About
Paiste Artist Since
May 2009
Nationality
United States
Main Affiliations
Mitch Woods
Diane Ward
South Florida Jazz Orchestra
Other Affiliations
Ira Sullivan's Inter - Outer Continental Quintet
Shelly Berg Trio
„Paiste cymbals have something for any and every musical situation I’ve found myself a part of. Whether I’m playing jazz, blues, rock, or roots music, Paiste cymbals always have the sound I’m hearing or looking for. Recording engineers love them as well.“
Setup
Cymbals listed from left to right
14" Masters Dark Hi-Hat
20" Masters Dark Ride
18" Masters Dark Crash
22" Masters Dry Ride
20" Masters Dark Crisp Ride
Videos & Pics
Biography
John’s drumming has been described as always being in service to the song, when supporting singer-songwriters and laying down grooves. In the next breath, he can be heard pushing boundaries, while playing open, modern, improvised music/jazz. John is also a respected educator, teaching at the Frost School of Music - University of Miami, for over 20 years. A native of Detroit, John began playing in the school wind ensemble at the age of 10, and started working professionally playing drumset at 13 in local rock, blues, and R&B bands. Moving to Miami, Florida, he continued playing percussion and drumset, and in college eventually decided on the drum set as his main area of focus. Leaving school to play and record with jazz great Ira Sullivan, John eventually joined trombone legend Curtis Fuller for the better part of a year. He followed Fuller to New York city, where he recorded with Fuller, Pepper Adams, James Williams, and Dennis Irwin. After 3 years, John returned to Miami and began to work and record with jazz groups, blues/roots bands, rock bands, singer songwriters, and co-led a number of original music projects. John has also been first call for artists passing through South Florida, backing up jazz artists like Nat Adderly, Mose Allison, Larry Coryell, Lou Donaldson, and Mike Stern. He could also be found playing in Tumbling Dice with Rolling Stones members, Mick Taylor, Nicky Hopkins, Bobby Keys, and Lester Chambers of the Chambers Brothers. John took over the drumming duties from the legendary Earl Palmer in Mitch Wood’s - Big Easy Boogie. John toured with this band for a number of years as well as Wood’s Rocket 88’s. Additionally, John has toured with guitar great Josh Smith, jazz vocalist Kevin Mahogany, and recorded with the pop superstar Pink (Funhouse) and singer-songwriter Diane Ward and the Band of Virgos.
Setup Cymbals
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Details
Sizes: 20", 22", 24"
Volume: Medium
Weight: Medium
Sound character: Full, rich, warm, strong, deep, silvery. Wide range, complex mix. Responsive, even feel. Warm sparkling stick sound over a wide, deep wash. Fairly quick, strong crash sound. Extremely dynamic and lively ride cymbal, suitable for numerous musical styles.
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 16", 17", 18", 19", 20", 22"
Volume: Medium
Weight: Medium
Sound character: Full, warm, brilliant, shimmering, deep. Fairly wide range, complex mix. Quick response, fairly soft feel. Rich, strong crash sound with open low end and shimmering highs. Very versatile, responsive crash cymbal suitable for numerous musical styles.
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 14", 15"
Volume: Medium
Weight: Medium
Sound character: Rich, warm, lush, deep. Wide range, complex mix. Giving and responsive feel. Broad, warm open sound. Compact, lush chick sound. Extremely versatile hi-hat, perfectly suited for dynamic, articulated playing in a wide range of styles. “They are just chunky enough, but not overpowering. They are a little more chocolaty than the classic 602s”, describes Vinnie Colaiuta.
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 20"
Volume: Soft
Weight: Medium
Sound character: Warm, mellow, crystal-like. Medium range, fairly clean mix. Very balanced and controlled feel. A pearly, woody stick sound paired with a silvery wash. A very sensitive cymbal perfectly suited for soft playing at lower volume level and studio application.
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 20", 22"
Volume: Soft
Weight: Light
Sound character: Dark, warm, smoky, breathy. Fairly wide range, complex mix. Soft feel with a quick response. Very well crashable. Controllable, peppery stick sound over a dark layered oriental, smoky wash. A ride cymbal that can easily be used in a small jazz club setting and flourish in other styles such as blues or country music.
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 20", 22"
Volume: Medium
Weight: Medium
Sound character: Dark, crisp, warm, rich, open. Wide range, fairly complex mix. Very responsive feel, quick attack. A nice and crispy stick sound supported by a strong, open and dark shimmering wash. Perfect control. Well suited for all styles of music that require great dynamics and full-bodied ride sound.
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 16", 17", 18", 19", 20"
Volume: Medium
Weight: Light
Sound character: Dark, warm, smoky. Medium wide range, complex mix. Buttery, soft feel with quick response. Rich, dark, mystical crash sound with tender clarity. Extremely lively cymbal for broad accents and crashes in intimate to semi-loud settings. Well suited for delicate ride patterns or mallet swells. «For those guys who really appreciate just having a cymbal that can do everything, the larger Dark Crashes can do anything. Very crash-able, and if you want to ride on them, they will give you all the ride patterns in the world.» - Gregory Hutchinson
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 14", 15"
Volume: Soft
Weight: Medium
Sound character: Dark, full, soft, multi-layered. Medium wide range, complex mix. Soft, responsive feel. Velvety sizzling open sound. Rich, dark chick sound. A sensitive hi-hat perfectly suited for light to medium heavy use within Jazz, Blues, Country and other acoustic music styles.
- Sounds