#455 Dan Dorff Jr.- Drummer, Educator, Pianist, and More!
This week’s episode is sponsored by Black Swamp Percussion and Steve Weiss Music.
This week’s guest is Dan Dorff Jr. Dan Dorff is a drummer, percussionist, and keyboardist who specializes in styles ranging from jazz, blues, gospel and folk to rock, pop, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and other dance genres. The depth of Dan's musical interests has sparked a performing career that has led him to 4 continents and over 25 countries and keeps him in demand as a performer, arranger and producer.
He has toured, performed, and/or recorded with: Daniel Martin Moore, STOMP, Deal's Gone Bad, the Toasters, Haley Bonar, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Nick Lachey's Team Cincinnati on NBC, Don Rickles, Rusty Burge, Harry Pickens, Ben Sollee, Bill Cunliffe, Steve Hoskins, Tessa Souter, the Jazz Circle, Dick Sisto, Brad Goode, Mike Scharfe, Bob Bodley, Art Gore, Dave Samuels, Roy Haynes' Fountain of Youth Band, Marcus Strickland, Bud Shank, Slide Hampton, Bill Watrous, and Dave Liebman.
As a percussionist, Dan specializes in Afro Cuban, Brazilian, and West African music and instruments. He has employed these styles and instruments as a dance accompanist with the Hubbard Street Dance Company, the Merce Cunningham dance company, Sean Curran, Maureen Fleming, Bill T. Jones-Arnie Zane Company, Judith Mikita, Shellie Cash, and Constance Dinapoli of the Paul Taylor Company, the School for Creative and Performing Arts, Cynthia Riesterer and the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Interlochen Arts Center, The Aspen Santa-Ballet, the Interlochen Faculty Dance Ensemble, and the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.
In addition to his career as a performer, Dan has served as Music Director, Pianist and Choir Director for Saint Agnes Church in Cincinnati; Music Director of the Over the Rhine Steel Drum Band, and Music Director for the Portland Percussion Project.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Keith Rousu! Keith Rousu is the Director of the Seattle Seahawks Blue Thunder Drumline. Beginning at the age of 12, drumming and sports have been his passions. Spending 4 years in the renowned University of Washington Husky Marching Band Drumline, Keith also played around Seattle in various rock bands before deciding upon a career change. He went back to school for a degree in Sports Management and that led to where it all began with the Seahawks. He has arranged music and instructed clinics for a few high schools in Washington. Blue Thunder has performed with guest drummers: Alan White (YES), Jason Finn (Presidents of the USA), Mike Derosier (Heart), Steve Smith (yes, thee Steve Smith!) and Scott Rockenfield and all members of Queesnryche. Blue Thunder also has the biggest bass drum in the world, built by Dynasty in spring of 2006, sitting at 100” in diameter. Blue Thunder proudly uses and abuses Dynasty Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth sticks and mallets, and Remo drumheads.
Happy Birthday to Carol Steele! She has been traveling to Cuba for 30 years, and introducing the island to fellow travelers for 20. Carol developed her love of travel as a professional musician, but it was going to Cuba in 1987 when she knew she had found her spiritual home. Carol’s enthusiasm is contagious, as is her love of Cuba, its culture, its history, and most of all, its people. Carol’s professional résumé reads like a Who’s Who of popular music. She has performed or recorded with Peter Gabriel, Steve Winwood, Joan Baez, Tears for Fears, Bette Midler, and many other well-known artists. Carol was the first American woman to play with Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, one of Cuba’s iconic folklore groups, and she toured the United States with Lazaro Ros and Amelia Pedroso, two of Cuba’s most popular and beloved Folkloric singers. Carol’s second passion, besides music, is the study of Cuban Religions of African Origin. She loves to share her knowledge of the history of these spiritual practices, of their survival through music and art, and of how deeply entwined they are into the fabric of everyday Cuban life.
