I'm back!

Sorry for the lack of blogging but things have been crazy busy!


The good news is that as soon as I posted about the Modern Drummer article I found out that I was also featured in this month's DRUM! Magazine! Exciting stuff! What an honor! Both magazines are on news stands now so make sure you pick up a copy!

I am also excited to announce that I am now exclusively endorsing LP Percussion products. I am extremely stoked to be w/ LP and I have been waiting for this for quite some time now. I am looking forward to this new relationship and to be now endorsing their gear even though I've always played it! It's that good!

On the playing front....

I have been in the studio w/ Roland again this time beginning the sampling of the new percussion library. Alot of instrument and alot of hitting of things! It's coming out great though. We are almost finished w/ percussion but we're not done w/ the sampling process. We have alot more great sounds to capture and I gurantee you that this library is going to be insane! You are going to need some Roland gear as soon as we get these sounds public!

This is my living room as I was getting ready to load SOME of the gear for this session into my car!

I also just spent the weekend playing over at the Temecula International Jazz Festival. It was alot of fun. I worked with my man Johnny Blas as well as w/ great Portland B3 organist Steve Hall (SteveHallMusic.net) as well as w/ New York trumpeter/saxophonist/composer Matt Finley and his Brazilian group. What a blast! Abrigado!

My bro and one of my favorite sax players was at the festival and even came and sat in w/ The Johnny Blas Band. His name is Edmund Velasco and he is the absolutely awesome! We play together frequently w/ Chris Williams but he can also be found leading his own group as well as working w/ The Estrada Brothers, Disneyland Band and many others! Pick up one of his CD's or check him out around town. You can find him on the web at www.EdmundVelasco.com . He often uses drummer Jimmy Ford (Lionel Hampton) and he is no slouch! He is the leading Buddy Rich impersonator and its no joke. Drummers make sure to check him out!

I had a great time hanging w/ everyone and I even slept in my brand new car (ask me for details in person!). The not so glamorous life of a musician! You do what you gotta do to play though. Heres my Johnny Blas kit at sound check.....


Things are busy as always around town so make sure to check out my calendar and come say hi. I am also finshing up confirming some clinic dates so stay tuned!

As always I want to give a quick thank you to all of the companies I happily endorse. I appreciate you all taking care of me and for the great gear I am fortunate to make music with daily.

Take care everybody and I'll be back soon!

-MB

I'm in Modern Drummer Magazine!

Alot of great stuff has been going on but the big news is......

I am featured in Modern Drummer Magazine this month in the "On The Move" section! It has always been my dream to be in this magazine since I bought my first copy when I was in 5th grade. I feel honored and am excited to be included in the Agusut issue and please go pick up a copy and check it out!



More soon, thanks guys. I would not be able to live my dreams without your support. Thanks.

-MB

PS- Check out www.MySpace.com/MikeBennettMusic for a TON of video performances, online lessons and even a new one in a series on hand percussion for drumset players. Get out a shaker and check it out!

Long Time, No See....

Hey everyone! First off, I apologize for being away so long. As usual, things have been super hectic and I am behind on everything! I'm gonna try to catch up as brief as I can today...

Thanks for all of your emails regarding the "Licks & Tricks" MP3 lesson I debuted a few months back. I know I promised them monthly but as I said this month got busy but I promise to get the next installment up real soon. I'm glad alot of you are digging it and please email me if you have any ideas and suggestions. Who knows, maybe I'll do some video lessons soon!

Things on the gig front have been great. 2azz1 has been working alot and we've done some cool stuff including the celebrity openning of Tatsu, the new rollercoaster at Magic Mountain here in California and we also just debuted theyre new CD "Driven" at the Cadillac Jazz Lounge at Spaghetinni sponsored by Smooth Jazz TV on NBC. I'll be playing w/ them some more this summer and will be with them all weekend. Please check MySpace.com/MikeBennnettMusic for most of my current dates as I get my homepage back in order. You can also check out the new 2azz1 CD at www.2azz1.com



The new Joe Jewell record is almost out and we're doing a few dates this month. This is one of my favorite groups and the CD is slammin! Come by a gig and make sure to check out www.JoeJewellGuitar.com to get your copy of the new disc.

