Beating to the Rhythm of the Song: Lee Finkelstein and John Simeone Drumming Deep Dive

on DRUMS, with John Simeone

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When Lee Finkelstein lays down a beat, it's not just rhythm—he's telling a story, painting a landscape. It's a philosophy I, John Simeone, share wholeheartedly. Our recent conversation took us on a tour through the world of drumming, where we unpacked the essence of what it means to truly play for the music. Lee, with his wealth of experience across genres, emphasizes the idea that serving the song trumps personal showmanship. We riff on the camaraderie between drummers, the joy found in simplicity, and the magnetic pull of a groove that unites a band.
The heartbeat of our episode pulses with discussions on live performance and the wisdom Lee shares gleaned from playing with legends like the Blues Brothers band and stepping in for David Garibaldi with Tower of Power. As we explore the shifting tides of the music industry, we offer nuggets of advice for up-and-coming drummers striving to stay relevant. Join us as we share stories of triumph, the humbling moments of our careers, and the lessons that resonate beyond the stage. It's a rhythmic ride that speaks to the core of every musician's spirit.
Lee has recorded, performed with and backed up Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Nancy Wilson, Grover Washington Jr, Eric Gale, The Oregon Symphony Orchestra & Randy Brecker, Isaac Hayes, Eddie Floyd, Bette Midler, Blood Sweat & Tears, Russ Freeman, Julio Iglesias, Frankie Paul, Johnny Winter, Steve Cropper, Lou Marini, Will Lee, Paul Shafer, John Tropea, Leon Pendarvis, Alan Rubin, Saturday Night Live, Dave Valentine, Cornelius Bumpus, Anthony Jackson, Mary Wilson, Daryl Hall, John Oates, Hudson River Rats, Joey Ramone, Vaneese Thomas, Mario Cruz, Jens Wendelboe, Don Blackman, Oz Noy, Buzz Feiten, Neil Jason, Deena Miller, Dave Fields, Jay Prince, Bill Heller, Cosmic Oven, Derretub Snub, Hadrian Decree, Red Flannel Hash Band, Small Talk/Jim Small Band, The Paper Bag, Timberwolf, Yasgur's Farm, Jim Pin Band 5+2-1, Eclipse, Funk Filharmonik, The Zen Tricksters, Major Domo, Chick Singer Night NYC, Jonny Rosch, Bobby Harden, Stevie Cochran, Ed Palermo Big Band, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Wycliff Gordon, Marc Ribler, Jack Daley, JT Bowen, Southside Johhny, Bowling For Leftovers, Dead On Live, Felix Cavaliere and The Rascals, Felicia Collins, David Spinozza, Vernon Reid, Corey Glover, Bill Murray, Chris Noth, Ben Vereen, Friends of the Brothers, the Royal Scam and Paul Sorvino.

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1. Beating to the Rhythm of the Song: Lee Finkelstein and John Simeone Drumming Deep Dive (00:00:00)

2. Episode 17 (00:00:09)

3. Music Journey (00:12:42)

4. Evolution of a Jazz Fusion Band (00:22:43)

5. Music Industry Realities and Public Perception (00:28:26)

6. Musical Gigs and Drumming Tales (00:32:46)

7. Tempo and Drumming Careers in Music (00:39:19)

8. From High School to College Drumming (00:45:13)