094 – Larry Aberman: 13 Years with Zumanity on the Las Vegas Strip, Taking Direction, Navigating the Vegas Scene

Larry Aberman was handpicked to be the drummer for Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity, a show specifically conceived to be featured in a 1,200 seat theatre at New York New York in Las Vegas beginning in 2003. Before that he spent time in LA and New York maintaining a busy touring and recording schedule, primarily with pianist Joe Sample. In 13 years with Zumanity, Larry has been involved in the show’s creative process, working with musical directors, composers and fellow musicians to help create and subsequently update the show.

In this podcast, Larry talks about

What it means to be a generous player

Working with different musical directors on Zumanity, navigating his role in the show, and knowing who is boss is

Networking in Las Vegas

Teaching at UNLV, and how the Las Vegas scene informs the curriculum there

How most auditions are designed to see how you perform under adversity

The trade-off of turning down work because of his commitment to Zumanity

His long-standing relationship with DW

The physical demands of playing ten shows a week in Vegas vs. five shows a week with a band on the road

Larry Aberman endorses DW Drums, Remo Drumheads, and Zildjian Cymbals & Drumsticks.

This episode is sponsored by Sonor Drums