Jim Mola has performed and/or recorded with jazz artists such as Phil Woods, Hank Jones, Dr. Billy Taylor, Bill Watrous, Mel Martin, Pepper Adams and Stanley Turrentine, as well as a diverse group of pop icons, Broadway and show business personalities including Tony Bennett, Weird Al Yankovic, Angelique Kidjo, Jane Olivor, Henny Youngman, Al Hirt, Pat Cooper, Billy Porter, Mario Cantone, Sally Kellerman and many others.
He has worked extensively in New York City’s recording studios, doing television, film, and jingle dates including A&E’s “Rat Pack” biography, Turner Classic Movie’s Lana Turner biography, Burger King, Nikon, Band-Aid, and more.

Jazz credits include:

The JVC Jazz Festival • Tony Bennett • Phil Woods • Stanley Turrentine • Charlie Rouse • Hank Jones • Frank Morgan • Annie Ross • Grady Tate • Dr. Billy Taylor • Larry Willis • Marc Johnson • Leon Pendarvis • Carmen Lundy • Bill Elliot • Bud Shank • Vic Juris • Bill Mays • Calvin Hill • Frank Strozier • Marion Cowings • Jay Leonhart • Harvey Swartz • Don Elliot • Victor Bailey • Lew Soloff • Bill Hardman • The Jackie Robinson Jazz Festival (House Drummer, 7 years) • The Charlie Parker Memorial Concert • Nelson Rangell • Carmen Leggio • Sal Salvador • Jimmy Rowles

Television, Film and Radio credits include:

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver • Sony Pictures "Hitch" • A&E bio pic "The Rat Pack" (Emmy Winner) • Turner Classic Movies "Lana Turner...A Daughter's Memoir" • Good Morning America • New York At Night (ABC)

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Dr. Alex Casimiro! Alex is the Associate Director of Bands and a lecturer at the University of New Haven, where he teaches the Chargers Marching Band, the Brazilian Drum and Dance Ensemble, and courses in World Music. He has performed with the Austin Symphony, the Omaha Symphony, and the Round Rock Symphony. Alex also served as the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at Duke University and was the percussion teacher at Creighton University.

Happy Birthday to Ari Herstand! Ari is the author of the best-selling book How To Make It in the New Music Business (Norton / Liveright Publishing | Second Edition November 2019). It remains at the top of the Amazon charts and has been widely adopted by music business schools worldwide.

His music business advice blog, Ari's Take, has become the go-to resource for independent musicians on how to run a successful music career in the NEW music business. Herstand's well-researched, relatable, no BS approach is why so many musicians continue to trust him for advice. He offers encouragement without condescension and maintains a "we're all in it together" attitude not found elsewhere in the space.

Ari Herstand is an independent musician who has played over 700 shows around the country, has opened for or toured with Ben Folds, Cake, Matt Nathanson, The Milk Carton Kids and Ron Pope, has performed on Ellen, and has had his music featured in countless TV shows, commercials and films. He currently leads the 1973 funk project Brassroots District.

Herstand has written for many of the top musician trade magazines and websites including Music Connection Magazine, American Songwriter, Digital Music News, Playback Magazine, CD Baby, Tunecore, Reverbnation, Roland, Discmakers, ASCAP, Hypebot and others. He has been a featured speaker at SXSW, BBC One's Amplify, ASCAP Music Expo, SF MusicTech, CD Baby's DIY Musician Conference and Berklee College of Music.

As an actor, he has co-starred in TV shows including Transparent, Doubt, Aquarius, Mad Men, 2 Broke Girls, The Fosters, Sam & Cat and Touch.

Gig Alerts

Run-DMC is headlining a mega-concert, ‘Hip Hop 50 Live at Yankee Stadium,’ celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop in the genre’s birthplace in the Bronx, New York. Tickets available as of June 8th.

Run-DMC will be headlining a mega-concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with Hip Hop 50 Live at Yankee Stadium on Friday, August 11, featuring performances from Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, Ice Cube, Eve, Lil Kim, Trina, Remy Ma, Fat Joe, Ghostface Killah, Slick Rick, Lupe Fiasco, and more. -Article

Jazz Foundation of America has listed the gigs it is presenting for the month of June.

The Blue Note Jazz Festival is happening in NYC all of June.

Damon has some upcoming gigs.

