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Who inspired you to take up drums?
I've loved drums
for as long as I can remember and played different drums from a very early age
before getting a drum kit when I was around eight years old. I never had any formal
training on drums but was classically trained on cello right up to my music
degree. I played folk music with my family and got a lot of experience with
them but it wasn't until I was eighteen and heard jazz in 'A Charlie Brown
Christmas' that I became really serious. My research into jazz led me to Miles
Davis and Charlie Parker, then Art Blakey, who would become my biggest
influence.
Who are your favourite players?
Of the giants,
probably Art Blakey and Roy Haynes would be my favourite but I've learnt
something from all of them. Of the modern players, Brian Blade, Bill Stewart,
Jeff 'Tain' Watt, Ari Hoenig and Carl Allen.
What drum gear do you use?
Most of my work is
abroad and I'll just ask for jazz sizes and hope for the best. I only travel
with my cymbals which are Istanbul Jazz 20" and 22". My hi-hats are
13" Sabian Manhattan Jazz. I've had that set-up for almost fifteen years
and I've no plans to change it. Lately I've been doing quite a lot of touring
Ireland as part of a project to bring jazz to more people. My drum kit is a
bottom-of-the-line Gretsch Catalina, jazz sizes and they work great. I have a
Pearl Master Birch and a Gretsch Round Badge from the '60s. I've had these
since the start too. The only change has been switching to Tama's incredibly
lightweight and compact hardware last year, which has been great for the island
ferries on these Irish dates.
Your favourite songs or albums?
That's hard because
my favourites change all the time and they're always diverse. Lately I've been
listening to Bill Evans, '60s Burt Bacharach and the rapper Curren$y.
What have you been working on recently?
I played quite a
lot with Dutch guitarist Jesse van Ruller last year and that was great. I was
in China twice last year with my solo show 'Tapes & Drums' and that was
really interesting. I just did two nights in Paris with American pianist David
Kikoski and that was exciting. He's played with everyone, including Roy Haynes
whose band he was in for a few years. The rural Irish touring has been a lot of
fun and very rewarding because most people have no idea drums can be played the
way we play them in jazz and it's nice to see them be so surprised. They just
associate drums with rock and obviously the original drum kit players were
jazz.
What upcoming projects are in the pipeline?
Lots of good things
coming up including plenty of trips abroad to interesting places. I'll be
touring Ireland for a month in June with my trio, which will be my longest
tour. I collaborate with American bassist Michael Janisch a lot. Last year with
did a project with Kurt Rosenwinkel and we have some gigs coming up with Logan
Richardson and then with Mark Turner.
What advice would you give someone wanting to take up drumming?
You have to
understand music to be a great drummer. Focus on feel and less on the technical
aspects of drums. You need to have good technique but that's not what will get
you gigs.
David at drums by Marian Bencat
David
with his Verox by Adam Patterson
