#439 Clarice Cast- Multi-Percussionist, Educator, Composer and More!
This week’s guest is Clarice Cast. Clarice is a multi percussionist from São Paulo, Brazil. She earned a Bachelor of Music from Northern Illinois University and a Masters in World Percussion from the California Institute of the Arts. She is an active performer, recording artist, and composer in Los Angeles, CA and is a regular clinician at colleges, universities, and percussion festivals, including the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 2014. You can hear Clarice on the sophisticated Lado B Brazilian Project’s debut album, which was nominated for the 58th Grammy Awards in the category of “Best Arrangement Instruments & Vocals." She is heavily influenced by her native Brazilian culture, and it has been her driving force to learn, perform, write, and teach these styles. Clarice proudly endorses Contemporânea Musical, Tycoon Percussion Instruments, TRX Cymbals, and Ahead Armor Cases.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to 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 Shawn Mativetsky! Dynamic performer, Shawn is considered one of Canada's leading ambassadors of the tabla, and is a pioneer in bridging the worlds of Western and Indian classical music. Acclaimed as an exceptional soloist and a leading disciple of the renowned Pandit Sharda Sahai, Shawn Mativetsky is highly sought-after as both performer and educator, and is active in the promotion of the tabla and North Indian classical music through lectures, workshops, and performances across Canada and internationally. Based in Montreal, Shawn teaches tabla and percussion at McGill University. His most recent solo tabla album, Rivers, is rooted in the rich traditions of the Benares style of tabla playing. Shawn's new book, RUDIMENTAAL, features compositions for snare drum, inspired by the tabla drumming of North India.
As a practitioner of Indian classical music, Shawn regularly gives solo tabla performances, as well as accompanying kathak dance and instrumental artists. Since 2003, Shawn has been affiliated with the Pandit Ram Sahai Foundation (UK/India), and in the summers of 2006 and 2008, hosted tabla maestro Pandit Sharda Sahai's annual summer tabla workshop. Since 2011, Shawn has been hosting his own annual summer tabla workshop at McGill University. In recent years, he has been working closely with santoor player Jonathan Voyer, sitarist Uwe Neumann, and kathak dancer Sudeshna Maulik.
Shawn has performed numerous recitals around the world, and has been featured in the International Pharos Contemporary Music Festival (Cyprus), Clazz International Music Festival (Italy), Pontio / Music @ Bangor, Vale of Glamorgan Festival (Wales), Shastra Festival, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (USA), Sound Symposium, Windsor Canadian Music Festival, New Music in New Spaces, Groundswell, Western Front, Open Space, VICO's Global Soundscapes Festival, Festival Montréal Baroque, Jusqu’aux Oreilles, Evolutions, Voyages: Montréal-New York, Festival International du Domaine Forget, New Works Calgary, and Music Toronto (Canada). As an ensemble musician, Shawn Mativetsky performs with trio Mativetsky, Amiri & Pagé, violinist Parmela Attariwala's cross-cultural Attar Project, Indo-fusion group Ragleela, very long cat, a tabla / electronic music duo with live coder David Ogborn, the improv trio Of Sound, Mind and Body, with Tim Brady and Helmut Lipsky, and percussion group Ensemble Duniya. A versatile studio musician, Shawn has appeared on albums by Elsiane, Joel Miller, Yann Perreau, Elephant Stone, Suzie Leblanc, Ramachandra Borcar, and Daniel Lavoie. Regular performances with Galitcha have led to concerts across Canada and the US, as well as tours to France and Tunisia, the chance to play with guest musicians such as Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Salil Bhatt, Harry Manx, and Yves Lambert, as well as a performance for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, during their visit to Canada. -More
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.
Happy Birthday to Joey De Leon! Joey is a classically and street-trained percussionist. He has held the bongo chair for Grammy Award winner Poncho Sanchez for the last five years and is now the band's timbalero and drummer. The band's latest album, a joint project with another Grammy Award winning artist, Terence Blanchard is a heartfelt tribute to two iconic figures: percussionist Chano Pozo and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. Both are largely responsible for creating the "Cubop" genre.
Happy Birthday to Mike Robinson! Mike is a Los Angeles Based drummer with years of touring and recording experience. He has performed live and/or on record with K.Flay, Del Water Gap, JOSEPH, Blame My Youth, morgxn, The Chain Gang of 1974 and many more. He also host’s the podcast and instagram page, Food on Tour.
