Ari Hoenig on Being an Original, Dealing With The Inner Voice

[@tommyron]

There is no question in my mind that at the key transitional moment for any artist of going from your twenties to your thirties, interviews like this one are going to be extremely helpful. If you're going to stay in the game over the long haul (whatever that looks like for you) having a concept of "thinking for yourself" becomes 100% as important as technique and style issues. I'm 64 with 30+ years as a working musician and I always have time to listen to something like this. Both of you guys are providing a major resource here and I really appreciate it.

[@brendanleahy5354]

Monster musician, absolutely love to hear him play music, and drums. Great interview! Thanks so much!

[@mattfacchino3999]

I love this guy. He's raw and real. I get the same feeling watching him talk as I do watching him play drums. Great questions!

[@peternorman7404]

oh fuck man this podcast keeps getting better, love the guests you keep bringing on here.

[@waynehubbard6651]

I am not a drummer - but I would love to drum. I produce electronic music for fun. But I love this channel and this is so inspiring and educational. These discussions are just wonderful to eavesdrop on…

[@swan4163]

A very welcome surprise in my KZbin feed this morning! Ari is the best, and IMO one of the most underrated and under-talked-about drummers out there! Thanks, Nate, for always bringing awesome drum content! One thing: Can you put the links to Ari's socials in the description? I'm one of those lazy people who want to click and not type in a search box. 😉(Not really, but I'm cosplaying as someone who wants to check out Ari, but can't remember to unless there's an open tab from the link...)

[@Kennyisbananas]

Thank the gods for Ari!

[@jazzhole8208]

Yesssssss Mr Hoenig ❤❤❤❤❤ thank you very much for this amazing interview Mr.Smith 🙏

[@knuthagedorn]

Interesting - when I asked him about influences concerning his melody playing at a clinic in holland in 2008, he just turned that down completely 🤔 Maybe because it was after the clinic when the break was supposed to start, so probably my bad 😄 Anyway - what a great musician and a gift to all passionate drummers. And what a great podcast series, congratulations Nate! I very much enjoyed the one with Clarence Penn as well :)

[@pageyjjj]

Toronto loves Ari

[@angieedwards9720]

“At some point I realized I had to be myself 100% and that would be the strongest statement I could make.” 🙌🏼💯

[@luigisavoia2401]

Saw ari at smalls a couple times in the last month. Different style of drummer than what usually comes through smalls.

[@MuddslingerPots]

This is great! I loved it!

[@WillamCeoil]

This whole series of interviews have been great but I'd agree with you Nate, that point about 'the list' is one of the most profound ways I've heard of structuring over-all goals and then practice. Made me think that it's time I made a mind map for the year(s) ahead.

[@mwdrum]

I’ve been watching his Smalls gigs, here in Florida. His compositional concept of the drumset is the hippest unique style I’m seeing anywhere. That his band mates also usually play without music is fantastic.

[@justpeachy4938]

Thank you, Nate and Ari, for this enjoyable peek into the minds of creative musicians (not necessarily an easy task with a subject as resistant to analysis as music or with an artist of Mr. Hoenig’s skills.) Kudos for bringing it off with style! If in future you do a “Part Two” (fingers crossed), I would enjoy hearing Ari’s thoughts on the evolution of jazz drumming thru a consideration of some of the greats (Catlett, Roach, Haynes, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, to name a few), especially with respect to the question of the development of metric modulation within and across the bar. Meanwhile, I’m so grateful for your efforts here.

[@ronnyhohn8286]

Thank U so much for this interview! I practiced the 80/20 drummer Jazz Course and I play normally PunkHardcore stuff, ... I never used all the Jazz language directly, but it makes me definetly better and more self conscious on the drumset. Ari confirmed what I did... 95% what I practice I don't use... :) but it makes me better

[@WyattLite-n-inn]

I’m a jazz drummer that used to play punk/harcore from 1998-2000 in LA w the guitarist from Downset . We opened for Downset, Spineshank.. Sonny Mayo used to come to our gigs as did the guys from Fear Factory . This was an amazing interview from a true original and it’s true . This podcast is getting better and better .

[@liambenz6889]

The fact this only has 5,000 views is a huge problem for the world

[@harrycrab8725]

Put another way, everything you’ve ever heard Ari play represents only 5% of what he’s practiced … so get to it!

[@willhanley4954]

Stick with keys, Ari…

[@efafe4972]

been waiting for this one

[@Labatterieparlimprovisation]

Thank you Ari and Nate. This is very profound. A lot to think about. That’s what I like in this podcast. It makes you smarter 🙂

[@williamperri3437]

I practiced on Ari “Quiet tone” practice pad from the 90’s when I rented his childhood room from his mother! 😂 I may have lived there for two or three months I don’t remember, but his mom was a classically trained pianist that was always practicing, and his dad I think was a professional musician as well. He came over once for Thanksgiving and we talked about the meters and straight ahead funk. But that practice pad is the best practice pad ever. Sabian makes it now and it’s got a real rim on it. This was probably about 206/7.

[@jilsky]

Thanks to the two of you! Very inspiring. I did a double stroke roll while watching.

[@benjammin4840]

Awesome info thanks so much!

[@balcofono666]

This is awesome!

[@rodneymcintyre8544]

Are there videos of the 80/20 drummer playing with humans or records he’s on?

[@8020drummer]

No. Do I disappoint you?

[@rodneymcintyre8544]

@@8020drummer you don’t play with people?

[@8020drummer]

@@rodneymcintyre8544 no. Am I in trouble?

[@rodneymcintyre8544]

@@8020drummer what do mean in trouble? I’ve watched a lot of your videos and I always end with more questions than answers. It would’ve interesting to hear you make music with these ideas concepts.

[@edsoph7006]

When Ari was at North Texas he and another very talented student, Andrew Griffith, would play be-bop tunes together melodically and comp for each other when soloing. Ari was, and is, fearless.

[@8020drummer]

Hey Ed! I missed this comment when it came through, but super flattered you watched the interview, and I've been a big fan of yours for a long time. Your brush method changed and helped my approach more than anything. And I agree, Ari is a beast!

[@edsoph7006]

Thanks for your thanks! I'd love to do an interview with you someday.@@8020drummer