Check out these interviews with three of Utah’s hottest drummers.
Talk to most musicians and they’ll readily acknowledge that the drummer is the backbone of any musical group. Ironically though, drummers seldom get the spotlight. Instead they’re generally hidden away at the back of the stage behind their face-obscuring kits. It’s time to shine a light on these talented artists who shape not just the tempo, but the mood and intensity of the music we love.
We caught up with three tremendously talented drummers who are members of some of the most popular bands represented by Utah Live Bands. We asked them some questions about what life is like as a professional drummer. While they’re all on different journeys you’ll notice some similar rhythms—must be the beat of a drummer’s life.
Joel Stevenett
Most parents aren’t crazy enough to give their grade-schooler a drum kit. Maybe they do things differently up in Canada where Joel Stevenett comes from, but with his parents’ indulgence Joel grew up keeping a beat.
Joel started playing professional gigs at only 14, so it’s no surprise that he left college when he was offered a spot on tour with the Osmonds. Over the next two decades Joel has worked continuously and is a renowned studio drummer who has helped provide the theme music to numerous TV, movie, and video games. In fact, if you own a Playstation, X-box, or Wii you’ve probably heard Joel’s distinctive style. When Joel’s not busy recording or touring, he lends his drumming prowess to our great party band The Salamanders.
How did you get started as a drummer?
When I was three-years-old, I would take out my mom’s pots and pans from the cupboard and set them upside down, smallest to largest. Then I would take the lids that had these little steam release buttons on them and turn those upside down so they were resting on the handle, and they would sizzle and buzz when I hit them. I would grab butter knives out of the kitchen drawer and beat the daylights out of those pots and pans, sitting in front of my parent’s console record player, playing along to albums like Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass, Lighthouse (they were a Canadian version of the band Chicago), The Beatles, Boz Scaggs.
What have been some of the highlights of your career?
Playing drums on Jay Leno, American Music Awards, Grand Ole Opry, The TODAY Show, [the] NBA Theme, ESPN World Cup Soccer, Air Supply’s current single.
Playing the Super Bowl after-party for the Patriots with JoDee Messina, Aerosmith, Kid Rock and Toby Keith. It was pretty cool sitting behind Joey Kramer as he played for Aerosmith on my drum kit.
[Another great moment] I remember playing with Country Artist JoDee Messina to a sold out crowd at The Greek Theater in Los Angeles. There I was sitting behind my “desk” looking out into the greatest office space in the world, a cheering crowd with a full moon providing the backdrop. At that moment I thought I was the luckiest guy in the world.
Why Utah? What is it about the Utah music scene that appeals to you?
I spent 10 years touring and recording in Nashville. Anytime I had a break in my touring schedule, I would fly to Utah and record drums on video game soundtracks for PlayStation, X-Box and Nintendo Wii at Chuck Myers’s studio, Big Idea in Sandy.
I loved my experience in Nashville, getting to play with some of the world’s greatest musicians and artists. But I felt it was time to move on and continue the journey. So I moved to Utah.
A lot of my musician friends from Nashville and Los Angeles ask me, “Is there a scene in Utah?” Surprisingly, yes. You would never know that over half of the music for movie trailers is recorded in Utah. I’ve been fortunate to play on many of them. [I played for the trailers to] Looper, Pixels, This is 40, August Rush, Along Came Polly, to name a few. There is a lot of talent in this state. It will be a good day when the business end catches up with the talent and music.
What music is on your playlist right now?
I’m still a big fan of CDs and Vinyl. I usually have several CDs in my car and swap them out every couple of weeks.
1.) Huey Lewis and the News – Greatest Hits. Bill Gibson, the drummer for Huey Lewis, has one of the greatest radio friendly sounding snare drums.
2.) Rush – Permanent Waves. I remember at the age of 14 my friend, Mike Taylor, introduced me to Rush. He placed the needle on the first song of the album Permanent Waves. The song started, the guitar entered, and then came the syncopated hits, and then this epic drum fill, cascading down the tom-toms. I was inspired and my life was changed forever. As such, I share with you my tribute to one of my all-time sources of motivation and creativity, one of the greats, Neil Peart:
3.) Coldplay – Head Full Of Dreams. Amazing album. Sonically beautiful. Will Champion is one of the most underrated drummers. His playing reminds me a lot of Larry Mullen Jr. from U2. They are both very musical and disciplined drummers. They always seem to play the perfect drum parts, whereas some drummers take a Tommy gun and spray the listener with chops and “look at me” drum fills.