Happy Birthday to Ed Jarusinsky! Ed is a versatile drummer and percussionist with a lifelong passion for music. His sensitivity, diversity, and experience create a musical blend that is both modern and traditional. He received a Jazz Studies Degree from the University of North Texas where he had the privilege of studying with Ed Soph, Dr. Robert Schietroma, and Ron Fink. He is endorsed by Smith Drums and Vic Firth drumsticks and is the author of a drum set method book and CD entitled Rock Solid: The Art of the Groove. A Guide to Becoming a Musical Drummer. Ed has toured the U.S. as well as fifteen other countries and has performed and/or recorded with Kevin McKinney, Robyn Ludwick, Max Frost, Bob Schneider, Ephraim Owens, Charlie Robison, Bruce Robison, Kelly Willis, Nakia and his Southern Cousins, Suzanna Choffel, The Nightowls, Dave Sebree, Van Wilks, Tommy Shannon, The Stingers, Alex Coke, The Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Joel Guzman, and many more.
Ed teaches Drums and Percussion Instruments to students of ages 10 and up. His teaching style is relaxed and fun with a strong emphasis on musicianship and individuality. He has been on the faculty at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Upper School for over a decade teaching music theory and rock band classes. Ed Jarusinsky is honored to perform and teach for a living and is eager to share his knowledge at the Austin School of Music.
Happy Birthday to Lenny Castro! Born in N.Y.C., N.Y on Sept. 19th. 1956 Son of musician, Hector L. Castro, who was pianist and Musical Director for Johnny Pacheco and Celia Cruz as well as having his own group, Conjunto Candela. His first conga and drum set were given to him by his stepfather, George Cordero. Lenny went to the same high school his father attended, Fiorello LaGuardia High School of Music and Art. Lenny also attended Mannes College Of Music, Third Street Music School, All-Boro Band and Orchestra, All High School Band and Orchestra as well as playing in Salsa bands like Johnny Colon, Eddie Palmieri and other local NY bands at the age of 14. At age 19 he was discovered by Melissa Manchester working at the Frank Ippolioto’s Pro Drum Shop. Shortly after that Melissa and the band moved to L.A. where he met musicians like Steve Lukather, David Garfield, Carlos Vega, as well as The Porcaro Family, Chuck Delmonico, and many other. Soon becoming a part of the L.A. scene himself. He Started to work for many producers in L.A. like Richard Perry, Leon Ware, John Stronach, Vini Poncia, James Newton Howard, Bill Schnee, Tommy Lipuma, Russ Tittleman and Lenny Worenker, John Stroud and others. He has toured and recorded with countless artists.
Happy Birthday to Munyungo Jackson! Percussionist, Composer, Arranger, Producer, Author and four time Grammy Winner Darryl Munyungo Jackson possesses an ever-increasing collection of instruments with which to execute his craft. That is one of the reasons this warm and unassuming West Coast artist can be found in virtually any musical setting—whether it’s Funk, Pop, Jazz, Latin, Reggae, or traditional dance music of such countries as Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Haiti, Brazil and Cuba.
Despite his youthful appearance, Munyungo is no newcomer: in his over thirty years of playing, he has developed an awesome versatility and became a well-respected and much requested session, concert and tour player. He has performed with Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Kenny Loggins, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, the Zawinul Syndicate, George Howard, Ronnie Laws, The Temptations, Four Tops, The Supremes, Bennie Maupin, Bill Summers, Marcus Miller, and dozens of others, including numerous ethnic music and dance troupes.
Munyungo was born in Los Angeles, California, into creative surroundings: his parents, Arthur Jackson Jr. and Genie Jackson, both maintained various involvements in music, dance and writing, and Munyungo is the nephew of the legendary jazz, pop and blues singer and pianist Nellie Lutcher who was on Capital Records.
As a child, Munyungo was required to take classical piano lessons, and did so until he was nineteen years old. But in his high school years, when one of his buddies started a Latin jazz band, seventeen-year-old Munyungo found himself uncontrollably attracted to the sound of the timbales, and his interest in piano began to fade. He began spending more and more time with the percussionist in that band, soon discovering that he was quite skillful at observing and remembering the techniques. His first opportunity he purchased his very own set of timbales.
During this period, Munyungo’s father was program director of a jazz radio station. The benefit to Munyungo was the constant exposure to much music. He happily surrounded himself with the albums of the many Latin artists of the day such as Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, and Tito Puente, and practiced by playing his timbales along with these albums. Soon, his system of observation-plus-practice proved to be an effective method of self-training, and it wasn’t long before he formed a Latin jazz band with his classmates.
Munyungo’s passion for the timbales was only the beginning. From that point, he made the natural progression to Congas, Bongos, Latin Percussion and beyond, eventually to religious Bata Drumming, and numerous drums and percussion from many different cultures.
