Dr. Thad Anderson Podcast

Discussions in Percussion

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This week’s guest is Dr. Thad Anderson. Thad is a Professor of Music at the University of Central Florida (UCF) where he coordinates the Percussion Studies program, teaches applied lessons, and directs both the UCF Percussion Ensemble and the New Music Ensemble. Joining the UCF faculty in 2009, Anderson also teaches courses in music technology and oversees the concert audio engineering team. His career blends performance, pedagogy, and technology, with a strong emphasis on contemporary music and composition.

An accomplished solo, chamber, and orchestral musician, Anderson has contributed to numerous recordings, including releases on Cantaloupe, Naxos, Ravello Records, Flying Horse Records, and Innova labels. His performance credits include the Alterity Chamber Orchestra, Victoria Bach Festival, Austin Chamber Music Center, Round Top Festival-Institute, Syracuse Society for New Music, Make Music New York, Accidental Music Festival, Winter Park Bach Festival, Days of Percussion in Florida, Texas, Idaho, and Oklahoma, the Texas and Florida Music Educators Association convention, Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Austin, Waco, and Brevard Symphony Orchestras. Anderson has been a featured soloist with Conspirare, the Monroe Symphony Orchestra, UCF Wind Ensemble, and the Murray State University Wind Ensemble. Anderson is a sought-after clinician, lecturer, and performer, presenting across the United States and internationally as far as Bangkok, Thailand.

As a composer, Anderson’s works encompass percussion, mixed chamber music, and multimedia. His compositions have been featured in award-winning documentary films like Standard Deviation and Finding Tyler, as well as in full-dome theaters and museums worldwide in collaboration with Christopher Brannan and Diana Reichenbach. He publishes his original works through Plus Two Media, with additional projects released through Universal Edition and Peters Edition. Dedicated to advancing new music, Anderson actively commissions and collaborates with composers such as Paul Lansky, Marc Mellits, Tiffany Connell, Zack Browning, Steven Snowden, Jonathan Kolm, John Serry, Martin Bresnick, Halim El-Dabh, and Travis Jeffords, fostering new works for percussion and chamber ensembles.

Additionally, Anderson is highly active in the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) community where he currently serves as President of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee and contributes to the various PAS publications. He serves on the faculty and is Percussion Coordinator at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute and oversees percussion activities with the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra. He is also a frequent evaluator at the Music For All National Percussion Festival. Dr. Anderson completed his undergraduate work in Music Education at the University of Central Florida and received his Master’s of Music and Doctorate of Music Arts in Percussion Performance from the University of Texas at Austin.

Thad Anderson plays Yamaha percussion instruments, Vic Firth sticks and mallets, Zildjian cymbals, and Remo drumheads.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Jeff Stern! Known for performing “with precision and an impressive attention to timbral detail” (Boston Musical Intelligencer), percussionist Jeff Stern has developed a voice to listen for in today’s contemporary music scene. He has performed extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, and has collaborated with and championed the work of a number of the world’s preeminent composers. Recent premieres include Alejandro Viñao’s Stress and Flow with The Percussion Collective, James Wood’s Secret Dialogues for solo marimba, and John Luther Adams’ Sila at Lincoln Center’s Out of Doors Festival. As a proponent for the music of our time, Stern also actively commissions works by composers of his generation, such as Thomas Kotcheff, Emma O’Halloran, Robert Honstein, and Juri Seo.

Stern is the executive director, co-artistic director, and founding percussionist of 2 piano/2 percussion group icarus Quartet. Winner of the 2019 Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition, icarus is quickly gaining the attention of composers, presenters, and audiences everywhere. The 2021-22 concert season brings the Quartet to Florida State University, Community Concerts at 2nd, Music in the Valley, Northern Iowa University, the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the Kennedy Center’s REACH, and more, including an international debut at the Vienna Summer Music Festival. Fervently adding to its rich body of repertoire, icarus also premieres works by Ruby Fulton, Douglas Knehans, David Crowell, Amy Beth Kirsten, Scott Lee, and the two winners of its second annual student composer collaboration program, iQ Tests. The Quartet’s anticipated commercial album featuring the music of Michael Laurello, Brad Lubman, and Paul Lansky is slated for release on Furious Artisans records in Spring 2022.

With The Percussion Collective, Stern has toured the United States, performed on a live broadcast for WXQR’s Midday Masterpieces, and given a featured evening performance at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. He rejoins the Collective in the 2021-22 season for Chris Theofanidis’ Drum Circles concerto for four percussionists with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Michael Francis as well as the world premiere of a new work by Emmy Award-winning composer Garth Neustadter for the International Arts and Ideas Festival.