In addition to all of the coool gigs I had an amazing day yesterday. After spening the day at the beach w/ Hannah we went to the CD release party for the killing B-3 player Rob Whitlock. The band consisted of my favorite guitarist Mike Miller, Amber Whitlock, Rob, bass legend Anthony Jackson, and one of my biggewst heroes and influences Cliff Almond on drums. When I got into college I got hip to Cliff and decided I wanted to be him! I've always hunted down any recordings, pics, anything I could get my hands on but I have never gotten to see him live until last night. What an amazing drummer! I wanted to go home and play! I felt like a little kid getting to hang with him and hear him play. In addition to have a huge tasty groove and inspiring creativity, he also turned out to be one of the kindest, most honest and down right coolest guys I've ever met. I now want to get back into the practice room and pretend to be Cliff again. So in between gigs thats where I'll be all weekend! Check Cliff out at www.CliffAlmondMusic.com .

Rob and band sounded great and it was awesome to see them and hang w/ one of the greatest living bass players Max Bennett. I am lucky to have been able to work w/ Max and his stories are awesome! He's played w/ everybody and his groove and sound and the pure example of how to groove. I want to play as mature, selfless and solid on the drums as Max plays the bass. It was great to see him and I thank him for the stories, lessons, kindness, and amazing grooves.

Please take the time to check out Rob and Amber Whitlock's CD's, gigs, etc. at www.RobWhitlock.com .

I promise to check in sooner this time! Thanks or all of your support and talk to you all soon. Peace.

- MB

Da' Latest

Hey everyone! Just checking in real quick in between students. Things have been the same old craziness as usual. Im really lucky to be working this much. Alot of cool stuff is going on so make sure to check my calendar for upcoming dates.

For all of you roller coaster fans out there, I'll be at Magic Mountain next Thursday w/ 2azz1 for the celebrity opening of their newest roller coaster. This will be my first time in the park because I have never been on a roller coaster and theres not a chance in hell that you could get me on one! Im also around the southland w/ 2azz1 quite a bit this month getting ready to release their newest CD on the 28th at Spaghetinni in Seal Beach. Listen for them doing an interview on 94.7 The WAVE (Los Angeles) on May 21st around 1 PM. Alot of cool stuff going on for them and the new CD is groovin!

Today I learned about yard work. I had to do it when it starts getting hot now too! We just moved into our new place and they had been doing construction in the backyard so I hadnt been able to get out there and clean. Now that its done I spent the morning cutting through layers of grass and getting the back yard looking good. I just got a brand new BBQ and w/ summer approaching I plan on filling the fridge w/ some Coronas and breaking my home in a bit!

Look for a new "Licks & Tricks" MP3 w/ in the next week or so. The response has been great and I thank you for taking the time to check it out. Also please visit all of the companies that supply me w/ my azaing gear. I couldnt do it without them so show them some love and play some of it yourself! Take care. Peace.

- MB

Audition Craziness!

Whats up! Just wanted to check in on a quick break from prpearing for a last minute audition and explain the often hectic part of this weird job....

Hannnah and I were at the movies last night and got out at 1 AM. (V for Vendetta on IMAX! Amazing!) I checked my messages and had one from after 11 PM from Barry Squire (the big casting agent in Hollywood) regarding a BIG last minute audition today. I was told to call him back if I could do it but his voice mail box was full. So I came home, did my gig homework super fast (see why everyone needs V-Drums!) and finally got a hold of his machine by 230. Got to bed at 5 AM. Woke up at 830 prepared to be at the audition spot just in case. Got a call on the way there and got a time. So Im off to LA for a 230 PM audition then getting in the car and driving straight to Palm Springs for a gig w/ Chris Williams. Craziness! Wish me luck everyone. Im real lucky to get this call so lets hope all goes well and I'll have good news to report soon. Peace.

MB

Yo!

Just checking in real fast. I will now be at Steamer's in Fullerton tomorrow night w/ Chris Williams and I will also be at Spaghetinni on Wednesday night w/ 2azz1. Come by and say hi.I am also almost done w/ my first educational boook. More new on that later. In addition, I am also freeing up some time to do some more teaching on both drum kit and hand percussion. Anyone interested please visit the "clinics/lessons" section of my site for info or email me at lessons@mikebennettdrums.com . Peace.

- MB

Catalina Bar & Grill

Hey everyone! Just got in from a gig at Catalina's out in Hollywood. This is "THE" room for jazz and all of the heavyweights play here. It was fun to play this beautiful room w/ Johnny Blas. We'lll be at Steamer's in Fullerton on May 6.

My back is out and I am missing my girlfriend. She has been back at home in Nevada for the week so I'm kind of lost. I'm not a good bachelor I guess. I'm a softy and I like her. The house seems empty without her. She'll be back Sunday so I just got to make it for a few more days.

I gotta be back in LA in the morning to do some playing w/ ex-Beck, Elastica, KMFDM bassist Abby Travis. She is also currently on the road playing bass w/ The Bangles. We'll see what happens! I'll check back in soon. Peace.