Subsequently, he met and worked with traditional drummers from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, China and Japan resulting in a collection of over four hundred percussion instruments and drums from all over the world — all of which he plays proficiently.
Why that name? On several occasions, he performed with some players from Africa and the Caribbean, who would shout “Munyungo!” (Which is a Zulu word meaning “door” or “entrance”) to cheer him on as he played — and it wasn’t long before the word attached to him as a nickname.
Now, for him, the name means “Gateway to Heaven.” -Bio
Happy Birthday to Kit Karlson! Kit is a producer, engineer, mixer, and multi-instrumentalist. He has over twenty years of touring experience with Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers. After leaving the road, he began producing albums together with Chip Johnson. They learned their craft from a handful of top producers and mixers, most notably Peter Katis, Manny Marroquin, and Jay Joyce. Chip and Kit have produced and mixed albums for Tony Lucca (finalist from television show The Voice), Pat McGee (whose record featured all the members of the famed “Section” that backed up James Taylor and countless other Laurel Canyon artists), The Nields (folk rock legends from MA), and countless others. Their studio, Alpine Red Studios, is based just outside of Washington DC.
Happy Birthday to Jason Ihnat! Jason Ihnat holds concurrent careers as an educator, performer, composer and arranger. He currently serves as the Front Ensemble Coordinator for the Boston Crusaders. Prior to coming to Boston, he was a part of The Cadets organization from 2004-2016 as a front ensemble staff member and from 1998-1999 as a member of the corps. During his time with the Cadets, the corps won three DCI World Championships and two Fred Sanford High-Percussion Trophies.
Ihnat is also involved in the Winter Guard International (WGI) activity, where he currently serves on the front ensemble staff for Spirit Winter Percussion. Previously, he served as the Director and Co-Founder of the Eastside Fury Percussion Ensemble from 2000-2014, winning two World Championships in 2000 (A Class) and 2004 (Open Class).
In addition to his involvement with the DCI and WGI activities, Ihnat is the Director of the Detroit Lions "Honolulu Boom" Drumline. This ensemble performs at every Detroit Lion’s home game in front of 65,000 fans, as well as in parades and celebrations in the Detroit area.
Academically, Ihnat has served as a part-time Lecturer of Music Theory at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) since 2012. He has also been the Percussion Arranger and Instructor for the EMU Marching Band for over a decade. Ihnat performs frequently with the Dearborn, Flint, Macomb and Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestras as well as the Michigan Philharmonic. His compositions and arrangements have been performed at the top universities and high schools in Michigan and throughout the country.
Jason’s education includes a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Wayne State University, where he studied percussion under Keith Claeys and a Master of Music in Composition from Eastern Michigan University, where he studied with renowned composer Dr. Anthony Iannaccone and percussionist John Dorsey.
Jason also performs frequently with the Dearborn, Flint, Macomb and Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestras as well as the Michigan Philharmonic. His compositions and arrangements have been performed at the top universities and high schools in Michigan and throughout the country.
When he is not pursuing his percussion interests, Ihnat enjoys spending time with his wife Laura and their two children.
Happy Birthday to Markus Schwartz! Born in Copenhagen Denmark, Markus Schwartz grew up in an American household surrounded by Jazz, and has devoted more than twenty-five years to learning the wealth and complexity of traditional Haitian religious music. Moving in and out of Haiti since the early 1990s, Markus followed the lead of Haitian percussionists on pilgrimages into the countryside to learn the intricate and powerful drumming styles of the various lakou—historic religious compounds—such as Badjo, Soukri and Souvenance.
Settling in Brooklyn in the late 1990's, Markus became a sought-after drummer at Haitian religious ceremonies, and was instrumental in creating the ground-breaking Haitian Jazz quintet Mozayik, bringing his informed arrangements of Vodou rhythms to jazz standards, Haitian traditional songs and Mozayik’s original compositions. He has since become a first-call percussionist on the NYC Haitian music scene, performing and recording with a diverse array of artists across many genres.