Additional highlights of Stern’s upcoming season include icarus Duo appearances with percussionist Matt Keown presented by Allegro Chamber Music Series in Philadelphia and Piano Spheres in Los Angeles with piano duo HOCKET. Stern also collaborates with the “Pershing’s Own” member Doug O’Connor playing duos for marimba and saxophone, with percussionist Nonoka Mizukami in Philip Glass’ Concerto Fantasy for two timpanists with the Peabody Wind Orchestra, and with members of the National Symphony Orchestra on Washington DC’s Constellation Chamber Concerts series.

Stern performs as an extra percussionist for the Baltimore Symphony and with several new music ensembles including Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, Mind on Fire, NewPrism Ensemble, NakedEye Ensemble, and ensemble mise-en, with whom he toured to Hong Kong in 2018. He has appeared at the Yellow Barn Music Festival, the Bang on a Can Summer Festival, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, and the Eighth Blackbird Creative Lab, and can be heard on the Albany, Elm City, Bright Shiny Things, figureight, and Cantaloupe record labels.

Stern serves as Lecturer in Percussion at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. He holds a B.M. from UMass Amherst, an M.M. from the Peabody Conservatory, where he was awarded the Harold Randolph Prize in Performance, and an Artist Diploma from the Yale School of Music.

Happy birthday to Bill Summers! To say that Bill Summers is a percussionist is like saying a Steinway is a piano: The noun conveys none of the history and quality of the owner of the title. Summers is a musician of the highest order, playing anything from traditional African instruments to pop bottles, and a cultural visionary who brings diverse people and ideas together. Whether working with Quincy Jones on the musical score for Roots, or the soundtrack to The Color Purple, or interpreting the music of the holiday Kwanza, Summers is cognizant of his heritage and its many contributions to world culture. His late-night musical soirées in his New Orleans home have often served as a lightning rod for creativity and success. Witness how Summers brought together Kim Provost and Bill Solley, winners of the 1999 BET Jazz Discovery Competition. The duo made their acquaintance at one of those late-night Summers sessions. Recognizing their alchemy, Summers asked them to join his Summer's Heat tour.

And witness the fortuitous phone call from Irvin Mayfield to Jason Marsalis, who suggested that the trumpeter call Summers about his idea for a Latin rhythms/jazz fusion-inspired group. Late-night sessions at the Summers residence resulted in the 1998 formation of Los Hombres Calientes, an overnight sensation in New Orleans and then the world. Los Hombres Calientes tore the roof off Snug Harbor, the House of Blues, and ignited the stage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival with its searing dance music and has produced three CDs.

The success of multi-award-winning Los Hombres Calientes owes much to the knowledge of the seasoned Summers, playing with Mayfield and Marsalis, both in their early twenties. Summers, a former Detroit Observatory student, R&B star (with "Call It What You Want" in 1981) and veteran of the Walter Payton Trio and Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, knows literally hundreds of African and Cuban percussion rhythms from decades of study.

He and his musician wife, Yvette Bostic-Summers, who plays and sings with Los Hombres Calientes, steer the helm of the Summers Multi-Ethnic Institute of Art, which takes students to Cuba to study Afro-Cuban music. In 1999, Bill Summersand several of his students were initiated into the prestigious Yoruba order of sacred drummers by Estaban "Cha Chaa" Vega, the most revered drummer in Cuba.

Happy Birthday to Marvin “Smitty” Smith! Born June 24, 1961 in Waukegan (Illinois). "It was a very natural inclination for me to play drums," says Marvin "Smitty" Smith. A glance at his early life validates that truth. Born the son of a drummer, Marvin, Sr., was always surrounded by music in the house.

At six months old, he would climb up on the large lounge chair positioned directly in front of his father's drum set and would watch him practice, intensely. Whenever his father took a break, he would crawl over and press the foot pedals and attempt to emulate his dad. That experience, and banging on pots and pans, was the extent of his playing until he began formal training at the age of three.

Today, Marvin "Smitty" Smith is a young musician extraordinaire whose work has been described as a "comment on invention, firm and adventurous time and technical sufficiency." He has traveled extensively throughout the Orient, Europe, and the continental USA; and he has shared the stage with such greats as Sonny Rollins, Hank Jones, Frank Foster and Frank Wess, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, and Milt Jackson. He is a former member of the Ron Carter Quartet, The New York Jazz Quartet, and The Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet.

Featured on more than 45 albums, additional performances and recordings augmented with Terence Blanchard and Donald Harrison, Ray Brown and Phineas Newborn, George Shearing, Bobby Watson, Hamiet Bluiett, Branford Marsalis, David Murray, Emily Remler, Peter Leicht, Kevin Eubanks, Donald Byrd, Monty Alexander, Diane Reeves, Michel Camilo, and Grover Washington Jr. Currently he's a member of Steve Coleman's Five Elements, and The Dave Holland Quartet. Smitty conducts seminars and clinics for students in jazz workshops, both in the United States and Europe; and is currently on staff of jazz program at the Banff Centre of Fine Arts, Canada, and Drummers Collective, New York City.