-MB

PS- Make sure to check out my MP3 drum lesson! It's on the homepage now!

Checking In!

What's up everyone! I've been really busy lately with little time to post. I've been gigging a ton! I even shot a really cool concert DVD over at the Orange County Pavilion w/ my favorite jazz vocalist Chris Williams featuring a super band of Blake White on guitar, David Miller (Royal Crown Revue) on bass, Mark Massey on Piano, Edmund Velasco on sax and others! Be on the look out for it soon.

I have two CD's for sale now in the online store: my first quartet record and the new album w/ Blake White and Dylan Wilson. They're on sale this month so get your copy now!

I am also starting a new segment on the website called "Licks & Tricks." Every month I am gonna post a free MP3 drum lesson illustrating a cool "lick." Look for it soon but if you really want to check it out head over to MySpace.com/MikeBennettMusic to hear the first one a little early!

I'll be at L.A.'s famous jazz club, Catalina's on Wednesday night w/ Johnnny Blas, at the M-Bar Friday w/ Jen Hasty and at La Palapa in Long Beach on Saturday night w/ 2azz1. I will also be w/ 2azz1 at Spaghettini in Seal Beach on next Wednesday.

My book is also coming along well. Some exciting news coming about that soon as well.

More soon! Peace.

-MB

(Taken from the Santa Monica Blvd. exit of the 101 freeway)

Hey everybody! Had a fun gig tonight w/ Jennifer Hasty and band over at the M-Bar in Hollywood. Cool room and a great crowd. I'm doing a few gigs a month w/ Jennifer so make sure to check my schedule for the next one. The super cool part about the club is that the salsa club El Floridita is right next door so as I was loading out I was listening to a killer charanga band!


I also just got a call from my friends Craig and Mary Durst from the smooth jazz group 2azz1 and I will now be performing with them April 19 at Spaghettini's in Seal Beach. Spaghettini's is the new "hip" smooth jazz spot so I'm sure it will be fun. I will also be w/ the group at the club on May 28 celebrating the release of their new album. I'm doing a handful of other gigs w/ them as well the next many months so check out my calendar for those. Craig and Mary put on a great show and play some pretty groovin' tunes. You can visit their website at www.2azz1.com

Thursday night was pretty killer as well. I went to hear a student of mine play at a local high school and stuck around at the end to hear the a local all-star big band that the high school's director had put together. To my surprise my first drum teacher Ron Schrock was playing! Ron is a great drummer and an amazing person. It was really cool to hear parts of my playing in my student and then hear Ron play and see where a lot of my playing came from! Ron to me is one of those great teachers that is more than a mentor but a life long friend. Every time I run into him I am always excited to "brag" a little bit about what I've been up to in hopes to make him proud. Through Ron I learned that the best teacher will work as hard if not harder than the student. It's taking that effort that can turn someones dream into a life based upon it. The trust and respect I have for him goes way beyond drumming and I am forever indebted that he made the time to make sure some kid who wanted to play the drums not only grew as a player but also kept his head on straight. Thanks Ron! I've been lucky to have studied w/ some of the absolute best in the world and I can 100% say that through every one of them I have gained a wealth of knowledge and was able to find more and more of my voice as a musician each lesson. Moral of the story: there is nothing more important than a good teacher and when you find that teacher study humbly, respectively and most of all don't ever forget to say thank you everytime you see them. It's the least anyone of us lifelong students can do.

I'm off to get my Pearl Jam tickets for the Los Angeles show on July 9th w/ my buddy Mason in the morning and then I'm off to Temecula to play w/ my bro Blake White. Check out our new record together at www.MySpace.com/WhiteWilsonBennett. Hannah's allergies have been real bad so I'm gonna go try to be the "good boyfriend" now and keep her company. Until next time...

- MB

Catching Up!

As soon as I get going on this blog things got super busy. It's hard to keep up! We'll heres a recap of my crazy weekend....

Friday the 24th



I was initially off this night but got a call from great drummer Evan Stone (asamandrummeth.com) to sub for him out in Temecula. It ended up being a pretty cool event for KYMT 94.5, a big smooth jazz station in San Diego, CA. There was alot of cool appreciative people there and I was working with up and coming smooth jazz saxaphonist Shannon Kennedy. Shannon's a really sweet young girl with a strong business sense already. It was a cool hang. Check her out at www.TeenJazz.com.

From there I was off home to celebrate an early gig with a little time with Hannah. It's cool too have a supportive girl in my life that tolerates my inconsistent life style, travel schedule, and crazy work obsession! GUYS: If you have a good one, HANG ON TO THEM! Good musicians girlfriends are a rare breed and a good one is worth keeping.

