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Jojo Mayer

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Jojo Mayer

Jojo Mayer (born 18 January 1963) is a highly acclaimed Swiss drummer born in Zurich and currently residing in New York City. Son of a touring musician, Mayer began his career as a drummer at an early age, receiving his first drum set at the age of two. Having taught himself throughout his childhood, Mayer broke out into the professional music scene at the age of 18, joining the Monty Alexander group. Touring with the group would launch him into the major jazz music scene, playing at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux, Nice, and Athens etc, and leading to his gigs with jazz-greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Nina Simone. Eventually, after playing with a great variety of artists, Mayer would move away from jazz and into Drum 'n' Bass electronica.[1]

Jojo Mayer is known for bringing together jazz, drum and bass, jungle, and other influences. He is also famous for his ability to play the rhythms of programmed jungle drum 'n' bass music on acoustic drums, terming this technique "reverse engineering", a phrase borrowed from computing[1]. He executes this approach using various methods such as the Heel-toe bass drum technique, the Moeller stroke, and the "pull-out" or "push-pull" accent which takes the beat on the rebound. Using this technique he can play beats at astonishing speeds. A few of his main influences are Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette and Buddy Rich.

He plays with the guitarist David Fiuczynski in the avant-garde pop rock band Screaming Headless Torsos and in the fusion jazz band Intergalactic Maiden Ballet.

He is the founder of the Prohibited Beatz clique in the NYC underground live music scene.

Discography

With Intergalactic Maiden Ballet:

  • 1992 - Square Dance
  • 1994 - Gulf

With John Medeski:

  • 1994 - Lunar Crush

With Screaming Headless Torsos:

  • 1995 - Screaming Headless Torsos

Sulfur:

Jojo Mayer & Nerve:

  • 2007 - Prohibited Beats

Media

He was featured as the cover story of the January 2008 issue of Modern Drummer magazine. His DVD, Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer, is a bestseller worldwide.

Gear

Mayer is a long-time Sonor endorser and also uses Sabian cymbals. He has also collaborated with Sabian to create his own line of "Fierce" cymbals, part of Sabian's top-tier Vault line. His Vault Fierce cymbals feature a raw, unlathed finish, and extensive hand hammering. Mayer uses various series of drums, often depending on what is available at the venue, with this general setup:

14" (or 13") Snare Drum, 10" Tom Tom, 14" Floor Tom, 13" (or 12", or even 14") Side Snare, 20" or 22" Bass Drum

These sizes and the actual number of drums may vary, depending on the musical context.

References

  1. ^ a b Drummerworld: Jojo Mayer Drummerworld
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