Jojo Mayer
Encyclopedia
Jojo Mayer is a highly acclaimed Swiss drummer born in Zurich
and currently resides in New York City.
Mayer is the son of a touring musician and 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, he broke out into the professional music scene at the age of 18, joining the Monty Alexander group. Touring with the group launched him into the major jazz music scene, and he has played at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux, Nice, and Athens etc., which culminated with his gigging with jazz-greats such as Dizzy Gillespie
and Nina Simone
. Eventually, after playing with a great variety of artists, Mayer moved away from jazz and into Drum 'n' Bass.
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. 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 these techniques, he can play beats at astonishing speeds. A few of his main influences are Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette
and Buddy Rich
.
He is the leader of live electronica trio Nerve, which he founded in 1997.
He played 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 ran the popular Prohibited Beatz live electronica party in NYC from 1996-2001.
With John Medeski
:
With Screaming Headless Torsos:
With Harry Sokal:
Sulfur:
With Janek Gwizdala:
With Depart
Jojo Mayer & Nerve:
magazine.
His DVD, Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer, is a bestseller worldwide.
Jojo Mayer was interviewed by DrummerConnection.com - May 2010 - Jojo Mayer Interview by DrummerConnection.com
Jojo Mayer was interviewed by Linus Wyrsch on "The Jazz Hole" for breakthruradio.com in July 2010 - Jojo Mayer Interview by breakthruradio.com
Mayer usually uses birch Sonor drums in the following sizes:
14" and 13" Snare Drum
10" Tom Tom
14" Floor Tom
8" Tom to the right of the Floor Tom
20" or 18" Bass Drum
Sizes may vary primarily based on local drum availability.
For drumheads (all Evans):
14" Hybrid Coated
14" Hazy 300
12" G Plus Clear
12" G Plus Coated
12" Hydraulic Black
12" Hydraulic Glass
For cymbals, he's recently been using (all Sabian):
22" AAX Omni
18" Fierce Crash
18" AAX Omni
13" El Sabor Splash
13" HHX Evolution Top Hi Hat over 14" HHX Evolution Mini-China
10" Fierce Hi Hats
13" Fierce Hi Hats
10" Chopper
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and currently resides in New York City.
Mayer is the son of a touring musician and 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, he broke out into the professional music scene at the age of 18, joining the Monty Alexander group. Touring with the group launched him into the major jazz music scene, and he has played at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux, Nice, and Athens etc., which culminated with his gigging with jazz-greats such as Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
and Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
. Eventually, after playing with a great variety of artists, Mayer moved away from jazz and into Drum 'n' Bass.
Jojo Mayer is known for bringing together jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
, jungle
Oldschool jungle
Jungle is a genre of electronic music that incorporates influences from genres including breakbeat hardcore, and reggae/dub/dancehall. There is debate as to whether jungle is a separate genre from drum and bass as many use the terms interchangeably...
, 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
Reverse engineering
Reverse engineering is the process of discovering the technological principles of a device, object, or system through analysis of its structure, function, and operation...
", a phrase borrowed from computing. He executes this approach using various methods such as the Heel-toe bass drum technique
Heel-Toe Technique
Heel-toe technique is a method of playing double strokes on the bass drum, hi-hat, or other pedals. More recently, this method has been used in the World's Fastest Drummer competition to set speed records.-Description:...
, the Moeller stroke, and the "pull-out" or "push-pull" accent which takes the beat on the rebound. Using these techniques, he can play beats at astonishing speeds. A few of his main influences are Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette is an American jazz drummer, pianist, and composer. He is one of the most influential jazz drummers of the 20th century, due to extensive work as leader and sideman for musicians like Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett and Sonny...
and Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
.
He is the leader of live electronica trio Nerve, which he founded in 1997.
