Racer Session #336 | Keeli McCarthy | August 7, 2016

This Sunday at the Racer Sessions, percussionist Keeli McCarthy will present a piece inspired by groove drumming from a self-taught perspective, a common frame of reference for many improvisers. For the past year Keeli has contributed regularly to the Racer Sessions community, and this Sunday marks her first presentation as a leader or performer. Please join us Sunday at 8pm for our first session of the new month!

From Keeli McCarthy 

"My background as a drummer is mostly self-taught, and my earliest endeavors to learn the instrument were aided by practice books, specifically The Commandments of R&B Drumming, a book I ended up using as a guide by virtue of its availability in the small town in which I lived.

Those practice beats have ended up influencing much of my exploration of groove-based drumming that breaks out of the traditional R&B song framework and allows meandering through improvised variations on the form. 

I have partnered with electric bassist Charlie Biando and saxophonist Bryan Lineberry in developing a loose framework in three parts where I develop one groove in particular—based on a New Jack Swing sound—which we will break down and build up again."

Improv 1: John Broback (synthesizer), Colin Plancich (drums), Zach Perna (piano)

Improv 2: Neil Welch (tenor sax), Chris Icasiano (drums), Chris Cole (trumpet), Katie Levine (piano), Luke Bergman (bass)

Improv 3: Andrew Olmstead (piano), Evan Woodle (drums), Zach Perna (guitar), Janna Webbon (violin)

Improv 4: Keeli McCarthy (drums), Aaron Otheim (piano), Jeremy Gonzalez (alto sax), Brandon Herzberg (guitar)

Improv 5: Bill Kautz (trumpet), Colin Plancich (drums), Matt (guitar)

Improv 6: Rory Gannon (guitar), Thomas Campbell (drums)

Improv 7: Haley Freedlund (trombone), Neil Welch (tenor sax), Jeremy Gonzalez (alto sax), Bill Kautz (trumpet)

Improv 8: Daniel Webbon (drums), Luke Bergman (bass), Andrew Olmstead (piano), Brandon Herzberg (guitar), John Broback (synthesizer)

Improv 9: Bryan Lineberry (alto sax), Aaron Otheim (piano), Zach Perna (guitar), Chris Icasiano (drums), David Balatero (bass)

Improv 10: Mike Gebhart (drums), Andrew Olmstead (piano), Nick Rogstad (trombone), Alex Oliverio (guitar), Brendan McGovern (tenor saxophone), ? (guitar)

Improv 11: Thomas Campbell (Drums), ? (Guitar)