Volume 71 - Denis Cusumano

Denis Cusumano 

Hello my people! It's time to take a ride and visit the beautiful country of France. That's where we find a veteran in the game, getting his Blues groove on.
It's always kool getting to know some of our family around the world. As a fan of the blues I was def. interested to see what is happening over there. What I found was a drummer and his band, already making strides on the circuit and growing their profile. A player with a passion for the blues and the drums and that's always a good thing. So, Let's Talk Chop with Denis Cusumano.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? 
I was born in Casablanca (Morroco), but spent my whole life around Clermont Ferrand (center of France). 

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING? I became interested in music and drums around age of 13/14 and at 15 my parents offer me my first snare drum.  I will turn 58 in a couple of days (20th of February). 

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO PLAY DRUMS? First time I saw a drummer was on Saturday night TV french shows. I was impressed by the showing and looking of the drummer behind his instrument. 

Then, the day I heard "Made in Japan" of DEEP PURPLE started it all! 

The drumming, the sound and the technique of Ian Paice had blown my head forever,and it’s still the same feeling today. 

When I feel bad, I listen this album and I feel fine. 

WHAT IS OR ARE YOUR MAIN GENRE OF PLAYING? 

I can play different sorts of music because I played for dancers for years, country rock, rock’n’roll etc.. but my main genre is and will be The Blues.

WHY DO YOU LOVE THE BLUES ?

For me, the Blues is universal. Every musician, one day or another, will try playing this music.

Everyone is able to learn the rules of this genre and can join a band playing a twelve bars. You got the key, you play.

This music is a crossroad: soul, jazz, rock'n'roll comes and go with the Blues. You have the freedom to play what you want, with the feeling/vibes of the instant.

You never perform the same song as you have done before. Something is and has to be different every time.

You play with your heart and soul. It’s the meaning of the blues.

"Down In A Swamp"

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE DIFFERENCE IN BLUES DRUMMING VERSUS OTHER GENRES ?

Listening the others musicians, be able not to demonstrate, be simple as needed.

WHAT DOES A DRUMMER NEED HAVE TO BE A GOOD BLUES DRUMMER ?

Heart and discipline to play the groove as it should be.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BAND: LITTLE MOUSE AND THE HUNGRY CATS / HOW DID YOU GUYS FORM ?

It’s a one year young band. We met Claire (female singer) in a Jam. She didn’t know anything about Blues. She learned quickly. 10 classics and she was wonderful.

Little Mouse and the Hungry Cats was born.

HAVE YOU GUYS RECORDED AND MUSIC?

We quickly recorded a mini EP (5 songs) to help us to find gigs and blues contests.

We are now planning to create our own stuff to record an LP for 2020.

Great vibes in the band. Each one of us are creative in a positive way. Very busy with all this work we have to do. But it’s real fun.

HOW MANY SHOWS DO YOU DO GUYS PLAY?

Our first real gig was 1st of March 2018, then others and others . 

In September, we won several prizes in a huge festival in Nantes (France). It gave us the possibility to play on big french blues festivals and also in SWITZERLAND and BELGIUM this year.

30 gigs are still planned for this year. For a young band like us in our country, it’s very good. 

We hope more for the next year !

"Today's My Day"

DESCRIBE YOUR CURRENT SET UP AND GEAR/HEADS AND STICKS:

I am a total Ludwig drummer. I love the sound, the look, the history of these drums. I have 3 kits. 

1)A Legacy Classic Maple 24-13-16-16 in WMP , custom order of 2010. My main kit. I am very excited because I am waiting for a 26 inch bass drum!!!! a longtime dream!!!!!! 

2)A Classic Maple kit in Silver Sparkle, custom order too of 2007. 

It’s my Ian Paice kit!!!! 24-10-12-13-16-18 . I love these drums so much too, always a great sound, great looking! 

3)A Club Date set in WMP smaller venues 20-12-14 , an amazing kit for low price but very effective! 

4)Black Beauty, my main snare but I use also a CopperPhonic (very warm)  and LM402 classic but so good, and woody Legacy Maple. 

Every one of them is 14X6.5 ! 

I still use Ludwig coated heads for the moment, they work very well IMO. 

Hardware is Ludwig too, new and some vintage . 

My sticks are the ProMark Ian Paice model for years.

HOW DID YOU START PLAYING SOULTONE CYMBALS ? 

My friend Yannick Sartre (artist relation for Soultone, Ludwig specialist, session drummer, teacher…) introduced me to Soultone in 2016. March 2017  my Vintage set was at home. And, last November, I proudly became an official member of the family. 