Smitty has been Downbeat Critics' Poll winner for Talent Deserving Wider Recognition, 1985 through 1987, and 1989. Smitty performed on the Soundtrack of filmaker Spike Lee's "School Daze", appeared in Sonny Rollins' music video "Saxophone Colossus", and a member of Sting's "Nothing Like the Sun" South American tour, 1987.

Regarded as a well rounded musician with the ability to play all styles, Marvin "Smitty" Smith is a blossoming composer and arranger, and his success has earned him two albums as a bandleader. As a versitile drummer, there seems to be nothing be cannot do. It's been said that he is the "John Coltrane of the drums.."

Happy Birthday to the Late James Gadson! James is an American drummer and session musician. Beginning his career in the late 1960s, Gadson has since become one of the most-recorded drummers in the history of R&B. He is also a singer and songwriter.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Gadson played with the first line-up of Charles Wright's Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, and recorded three albums with them between 1968 and 1970. Along with other members of Wright's band he went on to appear on many hit records, including with Dyke & the Blazers. Gadson started to become well known as a drummer following the release of the album Still Bill by Bill Withers, released by Sussex Records in 1972. He played on The Temptations album 1990, released on the Motown label in 1973. In 1975 he played with Freddie King on Larger Than Life and went on to record with Martha Reeves, Randy Crawford, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, B.B. King, Albert King, Rose Royce, Elkie Brooks and many more artists. In 1975 he anchored the Motown classic double platinum album City Of Angels, recorded by Billy Griffin & The Miracles.

Gadson was also the drummer on Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" in 1976 and Diana Ross's hit 1976 single Love Hangover and appeared on two tracks, "At The Mercy" and "Riding To Vanity Fair", on the 2005 Paul McCartney album Chaos and Creation in the Backyard.

He has a brief appearance in the Adam Sandler 2009 movie Funny People as a member of the jam band that Sandler's character hires to play with him.

In April 2009, Gadson joined Alex Dixon, grandson of Willie Dixon, on his 2009 release titled Rising From The Bushes, in which he appeared on two tracks, "Fantasy" and Willie Dixon's famous song "Spoonful".

In June 2009, Gadson joined Beck, Wilco, Feist and Jamie Lidell covering Skip Spence's Oar as part of Beck's Record Club series, with videos appearing on Beck's website beginning November 2009. He has drummed on Beck's albums Sea Change, The Information and Morning Phase, as well as Jamie Lidell's 2010 album Compass. Gadson played drums, as well as hambone (slapping his legs), on the D'Angelo song "Sugah Daddy", on the Black Messiah album (2014). He appeared in the 2016 video for “Mama Can’t Help You No More,” by Doyle Bramhall II. You can see a list of some of the credits for James’ work by CLICKING HERE.

Gig Alerts

The Drum Corps season has started. Click HERE if you want to see the full schedule and get tickets.

Friend of the show, Jeffrey Barudin has new job openings posted on his website.

Here are some music festivals for the fourth of July, as well as 25 destinations to visit for spectating some great celebrations.

Damon is on tour with Ziggy Marley. Come say hello!

Educational Spotlight

The Laborie Steel Workshop happening January of 2027 has opened the registration. The hosts are friends of the show, Andy Narell and Dr. Jason Koontz. Email Jason for more information and details here:
cjasonkoontz@icloud.com

PASIC prices have gone up as of June 16th. Register now before the next price increase on Sept 1st.

You can also renew your PAS membership to get a discounted price as well as reserve your hotel room.

Iconic Recording

The iconic recording for the week is, “Harry Hood” by Phish, from the album ‘A Live One’

Music News

Kay Hanley, the singing voice of Josie in 2001’s Josie and the Pussycats, has received less than $1,500 in residuals—and has received none since 2009. -Article

Lionel Richie and Rod Stewart both experienced unsteadiness on stage this week, sparking concerns that older musicians are pushing themselves too hard. -Article

Blue Devils Drum Corps grateful for Colorado's help after losing belongings in Interstate 25 bus fire -Article If you'd like to help, please go to: bluedevils.org/donate.

Dr. Thad Anderson Interview

The song leading into the interview is, “A New Path to Touch the Earth: I. If They Follow Their Heroes” by the group Answers from the album called, ‘A New Path to Touch the Earth’

Thad talks about the path to become the President of the Percussive Arts Society.

Thad talks about some of the options for PASIC, both in person and virtual.

Damon mentions growing PAS Chapters around the country and around the world.

Thad talks about his first PASIC experience in 1998, Damon has a memory from that same PASIC in Orlando, FL.

Thad is from Gainesville Florida.

Thad got his undergrad from the University of Central Florida, which is also where he teaches now.

Shout-out to Yamaha and their Sounds of Summer events.

Shout-out to Jeff Moore.

Thad got his masters and doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.

Thad got to teach a bit at Southwestern University.

Thad talks about the courses he teaches at UCF, and how to prepare his students for the future.

Thad shouts-out the percussion faculty at UCF.