He played with the guitarist David Fiuczynski
David Fiuczynski
David "Fuze" Fiuczynski is an American guitarist, best known as the leader of the Screaming Headless Torsos and David Fiuczynski's KiF, and as a member of Hasidic New Wave...
in the avant-garde pop rock band Screaming Headless Torsos
Screaming Headless Torsos
Screaming Headless Torsos or SHT are an experimental jazz/funk band formed in 1989 consisting of guitarist David Fiuczynski, vocalist Dean Bowman, bassist Fima Ephron and percussionist Daniel Sadownick. The band's original drummer was Jojo Mayer, but he was replaced by Gene Lake for their 2001...
and in the fusion jazz band, Intergalactic Maiden Ballet.
He ran the popular Prohibited Beatz live electronica party in NYC from 1996-2001.
Discography
With Intergalactic Maiden Ballet:- 1992 - Square Dance
- 1994 - Gulf
With John Medeski
John Medeski
Anthony John Medeski is an American jazz keyboards player and composer. Medeski is a veteran of New York's 1990s avant-garde jazz scene and is known popularly as a member of Medeski Martin & Wood...
:
- 1994 - Lunar Crush
With Screaming Headless Torsos:
- 1995 - Screaming Headless Torsos
With Harry Sokal:
- 1996 - Rave the Jazz! :live:
Sulfur:
- 1998 - Delirium TremensDelirium Tremens (album)-Personnel:Sulfur*Michele Amar – vocals, musical saw, sampler, programming, keyboards , production*Tony Corsano – drums, percussion*Fiona Doherty – bass guitar*Nick Heathen – piano, sampler, recording*Dan Joeright – drums...
With Janek Gwizdala:
- 2004 - Mystery To Me - Live in New York
- 2010 - The Space In Between
- 2011 - Live at the Jamboree June 17th 2011 1st set
- 2011 - Live at the Jamboree June 17th 2011 2nd set
- 2011 - Live at the Jamboree June 18th 2011 1st set
- 2011 - Live at the Jamboree June 18th 2011 2nd set
With Depart
- 2006 - Reloaded
- 2008 - Mountain Messenger
Jojo Mayer & Nerve:
- 2007 - Prohibited Beats
- 2010 - EP1
- 2010 - EP2
- 2011 - EP3
- 2011 - The Distance Between Zero And One
Media
He was featured as the cover story of the January 2008 issue of Modern DrummerModern Drummer
Modern Drummer is a monthly publication targeting the interests of on drummers and percussionists. The magazine features interviews, equipment reviews, and columns offering advice on technique, as well as information for the general public...
magazine.
His DVD, Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer, is a bestseller worldwide.
Jojo Mayer was interviewed by DrummerConnection.com - May 2010 - Jojo Mayer Interview by DrummerConnection.com
Jojo Mayer was interviewed by Linus Wyrsch on "The Jazz Hole" for breakthruradio.com in July 2010 - Jojo Mayer Interview by breakthruradio.com
Gear
Mayer is a long-time Sonor endorser who also uses Sabian cymbals and Vic Firth sticks. He helped Sonor design the Jungle kit and snare. He has also collaborated with Sabian to create two lines of cymbals, the Vault "Fierce" series, and the AAX "Omni" series. His Vault Fierce cymbals feature a raw, unlathed finish, and extensive hand hammering, while the Omnis are designed to function as both rides and crashes.Mayer usually uses birch Sonor drums in the following sizes:
14" and 13" Snare Drum
10" Tom Tom
14" Floor Tom
8" Tom to the right of the Floor Tom
20" or 18" Bass Drum
Sizes may vary primarily based on local drum availability.
For drumheads (all Evans):
14" Hybrid Coated
14" Hazy 300
12" G Plus Clear
12" G Plus Coated
12" Hydraulic Black
12" Hydraulic Glass
For cymbals, he's recently been using (all Sabian):
22" AAX Omni
18" Fierce Crash
18" AAX Omni
13" El Sabor Splash
13" HHX Evolution Top Hi Hat over 14" HHX Evolution Mini-China
10" Fierce Hi Hats
13" Fierce Hi Hats
10" Chopper