Practicing Drummer

Podcast – Kayvon Gordon interview

This episode is available in most places that you listen to podcasts.

Recorded September 2026

Kayvon is a drummer from Detroit who’s now based in New York. You might know him from Sullivan Fortner’s trio with bassist Tyrone Allen. Their first studio album together, Leave That In There, came out in August. Kayvon and Tyrone are also the rhythm section on two of Nicole Glover‘s albums that I love and are also on saxophonist Kazemde George’s trio album, Ocean Passage. We talk about those and some other great recordings he’s on.

Kayvon has also been busy under his own name. Back in July, he put out a solo drum set record called type shit, and his newest album, blood memory, came out in September. It wasn’t out yet when we recorded, but we talk about it, and you can hear it now.

I had a lot of fun talking to him. Hope you enjoy!

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/kayvon.gordon

Kayvon Gordon – type shit
https://kayvongordon.bandcamp.com/album/type-shit

Kayvon Gordon – blood memory
https://kayvongordon.bandcamp.com/album/blood-memory

Links

Paisley Park
https://www.paisleypark.com

Gary Burton – Like Minds
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Like_Minds_(album)

Marcus Belgrave
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Belgrave

Karriem Riggins
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karriem_Riggins

Gerald Cleaver
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Cleaver

Roy Brooks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Brooks

Randy Gelispie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Gelispie

Irrational meters
https://lordlav.com/irrational-time-signatures-for-beat-makers

Griot Galaxy – Kins
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griot_Galaxy

Manley Lopez
https://www.instagram.com/manleylopezpiri/

Oru Seco
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik8CS3yXs8I

Albums

Jon Elbaz Quartet – Live at Ornithology
https://jonelbazmusic.bandcamp.com/album/quartet-live-at-ornithology

Simón Willson – Bet
https://simonwillson.bandcamp.com/album/bet

Sullivan Fortner – Leave That in There
https://www.sullivanfortnermusic.com

Sullivan Fortner – Number 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz609aetaRg

Kayvon playing with Immanuel Wilkins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jL7M09PsT0

Kalia Vandever – Another View
https://kaliavandever.bandcamp.com/album/another-view

Kevin Sun – Quartets
https://thekevinsun.bandcamp.com/album/quartets

Kevin Sun – lofi at lowlands 三
https://thekevinsun.bandcamp.com/album/lofi-at-lowlands-3

Neta Raanan – Unforeseen Blossom
https://netaraanan.bandcamp.com/album/unforeseen-blossom

Kazemde George – Ocean Passage
https://www.kazemdegeorge.com/home/ocean-passage

Nicole Glover – Plays
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZpydkez0_g&list=OLAK5uy_lpbgpuacndvZn3Bb56iHQnLjSY9MyCAnA

Nicole Glover – Memories, Dreams, Reflections
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDc3OwUdmeM&list=OLAK5uy_n5bFPORdnb7z4eeBV9xEotDLhtEmRbjIA

Kayvon Gordon – type shit
https://kayvongordon.bandcamp.com/album/type-shit

Micah Thomas – Forest
https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=JAH-487

Kayvon Gordon – blood memory
https://kayvongordon.bandcamp.com/album/blood-memory

Influential Albums

Kenny Barron – Wanton Spirit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanton_Spirit

Bud Powell – Inner Fires
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner_Fires

D3 – Robert Hurst, Geri Allen, Karriem Riggins
This isn’t the bootleg that Kayvon was talking about, but it’s the same group.
https://soundcloud.com/hakanai/d3-bob-hurst-trio-live-at

Wayne Shorter – Beyond the Sound Barrier
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyond_the_Sound_Barrier

Branford Marsalis – Bloomington
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomington_(album)

Busta Rhymes – The Coming
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coming

The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ready_to_Die

The song featured in this episode is Bird Feathers off of Nicole Glover’s Memories, Dreams, Reflections.