With an extensive discography as a featured artist on myriad projects, Markus has released four seminal recordings as a leader thus far; Tanbou nan Lakou Brooklyn (2008), Equinox (2011), Vo-Duo Nou La (w/ Monvelyno Alexis, 2013), and most recently Kay Sa (2019), the second Lakou Brooklyn Quartet recording on the audiophile Soundkeeper Recordings label. Current projects include his own ongoing band Lakou Brooklyn Quartet, as well as membership in Grammy-winning saxophonist David Sanchez' Carib project, and We All Break, led by the iconic drummer Ches Smith, along with pianist Matt Mitchell and Haitian master drummer Daniel Brevil. Markus maintains an active freelance schedule as well, appearing locally and abroad with a host of talented artists from the Haitian community.
Happy Birthday to Alex Beltran! Alex Beltran is an active writer, performer, teacher, and clinician based in New England. He holds a Master’s Degree in Music History from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where he also received an undergraduate degree in Percussion Performance. Alex is currently the Battery Caption Manager for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle corps, where he handles the daily teaching, equipment, and logistical needs of the battery and coordinate the staff. He is also the Battery Arranger and Caption Manager for consistent WGI Independent World Finalist United Percussion, as well as the battery arranger for 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps.
Gig Alerts
the Austin City Limits festival is happening October 3rd-5th and 10th-12th in Austin, TX.
Friend of the show, Nate Smith is currently on tour and has several forthcoming dates!
Jeffery Barudin has new jobs available posted on his website.
Freinds of the show, Sandbox Percussion (e.g. Victor and Jonny as well as David) have a bunch of new dates for clinics, masterclasses, performances and more!
Sandbox Percussion: 2025-26 Season
Sept. 16: Morgantown, WV — Recital at Summit Chamber Music Series, 7:30 PM
Sept. 30: New York City, Tishman Concert Hall — Christopher Cerrone Portrait Concert at The New School, 7:30 PM
Oct. 4: Brewster, MA — Recital at Cape Cod Performing Arts Center, 7:30 PM
Oct. 5: Lenox, MA — Recital at Tanglewood Learning Institute, 4 PM
Oct. 15: Omaha, NE — The KANEKO: Andy Akiho & Sandbox Percussion, 7 PM
Nov. 8: Springfield, MO — Juanita K. Hammons Hall: Re(new)al with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 PM
Nov. 19, Asheville, NC — Recital at Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, 7:30 PM
Nov. 20: Durham, NC, Baldwin Auditorium — Re(new)al, with the Duke University Wind Symphony, 7:30 PM
Nov. 21: Durham, NC, Baldwin Auditorium — Max Roach at 100: Collaboration with the Tyshawn Sorey Trio, 7:30 PM
Nov. 23: Baltimore, MD, Leith Symington Griswold Hall — Canto Ostinato with Peabody Percussion Group, 7:30 PM
Dec. 12: Wallingford, CT, Paul Mellon Arts Center — Recital at Choate Rosemary Hall, 7:30 PM
Jan. 24: Topeka, KS, White Concert Hall — Re(new)al, with the Topeka Symphony, 7:30 PM
Feb. 2: Baltimore, MD, Griswold Hall — Faculty Recital at the Peabody Institute, 7:30 PM
Feb. 9: Ruston, LA, Howard Center for the Performing Arts — Masterclass and Recital at Louisiana Tech University, 7 PM
Feb. 22: Berkeley, CA, Zellerbach Auditorium — Canto Ostinato, An AMOC* & Sandbox Percussion co-production, 3 PM
Feb. 25: Stanford, CA, Bing Concert Hall — You Are Who I Love, with The Crossing, 7:30 PM
March 3: Williamsburg, VA, Williamsburg Community Chapel — Re(new)al, with the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 PM
March 6: Seattle, WA, 415 Westlake — FIVE! Sandbox Percussion and Kristin Lee, 8 PM
March 7: Olympia, WA, Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts — FIVE! Sandbox Percussion and Kristin Lee, 7:30 PM
March 27 & 28: Columbus, OH, Ohio Theatre — Re(new)al, with the Columbus Symphony, 7:30 PM
April 4: Centre County, PA, Recital at Penn State University, 7:30 PM
April 10: Seattle, WA, 415 Westlake — Canto Ostinato, with UWashington School of Music, 8 PM
April 11: Olympia, WA, Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts — Canto Ostinato, with UWashington School of Music, 7:30 PM
April 13: Rockville, MD, Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center — Collaboration with Violinist Kristin Lee, 7:30 PM
April 15: Cincinnati, OH, Cohen Family Studio Theater — Collaboration with Violinist Kristin Lee, 7:30 PM
April 19 & 20, 2026: Washington, D.C., Dumbarton Oaks — Canto Ostinato, with Matthew Aucoin and Conor Hanick, 7 PM
April 30, 2026: New York, NY, Rose Studio at Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center — Sonic Spectrum IV, 7:30 PM
May 19, 2026: Salt Lake City, UT, Libby Gardner Concert Hall — Recital at Chamber Music Society of Salt Lake City, 7:30 PM
June 6, 2026: Albany, NY, EMPAC — Viet Cuong *World Premiere,* with the Albany Symphony, 7:30 PM
Damon will be playing in the house band for the NY ACLU benefit again at NYU on Monday October 27th. The guest of honor is John Leguizamo, and one of the musical acts is the Broadway performers from Buena Vista Social Club. Friend of the show, Javier Diaz is in the percussion section for that musical.