Gig Alerts
Friend of the show, Neal Daniels has a new coffee company. He is having a get together at Pro Drum Shop in Los Angeles Wednesday morning, the 4th of June.
Pedrito Martinez is going on tour.
The kickoff/album release show is happening at the Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg Brooklyn on Thursday June 5th.
The CMA Fest is happening in Nashville, TN from June 5th-8th. Friend of the show, Rich Redmond will be there with Jason Aldean.
The BET Fest is happening in Hollywood, CA from June 5th-8th.
The Governors Ball Fest is happening on Governors Island in NYC from June 6th-8th.
There was a technical issue at Fenway park last weekend in Boston that cancelled Shakira, Jason Aldean and Brooks & Dunn.
Educational Spotlight
Just a reminder, PASIC is happening this November 12th-15th. To get a discounted badge, you need to purchase or renew your PAS membership. PASIC Registration is now open as of the 15th of May. Both Damon and friend of the show, Ivan Llanes will be giving clinics. You can also book your hotel before they sell out.
There are several scholarships available and the deadline to apply is July 15th. You can also sign up to be part of the very important logistics team.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording chosen by Clarice is, “Leão do Norte” featuring: Lenine, Marcos Suzano, Oswaldo Lenine Macedo Pimentel, and Paulo César Pinheiro, from the album ‘Olho de Peixe’
Music News
The NYC Council voted to pass Resolution 368, which calls for fair pay for artists in music streaming. The council also endorsed the passage of the Living Wage for Musicians Act introduced in the U.S. Congress in 2024. -Article
You could save hundreds with Apple’s Education Discount! Just shop through Apple’s Education Store.
If you’re a student, parent, teacher, or educator, you likely qualify!
On Friday, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) sued Donald Trump and his administration over the executive order signed early last month. The order aims to cut funding to public broadcasters like PBS and NPR. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., follows NPR and three of its Colorado-based member stations suing Trump over the same order. -Article
Clarice Cast Interview
The song leading into the interview is, “Caindo de Cara” by Ted Falcon, from the ‘Tô Chegando - Almost There’ album.
Damon and Clarice talk about working out. Damon mentions the NY TImes 7 Min Workout.
Damon mentions the Pandeiro lessons Clarice has on YouTube.
Clarice talks about her history in Brazil and how she got into pandeiro playing.
She plays a lot of Choro. She talks about the instrumentation and also the regional location.
There’s also a Choro Camp you can attend.
Damon mentions friend of the show, Fabio Oliveira and the Sunday session in Brooklyn, NY.
You can check out Ted Falcon and his Roda de Choro (Choro Jams).
Clarice attended Northern Illinois University.
Before coming to the USA, Clarice took some classes at a music conservatory in Brazil. She talks about that experience.
Clarice talks about the Viola (10 String Brazilian Guitar).
Clarice talks about how she got to the USA, thanks to her sister.
Clarice was learning english at Elgin Community College.
Shout-out to Steve Butters and his Elgin Pan Ensemble.
Damon and Clarice talk about gender dynamics and spirituality in music and percussion playing.
Shout-out to Roberta Valente.
Clarice refers to the Brazilian Candomble music.
Clarice talks about her Pandeiro method book. She is working on a new one that is more in depth.
Damon mentions the L.A. Women’s Prison that friend of the show Kassandra Kocoshis taught at with another friend of the show, with friend of the show Nikki Campbell.
Clarice teaches at and talks about the California Brazil Camp and how great it is.
Clarice went to CalArts after NIU.
Shout-out to the late Dr. Cliff Alexis, Liam Teague, Greg Beyer, and Robert Chappell.
Shout-out to friend of the show, Randy Gloss.
Clarice currently teaches at The College of the Canyons.
Clarice picks out the iconic recording for the week.
Shout-out to Eduardo Leandro and the Carlos Malta E Pife Muderno.
Below are where different genres are from.
Damon and Clarice talk about the different visas and the process associated with them. Like the F1 Visa, OPT Visa, 01 Visa, and EB-1/Green Card.
Shout-out to Ari Colares, the aforementioned Steve Butters, Liam Teague, Dr. Cliff Alexis, Greg Beyer, Robert Chappell, Randy Gloss and many more!
Clarice uses Contemporanea Percussion, Tycoon Percussion, Ahead Armor Cases, and TRX Cymbals.
You can follow Clarice on her Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
The song leading out of the podcast is, “Srishti” by Fareed Haque, from the album ‘Trance Hypothesis’
