#481 Jenny Klukken- Percussionist, Educator, Artist, and More!
This week’s guest is Jenny Klukken. Jenny is a classically trained percussionist, creative composer, improviser, musical storyteller and an innovative voice for the modern marimba. She primarily performs her own compositions that showcase her virtuosity on the marimba, while appealing to wide ranges of listeners through singable melodies, addictive grooves, and playful improvisation. Jenny takes the marimba out of the modern-classical musical setting it usually dwells in and brings it to the wider world music.
Jenny's draws inspiration from all over the world; Spain, Latin America, and American folk music, all while weaving a common thread of jazz and freeplay. Her compositions are inspired by her life of as a curious marimbist, traveling and studying abroad, as well as balancing her life as a mother and artist. Jenny shares her stories with audiences for a performance of musical intimacy.
In the Twin Cities where she lives, Jenny has developed a reputation as a stunning performer with a highly unique point ofview. Her creative vision has received numerous grants from organizations like Minnesota Public Radio, the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, MacPhail Center for Music, and the Jerome Foundation.
Happy Birthfday!
Happy Birthday to Jordan Rose! Native of Houston, Texas, drummer Jordan Rose has performed at festivals and venues throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Asia, and the Middle East. From 2012-2014 Jordan toured extensively with multi-Grammy award winner, Joe Louis Walker. He now resides in Brooklyn, New York where his talents as a session drummer have given him the opportunity to collaborate with musicians Charlie Puth, Jeff Coffin, Nona Hendryx, Bakithi Kumalo, Louis Cato, and many others. This year Jordan is touring with Theo Katzman of Vulfpeck, The Blues Brothers, and Caleb Hawley, and is scheduled to perform across the US, Europe, and Russia.
From 2007-2010 Jordan fought a battle with a growth in his right ear which caused him to lose almost all hearing. Due to modern medicine and miraculous healing, his hearing was restored. From this three year period of trial and uncertainty, Jordan gained an even deeper love, appreciation, and excitement for music and a greater understanding of the intense power it has to impact lives. As he shares his talents in drumming, he hopes that he can bring the same life-changing positivity to the world that music has brought to him.
Happy Birthday to Brian Potts! Brian is a versatile performer and dedicated educator with a passion for Brazilian percussion. Under the tutelage of Dr. Ney Rosauro at the University of Miami, he became enamored with the sound and capabilities of modern pandeiro techniques. His degrees culminated with a doctoral essay based on an interview with the great Marcos Suzano, which has become an invaluable reference for pandeiristas the world over. Also, Brian works closely with the Pandeiro Repique Duo, comprised of Bernardo Aguiar and Gabriel Policarpo, with whom he founded the Brazilian percussion supergroup PRD Mais in 2016. In addition to his love of Brazilian music, Brian has sought to help make the pandeiro an international and limitless phenomenon by adapting the instrument to a wide variety of styles, including jazz, funk, soul, Latin, and classical music. In his clinics, Brian strives to relate the versatility of the pandeiro by utilizing modern techniques that allow students to approach the instrument in a creative and interactive fashion. He also teaches at Barry University in addition to online (i.e. Skype, Zoom, etc).
Happy Birthday to Aaron T. Smith! Aaron is a freelance percussionist in Southern California, where he has performed with such groups as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the L.A. Chamber Orchestra, L.A. Opera and the Pacific Symphony. He served as the principal timpanist of the New Mexico Symphony. In addition to orchestral music, Mr. Smith plays contemporary music and is an active chamber musician. He has performed as a soloist in Los Angeles and New York City, and has given solo recitals throughout Southern California. Mr. Smith has participated in the world-premieres of many works, some of which were written specifically for him.
Outside of LMU, Mr. Smith serves as a clinician and adjudicator. Aaron attended the University of California at Los Angeles (BA, MFA), where he studied with Mitchell Peters, Principal Timpanist (ret.) of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and has also studied with Raynor Carroll, Principal Percussionist of the LAPO. He has studied riq and frame drums with Randy Gloss (CALARTS) and drum set with Michael Packer (L.A. Music Academy) and J. D. Blair (Nashville studio and touring musician).
Happy Birthday to Jim Ancona! Jim is an associate professor of music at the University of Delaware. He is the assistant director of the Fightin' Blue Hen Marching Band, director of the Basketball Pep Band and co-director of the Symphonic Band. Mr. Ancona received his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and his Master of Music in Performance from Indiana University, where he was awarded the prestigious Performer's Certificate. His former teachers include Gerald Carlyss, Thomas Hannum, William Roberts, Peter Tanner and Leigh Howard Stevens.
Mr. Ancona has more than 30 years of experience as a composer and instructor for world-class drum and bugle corps. He is currently a percussion advisor for the Boston Crusaders. He has served on the instructional staff and as a caption head for championship percussion sections and corps including Star of Indiana, The Cadets, Santa Clara Vanguard and The Cavaliers.
