Podcast Show Notes – Practicing Drummer

Podcast – Kai Craig interview

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

Kai Craig - Episode 19 Practicing Drummer podcast

Recorded May 2026

Kai is a drummer from the UK who first caught my attention through a series of studio clips and an interview with Greg Hutchinson, who has been his teacher, mentor, and then produced Kai’s album, “A Time Once Forgotten”.

Kai is not only a fantastic player, he’s very insightful and I think you’ll get a lot from this conversation.

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/kaiicraig

Website
https://kaicraig.com

Kai Craig and Greg Hutchinson

Kai Craig – A Time Once Forgotten
https://kaicraig-whirlwind.bandcamp.com/album/a-time-once-forgotten

Sean Payne – Long Story Short
https://seanpayne.bandcamp.com/album/long-story-short

Interview on Four on the Floor
https://jonmccaslinjazzdrummer.blogspot.com/2025/09/kai-craig-time-once-forgotten.html

Brice Wassy – Rythmes du Cameroun
https://amzn.to/4ulc4wV

Branford Marsalis documentary

Kai’s Zildjian video

The song featured in this episode is Namesake off of Kai’s album.

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

Podcast – Steven Crammer

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

Recorded March 2026

Steven Crammer is a drummer based in Brooklyn, NY. His uniquely flexible musicianship has led to a rising stature on the jazz scene, since moving to NYC in 2018. Steven has released two albums, both with co-led projects. His debut album ‘Nortonk’ was released on Biophilia Records in 2021. The album received praise in multiple publications including Pop Matters, Jazz Trail, Jazzwise, and All About Jazz. In November 2025, his piano trio ‘Prawntail’ released their first record on Endectomorph Music.

He is also a highly active sideman, having performed and/or recorded with a broad range of artists including Max Light, Cecil Alexander, Brian Krock, Matt Pavolka, Chris McCarthy, and many more. You can catch Steven regularly playing in NYC in a wide variety of settings as well as on tour across the US, Canada, and Europe.

Website: stevencrammer.com

Instagram: instagram.com/stevencrammer

Prawntail – Bandcamp

Nortonk – Bandcamp

Nortonk – Album release performance

Nortonk – Drum solo on Cherry

Drummers

Ted Poor

Gerald Cleaver

Craig Taborn – Chants

Books

Ritmica – Portuguese Brazilian drum book

Dan Weiss video courses

John Riley’s drum books

Albums

Clifford Jarvis with Barry Harris

Wilbur Ware – Super Bass (with Ed Blackwell)

Jaki Byard – The Last from Lennie’s (with Alan Dawson)

Ornette Coleman – This is Our Music

Charlie Parker – One Night in Birdland

Andrew Cyrille instructional VHS (clip) – Please reach out if you have a copy of the whole video.

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

Podcast – Eliza Salem

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

episode 17 eliza salem practicing drummer podcast

Recorded in February 2026

Eliza Salem is a drummer, composer, and educator living in New York.

Since Eliza’s career is still relatively young, I thought it would a good time to dive into her upbringing, time in college, and what it’s been like building a career and community in New York.

Hope you enjoy this interview with drummer Eliza Salem!

Website: https://elizasalem.com

Instagram: @sickwormfacts

Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
https://bkcm.org/profile/eliza-salem

Wilcoxon – All American Drummer
https://amzn.to/4rKnLN9

Wilcoxon – Rudimental Swing Solos
https://amzn.to/4b4AS4E

Marta Sanchez live at Bop Stop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRqDwJWNWEk

Next Jazz Legacy program
https://newmusicusa.org/program/next-jazz-legacy

Careful in the Sun – Soft Alarm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBW6P5euuZA

Nicole McCabe – Color Theory
https://nicolemccabe.bandcamp.com/album/color-theory

Rick Roe – Monk’s Modern Music
https://www.roejazz.com/product-page/rick-roe-monk-s-modern-music-cd

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