The drum intro is from Charles Ruggiero’s Loop Loft sample pack.

Journal #12 – Eliza Salem, Colin Stranahan, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Art Taylor

A couple of weeks ago I had the wonderful opportunity to finally meet Ronnie Burrage in person. I loved having him on the podcast a while back and have been a fan since high school, so it was a big thrill.

He was in Minneapolis for a gig and also did a drum clinic where he brought me up on stage to play a little bit. He had me play the tune “Beatrice” while humming the melody and gave me some great advice about loosening up and not being so locked in to using the hi-hat. Ronnie was so supportive and it was only a little terrifying.

Stay tuned for a new podcast episode next week! I’m also working hard in the background to streamline my interview and editing process so I have the time to talk to more drummers.

In the meantime, here are a few things I’ve been checking out the last couple of weeks.

Eliza Salem – Haven

Former podcast guest Eliza Salem just released a live album called Haven on Close Up and it’s great! Check it out, and listen to the interview if you haven’t.

Colin Stranahan Trio at Mezzrow

Colin Stranahan reunited his trio with Glenn Zaleski and Rick Rosato for a gig at Mezzrow last week. This was the first group I heard him with, on their live album from the Jazz Standard, and it’s always nice to hear them. They’ve got great chemistry.

Kurt Rosenwinkel on Practicing

Some great advice from guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel in a video from his Practice Room series. I particularly loved the part about focusing on what challenges you during gigs or sessions.

Watch it here.

Art Taylor at the Village Vanguard!

It’s possible that I’ve posted this before, but this is one I go back to from time to time. Art Taylor live at the Village Vanguard! It’s very fun to watch from the audience’s point of view.

Have a great weekend!

Journal #11 – Billy Hart, Eric McPherson, Feathering, Close Up, Jeremy Dutton

I’m working on editing a new interview for the podcast that will be out soon. In the meantime, here are a few things from the last couple of weeks.

Feathering and Comping at Up Tempos

I’ve been working hard on feathering at up tempos the last couple of months, specifically going back and forth between feathering and comping. I can’t remember exactly how, but I discovered a weakness in both when dropping the ride cymbal out. My balance and coordination started getting dicey without the ride to hold it together.

To work on that, I’ve been using page 27 of John Riley’s The Art of Bop Drumming in a new way, at about 250 bpm for now, sometimes with a click and sometimes with records. I loop one of John’s comping patterns for a bit (with the ride cymbal) and then drop out the ride for 4-8 bars (still playing the comping pattern), then bring the ride back in. The hi-hat plays the whole time.

I’m also working on feathering for 4-8 bars and then playing each comping exercise for 4-8 bars. Back and forth, while also playing around with bringing the ride in and out. Challenging, especially with a goal of staying relaxed the whole time.

Drum Stories: Cyrille, Hart, Stewart, and Waits

Analog Tone Factory has a new record due out December 4 called Drum Stories, featuring Andrew Cyrille, Billy Hart, Bill Stewart, and Nasheet Waits. The first single, “Freedom Waltz,” is a drum duet between Hart and Cyrille. Pre-orders start in October. Very excited about this.

Eric McPherson with Lucian Ban & Elevation

Pianist Lucian Ban’s Elevation ensemble just released Rush on Sunnyside, with Eric McPherson on drums, Abraham Burton on tenor, and John Hébert on bass. A beautiful record. It’s on Bandcamp.

New Albums: Live at Close Up

Close Up, the club in New York, has started releasing live albums and they sound great. I haven’t checked them all out yet, but I’m particularly digging Kayvon Gordon’s Blood Memory and Carmen Quill’s record featuring Billy Hart.

More here: Close Up on Bandcamp

Jeremy Dutton at Cycle Studios

Former podcast guest Jeremy Dutton recently dropped this video where he performs at Cycle Studios in New York and talks about community, legacy, and the importance of participation.

Have a great weekend.