Several of Mr. Ancona’s percussion arrangements appeared on the Tony and Emmy award-winning Broadway show Blast. He also has several arrangements published by Tapspace Publications. Mr. Ancona is the co-author of the popular front ensemble text, Up Front: A Complete Resource for Today's Pit Ensemble and author of Up Front Etudes. He is an endorser and clinician for the Avedis Zildjian Company, Remo, Pearl drums and Adams percussion, and a signature artist for Innovative Percussion, Inc. Mr. Ancona has presented educational and performance clinics around the world.
Happy Birthday to Rusty Burge! Rusty joined the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music faculty in 1992 as a member of Percussion Group Cincinnati, with whom he has performed extensively throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Recent performances include the Japan World Drum Festival, Chinese International Music Festival, Taipei International Percussion Convention, the Ravinia Festival, Merkin Hall in New York City and the International Percussion Convention. He has recorded with the Group for the Mode, Centaur, Einstein and Ars Moderno labels. The Group has also made concerto appearances with more than twenty different symphony orchestras. He was formerly principal percussionist with the West Virginia Symphony and plays extra with the Cincinnati Symphony. He received his undergraduate degree from the Eastman School of Music and a masters degree from CCM.
Professor Burge teaches percussion, jazz vibraphone and directs the CCM Steel band. He is an active jazz vibraphonist who has recorded for Summit, J Curve Records, Human Records and Telarc. Recent jazz performances with Ted Nash, Rich Perry, Peter Erskine, Dave Liebman, Rufus Reid, Steve Allee, Steve Houghton, Roland Vazquez, Michael Spiro and Jim Rupp. Recent performances at the 2016 PASIC Convention, the 2016 Midwest Clinic and the 2017 JEN Convention with the BAHA Quartet (Burge, Allee, Houghton and Allen.) His latest recordings are Faraway (with Steve Allee) and Driftin' with Steve Houghton, Steve Allee and Jeremy Allen. In 2017 Burge (as a member of PGC) was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.
Happy Birthday to Davey Chegwidden! Born and raised around the Philadelphia area, Davey Chegwidden first got into music when he received a ukelele for his eighth birthday. He traded it in for a guitar the next day and started taking private lessons, continuing to play guitar through his teens with school jazz ensembles and local rock groups. In high school, he shifted his focus to visual arts, but continued playing music with his bassist/guitarist brother Mick in various local bands. In 1988, while attending his first year in college as a fine arts major, he received a pair of bongos as collateral on a loan to a bandmate. He instantly got bit by the percussion bug, purchased a conga and some hand percussion and started taking private lessons with Mark Beecher. In 1991, he moved to the Denver area where he continued studying with Felipe Brun, Eric Robnett, Ty Burhoe, Geoff Johns, Christian Teele, and Jose Rossy. He also performed and recorded with local bands.
In 1996, he settled in Los Angeles where he has been working steadily as a professional touring and recording musician with a diverse group of popular and underground artists including: De La Soul, Feist, Black Eyed Peas, Macy Gray, fun., Donna Summer, Breakestra, Kneebody, The Lions, Sam Sparro, Primal Scream, Game of Thrones Concert Tour, The Heptones, Jem, SOJA, Greyboy All-Stars, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Talib Kweli, Brett Dennen, Sharon Jones, Rakim, Brother Ali, Nikka Costa, Dan Bern, Aloe Blacc, Big Daddy Kane, Barrington Levy, Dakah Hip-Hop Orchestra, B.O.B., Mark Isham, Bitter:Sweet, Angela McCluskey, Rhythm Roots Allstars, Peanut Butter Wolf, Jody Watley, Mike Andrews, Indigo Girls, Mos Def, Common, Tangerine Dream, Tyler the Creator, The Game, Fred Armisen, Blue Jean Committee, Slick Rick, Woody Jackson, Brand Nubian, EPMD, Too Short, Redman, Jonathan Richmond, David Holmes, Doyle Bramhall II, Marcelo Alvarez, Gary Jules, Kes the Band, Lyle Workman, WAVVES, the Upsiders, Eric Benet, Lily Tomlin and many others.
Davey has numerous credits for film, television, video games, and commercials including: Ocean’s 13, Captain Phillips, Grand Theft Auto V, The Heat, Identity Thief, Daddy’s Home, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Bad Teacher, American Hustle, Neighbors, Neighbors 2, Togetherness, Red Dead Redemption, 40-Year Old Virgin, Horrible Bosses, Money Monster, Sex Tape, She’s Out of My League, Orange County, IMAX: Coral Reef Adventure, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, Fox, Nike, Mercedes, Target, Apple and more.
Davey has ventured into songwriting and production as well, working with De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, Aloe Blacc, The Lions, Raheem DeVaughn,, Rhythm Roots Allstars, The Upsiders, Scion and Facebook.
