MEET OUR PANELISTS :
JEFF BURROWS – The Tea Party BRIAN D ’ OLIVEIRA – multiinstrumentalist and composer ( Shadow of the Tomb Raider , Resident Evil : Biohazard , among others ) COLANTHONY HUMPHREY – The OBGMs MERCEDES LANDER – Kittie , The White Swan LARNELL LEWIS – Snarky Puppy , Laila Biali , Etienne Charles , John Scofield , and others CHARNELLE MENOW – Midnight Shine
generation of players , recording their tracks live off the floor , in combination with the sounds processed digitally , then mixing it – it ’ s just incredible .
Brian D ’ Oliveira : For over two decades I immersed myself in Brazilian percussion and cut my teeth playing in all ranks within samba schools . Its almost militaristic attitude in group playing mixed with pure musical vibe and focus on the ‘ jinga ’ feel gave me a solid foundation in rhythm and groove and allowed me to delve into more complex traditions such as South Indian Konnakol , which grounded my understanding of ‘ Laya ’ ( which literally means being “ in tune with time ”). That
that fit that mold : Keith Moon , John Bonham , Larnell Lewis , Chris Dave . Beyond musicianship , I ’ ve been seeking out the players who are actual artists and more than just ‘ good players ’ – session players are one thing , but being able to write / produce / arrange is another , and that ’ s the ability I hold in higher esteem , so Prince , John Paul Jones , Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis , and The Neptunes .
Mercedes Lander : When I was younger , I never really had a drumming influence , or someone I was trying to emulate . There are plenty of drummers that I absolutely love but I wouldn ’ t say that one or two
PHOTO : DANE COLLISON /@ DANECOLLISON
JEFF BURROWS BRIAN D ’ OLIVEIRA COLANTHONY HUMPHREY
CM : Who are your most important musical influences past and present , who else do you look to for inspiration , and what impact have they had on your approach to bettering yourself as a musician ?
Jeff Burrows : My musical influences of the past as drummers go are very similar to so many out there : Neil Peart , Stewart Copeland , Buddy Rich , etc .… Lately , I find myself being inspired by many younger musicians and bands . Mostly , however , I ’ m inspired by what my own kids are able to produce on their own as musicians / composers . So many young producers are doing so many amazing things – there ’ s truly a new momentum out there that ’ s inspiring to see . A younger
50 CANADIAN MUSICIAN gave me an understanding of polyrhythms I never imagined I ’ d ever have . These days I find inspiration in connecting the dots between all of the musical traditions . I ’ ve learned to create hybrid rhythms that have never quite existed in this specific form or approach , and in performing them with instruments that also would never have been used in this context .
Colanthony Humphrey : George Clinton was and is still my biggest musical influence ; a genre-hopping , genre-bending , master of collaboration , and just a totally identifiable musical influence on multiple genres as well as every song he ’ s been involved with and been on . Not a lot of artists have that ability , but the drummers particular drumming influences shaped the way I play . As I ’ ve gotten older , I ’ ve discovered that ’ s because I consider myself a songwriter first and a drummer second . However , I do absolutely love Alex Van Halen and John Bonham .
Larnell Lewis : The ones that come to mind immediately , in no particular order , are Brian Blade , Dennis Chambers , Quincy Jones , and Stevie Wonder . I ’ ve experienced so many things and influences at different junctures in my life , and the products of those allow me to multiply on further influences . I ’ d also say any vocalist who ’ s paying attention to rhythm . That ’ s important to me because then I can get a sense of their lyrical flow even