Drummer's Night Out

LarryJ

LarryJ

Active Member
What's better than a band with two drummers? A band with SIX drummers. Especially when they are all well-known in the jazz/funk community.

Marcus Pope is a local, Huntsville AL, drummer who owns and operates Pope's School of Percussion and also records in Nashville and Muscle Shoals. Annually he invites some friends to Huntsville to hang out, help with a drum clinic, and enjoy a dummers night out playing (ALL AT THE SAME TIME) with some local musicians.

This year's event occurred last Saturday and I am not sure whether the crowd or the drummers had more fun. What a line-up!

L to R - Omari Williams (Al Jarreau, Boney James), Dennis Chambers (Parliament/Funkadelic, John Scofield, Carlos Santanna), Will Kennedy (Yellowjackets, Chaka Kahn), Greg Clark Jr. (Snarky Puppy, Manhattan Transfer), Marcus Pope (Kelvin Wooten, Ken Waters, Ellis Marsalis), and (not shown) percussionist Darrell Tibbs (Donna Summer, Vic Wooten).

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What an awesome idea. A great lineup too, I'm really envious!

Most of my best music memories are from playing in groups with multiple percussionists. Two kits in one band, full samba bands, row of hand drummers, gamelan, whatever, just bring out all the drums and make noise together. It's such a different experience from just being the drummer keeping the beat behind the band.
 
That sounds incredible! A band with six drummers, especially well-known ones from the jazz/funk scene, must create an unforgettable experience. Marcus Pope's annual gathering in Huntsville sounds like a drumming paradise, blending talent, community, and pure rhythmic energy. It must be amazing to witness that level of collaboration and skill all in one place!
 
reminds me of the Drum Daze thing Columbus Percussion used to put on back in the 90's and 2000's...started small like this, but blew up into full scale clinics and stuff in the end....
 
I used to have drums (Corder) that were made in Huntsville. Peace and goodwill.
 
Xstr8edgtnrdrmrX said:
reminds me of the Drum Daze thing Columbus Percussion used to put on back in the 90's and 2000's...started small like this, but blew up into full scale clinics and stuff in the end....
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Funny you should mention that about Columbus Percussion. Jim Rupp of Columbus Percussion was one of the guest drummers at last year's Drummer's Night Out (Back to Basics workshop). We are working on getting him back to town in February to do a jazz version of Drummer's Night Out. Marcus has started small but it is indeed getting larger. We may try to get our local state chapter of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) involved.
 
Pedal_Pusher said:
Funny you should mention that about Columbus Percussion. Jim Rupp of Columbus Percussion was one of the guest drummers at last year's Drummer's Night Out (Back to Basics workshop). We are working on getting him back to town in February to do a jazz version of Drummer's Night Out. Marcus has started small but it is indeed getting larger. We may try to get our local state chapter of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) involved.
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Jim is one of my heroes!!! I have known him since 1982, when I was just a young whelp banging on things all afternoon in the shop on Saturdays. He was super patient back then, and is a gem!! He jokes that I helped put his kid through college with all the business I have done there. We are super lucky to have him in town
 
Xstr8edgtnrdrmrX said:
Jim is one of my heroes!!! I have known him since 1982, when I was just a young whelp banging on things all afternoon in the shop on Saturdays. He was super patient back then, and is a gem!! He jokes that I helped put his kid through college with all the business I have done there. We are super lucky to have him in town
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It turns out that Mr. Rupp's college room mate lives in Huntsville, so it is easy to convince him to come visit us. The room mate is a fine bass player and some sort of doctor if I understand correctly. I remember fondly when the PASIC conventions were held in Columbus and I found wonderful stuff at the Columbus Percussion booth. Truly a class act and you are lucky to have a drum shop like that in your home town.
 

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LarryJ said:
What's better than a band with two drummers? A band with SIX drummers. Especially when they are all well-known in the jazz/funk community.

Marcus Pope is a local, Huntsville AL, drummer who owns and operates Pope's School of Percussion and also records in Nashville and Muscle Shoals. Annually he invites some friends to Huntsville to hang out, help with a drum clinic, and enjoy a dummers night out playing (ALL AT THE SAME TIME) with some local musicians.

This year's event occurred last Saturday and I am not sure whether the crowd or the drummers had more fun. What a line-up!

L to R - Omari Williams (Al Jarreau, Boney James), Dennis Chambers (Parliament/Funkadelic, John Scofield, Carlos Santanna), Will Kennedy (Yellowjackets, Chaka Kahn), Greg Clark Jr. (Snarky Puppy, Manhattan Transfer), Marcus Pope (Kelvin Wooten, Ken Waters, Ellis Marsalis), and (not shown) percussionist Darrell Tibbs (Donna Summer, Vic Wooten).

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There's over a thousand miles of talent up on that stage, but I'm pretty sure that all of them playing at the same time would be maddening for me. I know I'm in the minority here, and that this evening was unbelievable for those who attended.
 
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