Friday the 25th

I started off with a morning of teaching then headed out to L.A. to do some rehearsing for a new show I'm starting over at the M-Bar in Hollywood wwith Singer/Actress Jennifer Hasty. It's her one-woman show and features some cool tunes from Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, U2, Bruce Springsteen & others. It's kin d of cool to rock out a little! The show opens on the 31st at 8 PM.

After a drive through traffic and a quick visit at home, it was off to Steamer's in Fullerton, CA for a gig with Johnny Blas & His Funky Latin-Jazz Band. I have been with Johnny for 3 years now and the band is full of guys who have become really good friends. It's cool when a real "band" vibe gets developed within a group. With that in mind, it means that every gig is a great hang where everyone in the band is truly listening and concerned with what is being played. It's a real considerate thing to do and it's cool because with Johnny we REALLY stretch. Johnny rarely pulls in the reins on us and just lets us blow. Can't argue with that. I started off playing both drums and timbales with Johnny in a more traditional Latin-Jazz/Salsa context and it's been cool to be involved in the transition of the band moving into its new funky sound. We are always working around town and will also be at the Temecula Jazz Festival this July. Check the band out!

Sunday the 26th

After a late night at Steamers the night before and a pretty solid after gig run of drinking witht he guys, my 1 PM rehearsal for Jennifer Hasty in L.A. felt early. I dragged my ass out of bed and made the trek over to the west side to tighten things up for the show opening. Billy Bob Thorton was rehearsing with his band down the hall. Only in L.A.!

Monday the 27th

I slept in. It's a bad habit these days. I'm not getting much sleep really, my sleep schedule is just really fucked up. Theres no better feeling than getting up early and feeling like you've had this long productive day. I want that! I have always had trouble sleeping so when I get in these really bad periods it sucks. Going to bed at 4 AM isnt as much fun as when I was younger.

Did alot of writing during the day. I would really like to finally get a solo record done this year. More on that at a later date....

Met up with my bro Jeff Hawley and the guys in Michael Ryan's band for a quick rehearsal in the evening getting ready for a big show we're doing on Sunday. It was cool to hang and catch up with the guys a bit. Alot of laughs. If you come to the show for one thing it has to be for Hai Muradian! Not only is he a great singer/flutist and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet but this dude cracks me up! You can't get in a room with Hai without leaving laughing your ass off and being in a better mood. Check out his band The Ravelers at www.Ravelers.com or his childrens group The Happpy Crowd at www.HappyCrowd.com.

Caught some coffee with my friend Lisa then retired home to the start of the sounds of rain and a handdful of late night episodes of the X-Files. This show has been part of my sleeping problem.

as for today...

Tuesday the 28th

Got another late start and tried to catch up on some house cleaning. Hopefully gonna meet up with good friend and amazing guitarist Joe Jewell (www.JoeJewellGuitar.com) in a few for a quick bite to eat then it's off to teach. Also just got off the phone with my bro Craig Durst from the band 2azz1. They've got some great stuff coming up. Check out their site at www.2azz1.com. I'll catch up with everybody soon. Take care and stay dry.

MB

MB gets Electric!

Welcome to my frist blog! Here it goes......

It's been a busy but awesome Thursday. I was over at Roland today picking up a set of V-Drums with the amazing TD-20 module. I have always been blown away by the quality of gear Roland has produced and I am already in love with the performance and capabilities of this drum system. They are worth every bit of hype! HUGE thanks to Scott Tibbs, Steve Fisher and David Garza over at Roland for bringing me on board. I'm stoked to be working with you!



While I was in the area I got to meet up for lunch with my good friend and great singer/song-writer, Sean Nearhoff. Make sure to check out his site at www.SeanNearhoff.com. I played on drums and percussion on his latest release. Check it out!

On a side note, Hannah and I are finally settled in from our recent move. Our place is great and thanks to the weather we've had a great view. The moving process is a pain in the ass but now that it's starting to feel like home it's worth all of the hassle.



The great news to deliver is that we have received the first run of the new trio CD I did with my musical partners Blake White on guitar and Dylan Wilson on Bass. I'll be posting info on how to get a copy soon and also info about the CD release party date and location that were setting up.

Just got back from the gym and am gonna call it a night. I've never had movie channels until getting them here at my new pad so I'm hooked on watching movies all night. Lets see if I can stay away from the TV tonight and actually get some rest. I'm in Temecula tomorrow then I'll be out at Steamer's in Fullerton on Saturday night for all of you latin-jazz fans playing drums with Johnny Blas. Peace.

- MB