Happy Birthday to Joshua Simonds! Previous to the Percussive Arts Society, Joshua Simonds was the Executive Director of Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras. He holds a Master of Arts in Arts Management from American University in Washington, DC, and a Bachelor of Arts in Percussion from California State University, Long Beach.
During his tenure, CYSO has more than doubled its programs, built strong relationships with world-class composers resulting in numerous world and local premieres, and initiated groundbreaking artistic collaborations, including performances with Ben Folds, My Morning Jacket, The Second City, My Brightest Diamond, the Chicago Bulls, and multiple performances at the legendary rock festival Lollapalooza.
His passion for percussion has always been at the forefront of his work at CYSO. During his tenure at CYSO, the organization built one of the largest youth steel pan programs in the midwest, performed multiple times with Chicago’s Blue Man Group in Chicago’s Millennium Park, engaged Third Coast Percussion on multiple occasions including a 2014 year-in-residence resulting in a New Music USA grant for a video recording of David T Little’s Radiant Child for Percussion Quartet and Orchestra, and most recently secured Glenn Kotche as CYSO’s 2016-2017 Composer in Residence. These are just a few examples of Joshua’s life-long commitment to percussion performance and education.
While at California State University, Long Beach, Joshua studied percussion with Raynor Carroll, Principal Percussionist of the LA Philharmonic, Dr. Dave Gerhart, and the late Dr. Michael Carney. Joshua is also a proud alumnus of the Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corps.
Gig Alerts
The Roots Picnic is happening in Philadelphia, PA May 30-31.
Jay-Z is performing at Yankee Stadium in NYC July 10-11 Playing Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint albums. Maybe Tony Royster Jr. will be back playing drums with him. Good luck getting tickets.
The Music City Drum Show will be happening in Nashville, TN on July 18-19.
Damon will be playing with Kirk Franklin for a Mother’s Day show in Echo Park, Los Angeles, CA on May 9th.
Educational Spotlight
Northwestern University has a summer Percussion Symposium from July 13-18. Several friends of the show will be participating including: She-e Wu, the Third Coast Percussion Ensemble (including David Skidmore), Keith Aleo, Chris Lamb, Marcelina Suchocka, Lalo Davila, and Julie Davila.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording chosen by Jenny is “Atta Boy” performed by Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile (Goat Rodeo Sessions).
Music News
Thirty states are charging forward with antitrust claims against Live Nation, though six other states have officially accepted the Justice Department’s settlement. Now, legal documents shared with Digital Music News reveal that many states negotiated multimillion-dollar payouts from Live Nation as part of their settlement agreements. -Article
Senators pitch legislation to strengthen antitrust settlement procedures after finding the DOJ’s settlement with Live Nation to be lacking. -Article
France has returned the Djidji Ayôkwé sacred talking drum to Côte d’Ivoire, more than 100 years after it was looted during colonial rule. -Artlcie
Jenny has recorded a new album called “Marimba Standard”, that is being released this Friday, March 27th. It will have Girl from Ipanema, Take 5, Afro Blue, Katamiya (marimba solo by Emmanuel Sejourney) and Rotation IV (marimba solo by Eric Sammut), plus a few more. -More Details
Jenny Klukken Interview
The song leading into the interview is “Afro Blue” performed by Jenny from her forthcoming album, ‘Marimba Standard’.
Jenny talks about her name.
She just completed a residency in Reno, NV with Eric Sammut. She talks about the residency and some of her compositions.
Jenny talks about studying in Paris through a grant with Eric Sammut. All thanks to a messed up ankle.
Damon mentions Stefon Harris and some other marimba players that improvise.
Damon and Jenny talk about Emil Richards playing marimba on Mongo Santamaria’s tune Afro-Blue.
Damon mentions the Gary Burton album, “For Hamp, Red, Bags and Cal”.
Shout-out to friend of the show, Shawn Pelton.
Jenny talks about her forthcoming album and release party for the new release called, “Marimba Standard”.
Jenny plays the bodhrán and the ukulele. Her first instrument was piano.
Her mom and dad play different instruments as well.
Shout-out to Phil Hey.
Jenny talks about her appreciation for Prince and moving from a small town to Minneapolis.
Jenny talks about being in Minneapolis and trying to create art and content.
Shout-out to Josie Lewis.
Jenny is a visual artist. She focuses on acrylics and watercolors. Damon mentions the Bob Ross montage.
Jenny talks about creating art to help promote her music and how she does both.
Damon mentions being a multi hyphenate.
Jenny talks about the struggles of being self employed and being your own boss.
Shout-out to Nate Morton.
Shout-out to Air Turn to turn pages with either your hands/stick or your feet.
Jenny talks about using the pedal and learning how to incorporate it.
Jenny picks the iconic recording for the week. Shout-out to the Goat Rodeo Sessions.
Jenny remembers the song her mom used to wake her up with.
Damon and Jenny talk about different marimbas.
Shout-out to Fernando Meza, Steve Yeager, and Eric Sammut.
