Blog

Taye Collective Artist Program

John Armato — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 05:39:12 +0000

Kind of fun -- I'm featured (for now anyway) on Taye Drums new "Taye Collective Artist Program." It's not an endorsement, but rather a way for Taye to feature everyday players who use their instruments. I play a Taye GoKit for jazz gigs, rehearsals and quick jobs. It really is a terrific instrument: half-depth shells, birch/basswood construction for enhanced tone and low-end, easy in-and-out with the whole kit fitting in three manageable gigbags. It looks to some like a toy, but it really sounds amazingly full. In fact, I've even recorded with it. Check out excerpts from "Claudette."

Playing with Cecil Ramirez June 28, 2011, MIX Downtown, Sacramento

John Armato — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:29:17 +0000

No cover. Taco Tuesdays. Great room. Great people. Great music. I'm on drums with Cecil Ramirez (keyboards), Lance Taber (guitar), and Dave Kirkendall (bass). Band starts at 7. Hope to see you there!

Rest in Peace, Joe Morello

John Armato — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:26:59 +0000

I'm sad to learn that Joe Morello passed away today, March 12, 2011, at the age of 82. I was fortunate to be able to take a couple lessons with Joe when I lived in New York. He was an extraordinary master of the instrument and he immediately helped me loosen up my touch. He loved to tell stories and each lesson was easily half talking and half playing. I'm grateful for my time with him, and even more grateful for the legacy of musicality and technique he has left all drummers.

"Drum Heads"

John Armato — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 04:20:17 +0000

Brock Kaericher, president of REMO, just sent me this shot from NAMM 2011. He's showing me the new REMO Powerstroke Pro bass drum head (which is terrific, by the way). I get a kick out of the way we're practically bumping heads to take a look. Think I'll call this shot "Drum Heads" :-)

Wall art for drummers

John Armato — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 18:54:52 +0000

I'm a big fan of mid-century modern art. (Not surprisingly, that's also my favorite period of music, the era of classic Miles and Brubeck and other "cool" greats.) As a long-time graphic designer (in addition to my PR career, music career and other pursuits) I recently started designing art inspired by both the visual style and sounds of that era.

The art is now available as posters, canvases or framed prints here.

First Thoughts on First Day of First NAMM

John Armato — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 03:38:18 +0000

As a musician, I've known about NAMM for years, but until this year, I never had an opportunity to attend. With many, many thanks to REMO for making me their guest, I'm here in my hotel room at the Hilton in Anaheim, nursing ridiculously sore feet from a day of way more musical information, sights and sounds than I can process. For my fellow drummers curious what the industry themes, trends and offerings are this year, and for other musicians curious about the NAMM experience in general, I offer the following, somewhat stream of conciousness thoughts on what I've seen so far, along with a feed of my TwitPic photos at the end of this post.

First, some misc. kudos and credits ...

Merry Swingin' Christmas and a Hip and Happy New Year

John Armato — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 19:08:38 +0000

A Swingin' Christmas Party

John Armato — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 21:29:10 +0000

Yesterday was the annual Mickey's Boots Christmas party in Auburn, CA. Mickey is one of my all-favorite bass players and he brings together great players for a great time. Here's our opening tune of the gig: Cheek to Cheek. That's Mickey on bass, Tom Shove on piano, Brad Hammet on trombone, and Shauna Anderson on vocals.

"It's Alright With Me" with Dick Johnson's Mardi Grad Band

John Armato — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:09:25 +0000

It's always a pleasure to play with these guys. Dick is 90 and still plays, thinks, jokes, and runs the band like a man half that age. Tom plays lyrical lines and interesting chords. Mickey is the "real deal" on bass. All about swing, tone, and character. Brad makes you forget the trombone is an awkward instrument and especially paints beautiful pictures on ballads. Claudette is understated and sophisticated. She knows how to tell a story through song and keeps things swinging while she does it.

Love REMO's new "Skyntone" head

John Armato — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:40:47 +0000

In July I was at a board meeting for VanderCook College of Music and enjoyed talking with fellow board member, Brock Kaericher, president of REMO. Brock told me about REMO's new Skyntone heads and I've been eager ever since to try them out.

I played a jazz/swing show last night with Dick Johnson and Claudette Stone and had my chance. I put a Skyntone on my Yamaha 14" x 5.5" steel snare. For my fellow jazz drummers out there, the verdict is: HOME RUN.