4.) Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns – When the Curtain Goes Up. It’s like Tower Of Power and Earth Wind and Fire had kids and formed a supergroup. This band is off the hook! It’s comprised of some of the “A” musicians in Las Vegas. Check them out.
Jay Lawrence
You can check out Jay Lawrence’s resume online. It’s 16 pages long. As you skim through his credits, it’s like reading a Who’s Who of important events and distinguished musicians. His first professional gig—at just 16—was working Barbara Eden’s night club act in Reno. From there Jay attended a semester at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. He left Boston to spend the next 36 weeks on tour with Liberace. And that was just the beginning. He’s recorded session music, composed and recorded his own music with the award winning Jay Lawrence Quartet, and manages to still teach upwards of 55 private lessons a week. Still, he finds time to play live music with a variety of bands including The Bandits.
How did you get started as a drummer?
I started playing in my junior high school’s band program. For my 14th birthday I asked for lessons and a drum set. Eventually I was taking two lessons a week. I was possessed with the idea of being a drummer, so I practiced incessantly. Before I was 16, I joined the musicians union in Reno and started playing the celebrity shows including playing for Liza Minelli, Sami Davis Jr., and Nancy Sinatra.
What have been some of the highlights of your career?
I went on the road with Liberace, which paid for my LDS mission. I’ve played with the Osmond brothers at Dollywood and Donny Osmond at the Disneyland Hotel. I toured with a band called Enoch Train and played with the Royal Philharmonic in 2002. I played for Frank Wildhorn. I soloed on an album, Kascade- Atmosphere, which was nominated for a Grammy in two different categories in 2014. I played all the music in The Sandlot (that’s a movie everyone tends to know) and Xena Warrior Princess as well as a lot of other movies and movie trailers. I won a hymn writing competition for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My album Sweet Lime got to #7 on the Jazz Weekly radio airplay charts. I’ve had a long career, so those are some of the highlights.
I got to go to Taiwan and help design a drum set for Cannonball musical instruments. But unfortunately the 2008 recession hit and I didn’t get to continue with that project. Music is a great adventure. I’ve played in places I would never have expected.
Why Utah? What is it about the Utah music scene that appeals to you?
I came out here by default, by accident. The Reno scene slowed down because of a union strike. [I came out to Utah because] my parents were here and I was visiting before going to LA to start my career down there. And then I realized I was playing lots of different kinds of music with lots of great musicians here in Utah.
There’s lots of music to be made here. I’ve had a fun career. I love music. I love working for Michael Tobian. I think Utah Live Bands is the only agency that people should consider in terms of taking care of the client and taking care of the musicians.
Is there anything you’re working on now you want people to know about?
I hope to record one or two more albums as a leader, primarily with my own compositions. I’ve got four albums out thus far as a leader. I want to do two more before I hang up the sticks.
What’s on your playlist right now?
I always listen to Eddie Palmieri and anything that involves great funk, salsa, tropical music, and jazz. I like to listen to country and classical as well.
Jay Tibbitts
Originally from Mission Viejo, California, Jay Tibbitts came to Utah to major in Jazz Studies at Brigham Young University. During his time at BYU, Jay played in a variety of bands including Synthesis, BYU’s touring jazz band, and Parlor Hawk, a folk/rock band based out of Provo. Jay currently attends the University of Indiana where he’s on full scholarship in Jazz Studies. On the weekends, Jay flies around the country playing gigs with the Groove Merchants.
How did you get started as a drummer?
I originally started playing piano. My mom is a professional pianist, and she signed me up with her friend for lessons. But at age 11 I started playing drums. I would say that it was because of this kid in my neighborhood named Rick Robbins. I looked up to him a lot—not only in drumming but in skateboarding and sports as well. So in order to be like him, I begged my parents for a drum set and started taking lessons.
What have been some of your career highlights?
Some highlights have been traveling to Europe many times to perform with different ensembles. I feel blessed to have had those opportunities to connect with musicians across the globe and learn from them about their music and culture.
Why Utah? What is it about the Utah music scene that appeals to you?
I love the Utah scene because it’s small enough to know just about everyone but big enough for everyone to work a lot, be it jazz gigs or pop gigs.
Is there anything you’re working on now you want people to know about it?
I’m currently at Indiana University getting my masters in music in Jazz Studies on a full ride scholarship.
What’s on your playlist right now?
On my playlist right now I have Andersen Paak’s album Malibu, U2’s The Joshua Tree, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors, and Vulfpeck’s Thrill of the Arts.