing in, several important films, including Calle 54 (2000) and Chico and Rita (2010).
Pedrito was a founding member of the highly successful, Afro-Cuban/Afro-Beat band, Yerba Buena, with which he recorded two albums and toured the world in the mid- to late-90’s.
Mr. Martinez’s career as a leader began in 2005 with the formation in NYC of the The Pedrito Martinez Group. The group’s first, self-titled, studio album, was released October, 2013, was nominated for a Grammy, and was chosen among NPR’s Favorite Albums of 2013 and The Boston Globe Critics Top Ten Albums of 2013.”
Habana Dreams, their second album, recorded largely in Cuba, was released in June 10, 2016. Guests include, Ruben Blades, Isaac Delgado, Wynton Marsalis, Angelique Kidjo.In February of 2019, Pedrito and Cuban pianist, Alfredo Rodriguez, released a duo album called Duologue to critical acclaim and was selected by NPR for a First Listen. Quincy Jones was Executive Producer. In July 2019, Pedrito and Eric Clapton, recorded a newly arranged version of Clapton’s song, My Father’s Eyes for a new Pedrito Martinez album, called Acertijos (Riddles), to be released in early 2021. And on September 22, Pedrito and Clapton performed the song together at Clapton’s, Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas, Texas.On March 12, 2020 at the Beacon Theater in NYC, Pedrito had the honor of performing as special guest, with Dave Matthews, Jackson Browne, and The Tedeschi Trucks Band, for a benefit concert called Love Rocks NYC. In June of 2020, Pedrito began releasing singles that were recorded for album, due in early 2021, Acertijos--starting with Yo Si Quiero, an original by Isaac Delgado Jr, Mitchell Delgado, and Pedrito, followed by My Father’s Eyes, a duet with Eric Clapton.
John Rodríguez Jr. (born 1945), better known as Johnny "Dandy" Rodríguez, is an American bongo player. He was the long-time bongosero for Tito Puente, and also played with Tito Rodríguez, Ray Barretto and Alfredo de la Fe. He belonged to several popular bands of the salsa era such as Tico All-Stars, Fania All-Stars and Típica 73.
Rodríguez grew up in El Barrio (Spanish Harlem), New York, being interested in stickball (street baseball), rather than music. Nonetheless, influenced by his father, 17-year old Johnny earned a position playing bongos in the Tito Puente Orchestra. Johnny spent over 30 years with the orchestra, also working with Tito Rodríguez from 1965 to 1968 and with Ray Barretto from 1970 until the end of 1972. Johnny went on to form Típica 73, of which he remained a member until 1979. He then returned to Tito's band, playing alongside him until the time of Tito's death in May 2000.
He is the son of Johnny "La Vaca" Rodríguez (1930-2000), prolific conguero and bongosero of Puerto Rican ancestry who played in the bands of Noro Morales, Xavier Cugat, Machito and Tito Puente and Tito Rodríguez (preceding his son in both cases) among others. He was nicknamed "La Vaca" (The Cow) by Machito's trumpeter Mario Bauzá in 1943, because of the young percussionist's large appearance.
Conguero, percussionist, producer, songwriter and bandleader Little Johnny Rivero has performed all over the U.S., Canada, Europe, Africa, Asia, Caribbean and the South Pacific. Born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, Rivero, as young boy, was drawn to Latin jazz and the sounds and rhythms of the rumbero players in the NYC area. At age 10, Johnny began practicing percussion and joined his school band.
Soon after, he took dance lessons, which eventually led to performances on stage with the bands of the era at such famous venues as the Manhattan Center, the Colgate Garden, the Copacabana, and the Palladium. At age 14, Rivero joined Orquesta Colon, the youngest Latin band in New York City, and recorded two albums with them.
In 1973, Rivero moved to Puerto Rico with his parents, and joined La Sonora Ponceña in 1974. After playing bongos with them for a year and a half, he switched to congas, which rekindled the love he had with the instrument as a small child. Rivero attributes the rhythms and professional conduct he learned from Quique Lucca and his son, Papo Lucca, as qualities that have made him what he is today. During the 16 years Rivero played with La Sonora Ponceña, he traveled worldwide and made 18 highly respected albums with them.
Rivero has recorded with such producers as Eddie Palmieri, Brian Lynch, and Dr. Lonnie Smith. In May 1997, Rivero shared the stage with his inspiration and idol, Jose Mangual. Rivero’s credits also include work with Charlie Palmieri, Dave Valentin, Ruben Blades, Cheo Feliciano, Andy Montanez, Ismael Miranda, Celia Cruz, Giovanni Hidalgo, Ray Barretto, Patato Valdez, Changito, Tata Guines, John Santos, Sergio George, Bebo Valdes, Paquito D’Rivera, Tito Puente, and numerous other artists.