I love their warm tone, very precise and powerful. my set is 22" ride, 19"-20"-22" crash,15" HH, 10" splash 

I also use a NOA kit with my Club Date.

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DRUMMING STYLE? 

Mainly, as simple as possible to make room for vocals and top of the line players. My job is to make the whole thing smooth and groovy! 

I made mine: Less is more! 

HOW HAS DRUMMING IMPACTED OR CHANGED YOUR LIFE? 

Except my family, drumming is the passion of my life. It is one of the main reasons that I became the human being I am today. 

Playing drums in a band is not easy, you have to work a lot alone and together! 

It is like a football team, you have to work and work again to win the game! And I like this kind of way. 

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR YOUR DRUMMING CAREER? 

Have fun always, make my job the best I can, learn and discover new things. 

HOW IS THE LIVE MUSIC SCENE IN YOUR HOMETOWN? 

There is a lot of good bands,especially in the Blues field, but it was very difficult to find places to play and make a living with. You have to take the road if you want to play a little or have the chance to be in a well known band. 

BEING THAT YOU ARE A VETERAN DRUMMER ? DO YOU FIND IT EASY OR DIFFICULT TALKING TO YOUNG DRUMMERS AND GIVING THEM ADVICE?
In my area, drummers are like a little family. Everyone respects the others. We like to talk about gear (snares, cymbals, tuning, ect...) We don’t formally give advice but it’s mainly discussions etc... Everyone their own way of learning etc... But I like seeing my friends playing.

NAME 5 OF YOUR DRUMMING INFLUENCES AND WHY? 

1- Ian Paice for its general expertise. His swing, his touch.

2- Buddy Rich is a monster! No one is able to do what he did with a basic kit. One of a kind! 

3- Tony Williams, one of a kind drummer too! Light and powerful, tasty and inventive. 

4- All the Blues Drummers for their feeling 

5- Every drummer because every one can give something you don’t have! 

NAME AN INSPIRING CONCERT THAT MADE YOU WANT TO GO HOME AND START SHEDDING? 

In fact, every time I go to a concert. I love looking drummers at work. 

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU PRACTICE? 

Not enough to my taste, but there is always a pair of sticks near me, in my car. 

WHAT TYPES OF THINGS DO YOU WORK ON? 

Mainly rudiments and tempo. 

DO YOU RECORD DRUM VIDEOS OF YOURSELF? 

Yes,  I made one when I received my Soultone cymbals with my Silver Sparkle kit. It was mainly to work on how to miking a drumset. It takes me a lot of time but I learn a lot and I am pleased with the results.

RDV de l'Erdre 2018

IF YOU WEREN’T PLAYING THE DRUMS ?WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?

Great question, I play drums since so long now. I can’t figure my life without.

Maybe I would have played Soccer much longer.. but I would always have a pair of sticks near me.

DO YOU HAVE A CRAZY OR INTERESTING GIG YOU CAN SHARE WITH US? 

Oh yes, next June, with my band we will be part in a French Blues Contest. The winner will be invited in Memphis for the World Blues Challenge. Crossed fingers …….we have to work first! 

WHAT ARE YOUR WORDS OF WISDOM FOR YOUR FELLOW DRUMMERS OUT THERE? 

I wish Peace, Love to all of us. Our poor world is going more and more crazy and mad. I think it will be hard for our children. 

LAST WORDS, LINKS, HASHTAGS AND THANK YOU’S? 

2019 first come to be a busy year with my current band LITTLE MOUSE AND THE HUNGRY CATS. Just a one year band but we are ready to be part of major Blues festivals in France, Switzerland and Belgium This long year trip begins next month. 2020 is already has interesting plans. 

And to finish, a special Thank You to my lovely wife who supports me and gives me the keys to live my passion.

https://www.facebook.com/denis.cusumano

https://www.littlemouseandthehungrycats.com 

https://www.facebook.com/littlemouseandthehungrycat/

https://www.instagram.com/littlemouseandthehungrycats/





Big Thanks to Denis for sharing his drum life with us. You can't stop a drummer with passion. His love for music, drums and the blues are going to take him to some wonderful places. Good luck my friend!




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I would like to thank all of my sponsors & supporters:

SJC Drums - Soultone - Cympad
CooperGroove - Cymbag - Sweet Spots
PhatFoot - Kickport - Woodshed Stage Art

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I'M OUT!