Educational Spotlight
If you plan to go to PASIC, download the Guidebook app and then when the details are finalized, you can sort out the schedule and events for the week.
In the meantime, you can check out the schedule on the PASIC website to start sorting out who is going to be where, at what time.
The Mostly Marimba company run by friend of the show, Leigh Howard Stevens, has some NEW BACK TO SCHOOL MUSIC available.
Gear Talk
The Slingerland drum company has released their Radio King kit and has many sizes, finishes and configurations available.
Iconic Recording
Dan picked the iconic recording. He chose, Art Tatum’s Complete Capitol Records Recordings. Damon chose the song, “Blue Skies”.
Music News
Nicholas Tolle has a new recording called, “Lines and Traces of Desire (Music for Cimbalom)”, composed by Mischa Salkind-Pearl.
Starting October 12, 2025, 29 European countries will begin phasing in the new Entry/Exit System (EES), replacing traditional passport stamps with biometric data collection at borders.
The FTC and seven states sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster for allegedly coordinating with brokers in illegal resale tactics. -Article
Dan Dorff Jr. Interview
The song leading into the interview is called, “What Fiction Is For” by DYAN from the album, ‘Midwest’.
Dan lost his laptop, and Damon asks about backed up files on a hard drive or cloud.
Dan was recommended by friend of the show Dani Markham.
Dan mentions friend of the show, Diane Downs and the Louisville Leopards.
Shout-out to Hannah Ford.
Dan works with the Cincinnati Spiders. He talks about the similarities and differences.
Damon brings up wiffle ball between musicians.
Dan talks about the influence his dad and uncle Joe had on him.
Damon mentions a story from friend of the show, Horacio “el Negro” Hernandez.
Dan rebuilds and tunes pianos.
Dan mentions the Baldwin Piano Company is in Cincinnati.
Dan talks a little about tuning.
Dan attended the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Dan is not the Dan Dorff that plays clarinet.
Damon asks about other drummer/keyboard players. Dan mentions friend of the show, Josh Dion.
Dan mentions Kenwood Dennard and friend of the show, Nate Wood.
Dan was in Stomp and talks about his experience.
Damon mentions Dan Weiner and friend of the show, Everett Bradley. Dan mentions Fraser Morrison.
Dan talks about a Serbian border crossing.
Dan grew up in Loveland, OH.
Dan mentions John Von Ohlen, who taught Jeff Hamilton.
Dan went to school with Jake Reed.
Damon mentions the funk scene in Ohio. Specifically in Dayton.
Damon mentions “the Cookout”
Dan picks the iconic recording. He mentions the “TIger Rag” performed by Art Tatum.
Damon mentions Mr. Rogers and Johnny Costa. Dan mentions Keith Jarrett.
Dan played a bit with Postmodern Jukebox. He mentions Mel Lewis and Sonny Payne.
Shout-out to Josh Freese and his new NIN gig.
Dan talks about enjoying the pressure of last minute subbing.
Damon brings up the Immediate Family Documentary.
Dan loves Vic Firth Sticks and enjoys JG Percussion.
Shout-out to John Von Ohlen, Baba Charles Miller, and friend of the show, Rusty Burge.
Check out the band DYAN and Ben Sollee who Dan will be on the road with soon!
You can follow Dan on Facebook and Instagram.
You can have him tune or rebuild your piano HERE.
The song leading out of the interview is, “Part One - Homecoming” by Ray LaMontagne, from the album, ‘Ouroboros’
