078 – Michael Duffy: Drum Corps Culture at North Texas, The Austin Scene, Gathering Info from Other Drummers, Making it Work in L.A.

Michael Duffy is an L.A. native, and has spent most of his career splitting his time between drumset and Latin percussion. He marched corps with Velvet Knights and Blue Devils and attended North Texas. He left school early to start gigging full time, first in Dallas then in Austin, where there was a lot of session work at the time. He moved to L.A. in 2002 where he has toured and recorded with a long list of rock, pop and salsa acts including OzoMatli and Poncho Sanchez.

In this podcast, Michael talks about:

How marching in Blue Devils led him to North Texas, and how the drum corps mentality was helpful there.

His first touring gig after college with smooth jazz saxophonist Joseph Vincelli, and the nuts-and-bolts lessons he learned from the bassist in that band.

How playing Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and African percussion gave him educational and professional opportunities he wouldn’t have had on drumset.

The essence of Texas Blues.

How after 20 years of playing professionally, he is now beginning to delve seriously into jazz drumming.

His first touring gig after moving back to LA, with OzaMatli, a gig that required him to cop a variety of drummers and styles “authentically and inauthentically.”

His current projects, Jungle Fire and The White Blinds

His long-game approach to living and working in L.A.–it’s a choice.

Michael Duffy endorses Heuer Drums, Innovative Percussion Drumsticks, Aquarian Drumheads, and Latin Percussion.

This episode is sponsored by Sakae Drums.