#290 Jack Mansager- Percussionist, Copyist, Educator and More!
This week’s guest is Jack Mansager.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Daniel De Los Reyes! Daniel was born into a family that for three generations has been making a living at banging and shaking things to make music. His grandfather, Walfredo de los Reyes II, laid the family musical foundation by co-founding the famous Cuban orchestra, Casino de la Playa. His father, Walfredo de los Reyes III, went on to become one of Cuba’s most successful drummers/percussionists before moving to Puerto Rico and then the United States. As one of the first drummers to incorporate the drum set with congas and other percussion, Walfredo III blazed a wide path that many would follow. He continues to wow crowds with his drumming and percussion ability, extensive musical history, and incredible enthusiasm at the ripe young age of 79. Daniel and his brothers, Walfredo Reyes Jr. and Kamar de los Reyes, keep the torch burning brighter than ever as they consistently stamp the de los Reyes name all over the percussion and entertainment landscape.
Currently on tour with the Grammy award-winning Zac Brown Band, Daniel has performed with a virtual who’s-who of artists including Don Henley, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sting, The Killers, Sheryl Crow, Patti LaBelle, Peter Frampton, Jennifer Lopez, Don Omar, Stevie Nicks, Louie Vega, Ricky Martin, Shakira, Lionel Richie, Kenny Ortega, Steve Winwood, and many more.
Gig Alerts
You can check out the Sō Percussion about the Sō Percussion Summer Institute (SoSI)
Shout-out to friend of the show, and member of the percussion ensemble, Jason Treuting.
Since its inception in 1999, education has become an increasingly important part of Sō Percussion's mission. Its members share a firm belief that inherent in an artist’s career is a responsibility to pass on practical advice and mentorship to young artists. The Sō Percussion Summer Institute seeks to fulfill this promise by providing a unique educational opportunity to percussionists and composers at one of the most critical stages of their development. The program offers a hands-on experience that brings the practical and theoretical together:
Commissioning/Creating new music
Fruitful collaboration with and among artists
The rehearsal and development process
Performance
The Lion King is on Broadway and also on tour. Jack has been filling in on the multiple percussion books. You can CATCH THEM ON TOUR HERE.
Damon has upcoming gigs, including speaking at the DIY Musician Conference in Austin, TX from August 26-28 (Damon’s birthday is the 28th). Other friends of the show that will be there include: Chris Robley, Cheryl B. Englehardt, Suz Paulinski, and Ari Herstand.
If you would like a preview of that conference, head over to the DIY Musician Podcast, episode 307.
Educational Spotlight
If you would like to attend PASIC, you must first become a member of PAS.
Then you can register to attend by CLICKING HERE. Damon will be giving a clinic/performance at PASIC this November, as well as this first round of announced artists below…..
Since Vic Firth began featuring "In-the-Lot" videos of Vic Firth DCI, WGI and College drumlines back in 2001, the level of technical skills and performance have steadily improved. Simply watching amazing ensembles at their peak not only helps viewers to raise their own expectations about what they want to achieve in their own individual or group, but also allows them to learn more about the technical skills required to play today's complex arrangements.
You can check out this years series thus far of the “Learn the Music” videos.
Iconic Recording
This week’s iconic recording is “Yearn” by Thomas Brett from the album ‘Cadences II’.
The honorable mention is “The Sultan Fainted” performed by The New York Voices with Tommy Igoe on drums.
Music News
Jammcard was featured in Rolling Stone Magazine. For decades, if an artist needed a backing band in the studio or on the road, their main option was scouring through their contacts to find musicians to play with. Elmo Lovano wants to change that.
Lovano, a longtime touring and session drummer himself who’s worked with artists such as Miley Cyrus and Skrillex, launched Jammcard in 2017, creating one of the most comprehensive databases of professional musicians for hire in the music industry. His goal: modernize how artists find musicians to play with.
They also offer mentor sessions with numerous artists in several genres and styles, as well as different avenues of the music industry.
Jack Mansager Interview
The song leading into the interview is Officer Krupke from the show Blast! featuring Jack on his “hands” and xylophone.
The interview starts with making hard decisions of figuring out what you want to do and going for it 100%.
Shout-out to Jeff Smith, the high school band director for both Jack and Damon.
Shout-out to Dave Dion who taught the Norwalk High School drumline and taught Jack and Damon as well as the drum major for the Connecticut Hurricanes.
Jack talks about being introduced to the Cadets of Bergen County after the Hurricanes.
Jack was in the rack for his first year in the Cadets (1991)
Jack’s real name is John which is also his father’s first name. His middle name is Bernard after his uncle.
Jack marched in the cadets in 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994.
Jack talks about applying for college and winding up at UMass Amherst, and receiving a call from (friend of the show) Thom Hannum before attending the school.
Jack talks about how he improved his reading.
Shout-out to Jim Ancona and his writing and teaching abilities.
Jack wrote and taught for the Crossmen in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998.
Jack talks about how he auditioned for Blast!
He was in South Carolina preparing to hike the Appalachian Trail when he changed gears to do Blast! in London.
Jack is a manualist and can be seen listed on the wikipedia page. He talks about how this was worked into the show in Officer Krupke.
Jack got his masters at the University of South Carolina on a recommendation of Thom Hannum and help from Chris Lee.
Friend of the show, Andy Akiho marched bass drum at the Cadets in 1998 with Damon, and also got a degree from UofSC while Jack was there getting his masters.
Jack left the show Blast! and stayed in NYC. He reached out to Michael Sgouros and the Ethos Percussion Group. Jack also mentions the Players Theater and the Percussion People Kiddie Concerts he did.
Damon brings up Ken Ross and Norwalk Music Studios and the Spremulli family.
Jack talks about doing copyist work and how he got into it. Some of the books he’s done the copyist work for have been for friends of the show, Rolando Morales-Matos, and Valerie Naranjo, as well as Tommy Igoe’s Groove Essentials.
Jack talks about the different books for the Lion King. *UPDATE* as of the release of this episode, he has finally performed four of the five books.
Jack talks about some of the things that have helped him become successful. Being a good person and only worrying about things he can control are two of the top “words of wisdom”.
Jack transferred to WestConn for his sophomore year, and then returned to Umass.
Jack owns one of Leigh Howard Stevens’ first Malletech marimbas.
Damon mentions borrowing the marimba and one of the pieces he learned for a wedding is from the movie True Romance.
Pro-Tip: You can use lemon oil to bring some of the life back to your rosewood marimba bars (make sure to let it dry before playing with yarn mallets), and if you’re playing outdoors, you can use Tung Oil (the thinnest waterproof sealant) to protect the wood, but not hinder the sound.
Shout-out to David Smith, and Keri Spremuli.
Jack mentions the iconic recording.
Shout-out to Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets.
Shout-out to Jack’s wife Janie, who was also a member of the 1995 Cadets pit.
The music from the end is from the Connecticut Hurricanes when Jack was in the pit/rack.