Educational Spotlight

CD Baby has come out with the Complete Tik Tok Guide for Musicians.

Little Stevie Van Zant has an organization called Teach Rock. They just announced their Artist Council.

The Artist Council will include celebrated musicians Erykah Badu, Common, Sheryl Crow, Peter Gabriel, Norah Jones, DJ Khaled, Skip Marley, Darryl McDaniels, Melle Mel, Margo Price, Rhapsody, Gina Schock, Marty Stuart, and Taboo. Artist Council members will participate in lesson plans, engage with their fans to help shine a light on TeachRock, and connect with students and educators. -Article

Product Review

Latin Percussion has introduced a single 13” and 14” timbale to add to your percussion setup or drumset rig.

You can see them demonstrated by Wiktoria Bialic. She was a recent winner of the Hit Like a Girl competition.

Iconic Recording

The iconic recording was chosen by Jim. It is “Nefertiti” performed by Miles Davis. Written by Wayne Shorter and featuring: Miles on Trumpet, Wayne on Tenor Sax, Herbie Hancock on Piano, Ron Carter on Bass, and Tony Williams on Drums.

Music News

Coldplay says its touring CO2 emissions are down by 47%, narrowly missing their 50% target and setting a new standard toward eventually achieving carbon-neutral music events.

Coldplay announced reducing carbon emissions by 47 percent on their Music of the Spheres tour compared with their previous stadium tour in 2016-17, just narrowly missing their 50 percent target goal. -Article

Snoop Dogg announces postponing his 30th anniversary ‘Doggystyle’ shows with Dr. Dre at the Hollywood Bowl shows in solidarity with the WGA writers’ strike.

Snoop Dogg postponed plans to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his legendary album Doggystyle with two concerts at the Hollywood Bowl now rescheduled in solidarity with the WGA strike. The rapper announced on social media that the June 27 and 28 shows have been moved to October. -Article

There is some controversy with David Byrne’s new musical “Here Lives Love”. Read below to understand what is going on. Well explained by Robert Meffe.

If you would like to sign the petition to help fight the cause for Broadway musicians, you can SIGN HERE.

Jim Mola Interview

The song leading into the interview is called “A Fungus Among Us” by Mike Hall from the album with the same name.

Jim and Damon met at Norwalk Music Studios through Michael Spremulli Jr.

Jim and several other musicians studied in Norwalk CT with Tony Chirco. Among those musicians is, friend of the show, Adam Nussbaum.

Jim also studied with Michael Carvin, Freddie Waits, and Arnie Lang.

Jim grew up in Norwalk, CT then moved to the Bronx.

Jim and Damon mention some Southwestern, CT musicians.

Shout-out to Sally White.

Jim talks about the importance of record stores.

If you aren’t aware, you can try food at Trader Joe’s before you buy it.

Jim grew up in a musical family and talks about some of the records that played in the household. One in particular is "Dinah Jams" by Dinah Washington with Max Roach on drums.

John Coltrane is one of Jim’s favorite artists.

Jim is a great vocalist as well as a drummer. He talks about how he got into singing as well as voiceovers.

Jim talks about working through the Musician's Union as well as the Screen Actor’s Guild (and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists).

Jim touches on the WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike.

Jim talks about some of the skills he uses for voiceovers.

He also talks about some of the commercials he was involved in.

Jim talks about getting royalties from voiceovers in between drumming.

Jim is a great educator. He teaches privately, and over zoom. Used to teach at the Collective in NYC and is also a part of the Sabian Education Network.

Jim was also the Chapter president for NY for the Percussive Arts Society for three years.

Jim talks about PASIC.

Shout-out to Eric Hughes.

Jim is a Yankee fan.

Jim deliberates over the iconic recording for the week. Honorable mention goes to “John and Mary” by Jaco Pastorius. His official choice is in the above segment, “Nefertiti”.

Shout-out to Tony Chirco, Michael Carvin, Arnie Lang, Freddie Waits, Jack DeJohnette, Ed Blackwell, Trilok Gurtu, and Larry Willis.

Jim uses Sabian Cymbals, Vater Drumsticks and Mallets, Aquarian Drumheads, Prologix Practice Pads, Cympads Cymbal Accesories, and Humes and Berg Cases.

You can follow Jim on his Website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The song leading out of the interview is “Ridin' the Trane” by Marshall McDonald.