103 – Andy Sanesi: From Avant Garde Jazz to Pop, Altering Your Cymbals, Making the Most of a Steady

Andy Sanesi is a New York native who has spent the last decade in L.A. His time in New York was highlighted by playing with saxophonist John Zorn but the quality of life in L.A. and the opportunity to do better than just scrape by drew him west. He got busy soon after moving, thanks to a few friends in L.A.’s latin, jazz, fusion and rock scenes, and eventually landed the gig with Missing Persons, a drum chair originally occupied by Terry Bozzio.

In this podcast, Andy talks about:

Growing up with the jazz influence of his dad and the pop/rock influence of his older sisters

How a John Zorn tribute show in college led to actually playing with Zorn

Not being the best at any one thing, but really good at many things

How working his way onto the LA scene hinged on just a few key contacts

Playing in Missing Persons, and making that drum chair his own

The difference between being told what to play and told how to play

The tools and techniques he uses to alter the sound of his cymbals

His long-standing weekly steady with the Julian Coryell Trio at Trip in Santa Monica

His (and Zack’s) favorite cocktail 

Andy Sanesi endorses DW drums, Aquarian drumheads, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth drumsticks, and Humes & Berg cases.

This episode is sponsored by Sonor drums