Rivero’s first solo effort, “Pasos Gigantes,” was well received by critics and music fans alike. He wrote and produced every song on that CD, showcasing his arranging and playing abilities. He is currently working on his next CD, “Music in Me,” his first Latin Jazz album, which will include musicians, Brian Lynch on trumpet, Zaccai Curtis on piano and keyboards, Luques Curtis on bass, Louis Founche on saxophone, Andrei Matorin on violin, Ludwig Alfonso on drums, and Anthony Carrillo on bongo and bata drums.
Gig Alerts
The 2022 NAMM Show that usually takes place in Anaheim in January will be taking place June 3-5th instead.
Mount Saint Mary’s University has an Online High School Music Competition. The application deadline is 9/17! You can compete in Solo, Chamber Ensemble, or Performer-Composer categories. You can GO HERE for more details.
WINNERS: In addition to monetary prizes, winners will be provided with performance opportunities with Bridge to Everywhere, and have the option to make a professional music video recording at the Mount Saint Mary’s University campus in LA (honorary $200 travel fee).
Educational Spotlight
The Percussive Arts Society has announced the preliminary artist line up for this year’s Pasic Convention.
Also the price of the convention goes up on September 16th, so register now!
Social Soundbyte
Friend of the show, Nate Smith, has released another single from his forthcoming album. It is called Altitude.
Iconic Recording
This week’s iconic recording features birthday boy, Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez. The song is “Ran-Kan-Kan” Performed by the Cesta All Stars.
The Mambo Kings scene Damon referred to is below.
Music News
Shout-out to (friends of the show) Marc Quiñones and Ed Toth of the Doobie Brothers. They are going back on tour after a covid scare in the band.
Two grand pianos and other musical instruments were found destroyed at Kabul's state recording studios in Afghanistan.
Reporter Jerome Starkey, who covers defence for The Sun in UK, took to Twitter to share images of the broken instruments on Sunday. He recounted that when he asked Taliban guards at the studios about the instruments, they insisted that they had found them in that state. -Article
The UK government will not require vaccine passports for music venues this winter. The announcement comes as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson lays out plans to manage the pandemic. That includes the decision to abandon vaccine passport requirements for music venues and nightclubs.
Health Minister Sajid Javid says he does not anticipate more lockdowns. Vaccine passports will not be required anywhere in the UK. “Now that we’re entering autumn and winter, the prime minister this week will be setting out our plans to manage COVID over the coming few months and in that we will be making it clear that our vaccine program is working,” Javid said in an interview with Sky News. -Article
Phil Collins says his health is deteriorating and he can barely hold a drumstick. The 70-year-old singer spoke frankly about his health in a BBC interview on September 8. He admits he’s frustrated by the challenges he’s faced after undergoing surgery on his back in 2009 and again in 2015. Those surgeries affected his nerves, especially in one hand.
“I’m kind of physically challenged a bit, which is very frustrating because I’d love to be playing up there,” Collins says. “I can’ barely hold a [drum] stick with this hand, so there are certain physical things which get in the way.” -Article
This episode is sponsored by Eucatape. Use the code EUCATAPE15 for 15% off at checkout.
Damon tells Joel how he found out about him from a Michel Camilo cassette and Joel talks about how he gig.
Joel attended the University of Bridgeport and was roommates with Dave Weckl.
Joel studied with Neil Slater and Ed Soph in Bridgeport.
Joel also studied with Randy Jones.
Damon got to meet and play with Joel at a seafood restaurant in Portchester, NY called Shipwrecked.
Joel talks about drum solos and comping as well as people having great internal rhythm.
Joel will be going on the road with Blood Sweat and Tears soon in Germany.
Joel played with Matt “Guitar” Murphy and Pure Prairie League before Michel Camilo. After Michel, with Spyro Gyra. He talks about the blind audition to get into that band.
Joel talks about playing with a percussionist.
Joel started on Trumpet from his brother Dave, and talks about how Buddy Rich inspired him to play drums.
Joel talks about being in the drumline in the high school marching band. His mom also plays piano.
Joel is setting up his studio in Westerly, Rhode Island. He also has tracks up on Vinny Valentino’s Play Along website.
Joel rides motorcycles and also has a boat.
Joel tells the story about getting rescued by the coast guard.
Joel has been playing with Bernie Williams for about 15 years. Joel talks about the sold out show at the Blue Note.
Shout-out to Harry Owens for teaching both Joel and (friend of the show) Brendan Buckley.
Joel talks about being a sideperson vs being a band member.
Damon tells the Patrice O’Neal story about the entertainment industry.
Damon and Joel wrap up with a couple of quick Bernie Williams stories.
Joel will be traveling back and forth to NYC for the time being (until his new studio is done). He was subbing on Hamilton on Broadway.
The song leading out of the interview is “Folks Like Us”
