Drum Dungeon Interview, Karl Perazzo, www.thedrumdungeon.com

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Interview with Santana percussionsit Karl Perazzo -

by The Drum Dungeon

February 10th 2010

For interview requests with The Drum Dungeon, send your inquiries and requests to media@thedrumdungeon.com

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Las Vegas, NV

Karl Perazzo since the age of 2 has played some kind of drum or other. At age 7 he played in a band that his mother and father formed. From there he became unstoppable and went on to play with Cal Tjader while only in the 6th grade.

Karl Perazzo, born and raised in San Francisco's Mission District, has gone on to play with the best in Pop, Jazz, Rock and Latin Music. The self-taught musician is currently playing with the Santana Band. He has recorded 3 albums with Santana, one being a Live album in South America.

He has also recorded and played with Malo, Jorge Santana, Cal Tjader, Dizzy Gilespie, Andy Narrel, Ray Obiedo, Tom Coster, Pete and Coke Escovedo, Dennis Chambers, Sheila E., The Artist, Mariah Carey, Paquito D' Rivera and is on the latest John Lee Hooker album.

Karl Perazzo has also sat in with the best in Latin Music, such as Tito Puente, Machete, Ruben Blades and others. Perazzo is not only

Interview:

DD: What drove you to percussion and drums?

Karl: My Dad was a drummer long retired when I got into drumming, my Mom was in entertainment - it's in the genes I believe. I didn't have YouTube, and all these other tools that are out there today. Nothing exists without the heart and the true drive. My influences and teachers were Ricky Ricardo, Tito Puente, and of course the great Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich.

Any time you can inspire, whether its through the different outlets of today electronically or online, or like I did, hands on - kids nowadays have so many more tools available but one problem is that they learn two plus two equals four, but they do not learn WHY two plus two equals four - so much cannot be replaced through simple video or digital media.

DD: What was your first BIG break in the drum world?

Karl: My Mom and my Dad with my sister, put together a small band and did a talent show, and we took first place in that talent show, and to see how music positively changes people was inspiring and this was not so much a big break but a breakthrough in my mind and in my heart.

DD: So many people believe it is WHO you know in the music community and industry that leads you to higher level success - we here at the dungeon would like to believe that honed skill, attitude, and natural talent are the MOST important factors - what's your feelings?

Karl: I agree very much on a ground level and in a heartfelt way - who you know helps for sure, but you still have to have the talent, no matter who you know. It's a direct reflection of your past history, family, and effort put forward to achieve your goals.

Success is not always measured by big names and big stadiums - you might be that drum teacher that changes one child's life, you might share your talents in the studios and lend them to timeless recordings, or even perform and inspire others locally in your own area - you have to strive for the best you can be, sure, but don't let your drive turn you away from being true to yourself. It is ALL success on it's own level. Compliment overall success rather than measuring yourself by others standards for success.

DD: What are your thoughts on playing with the legendary Carlos Santana? And here is a quote from you some years back: "I used to play with the band [Santana} when I was younger," he jokes, "but then the needle broke."

Karl: We have strong beliefs here [the Santana camp] - changing peoples thoughts and ideals through music and bringing them together. I still get chills looking at the man and when you get on the stage with him it is such a privilege and an honor.

DD: Do you do a lot of drum clinics?

Karl: I do many clinics all over the world - Latin percussion, some for Vater drumsticks, Sabian cymbals, Remo, all my sponsors hold clinics aside from the clinics I hold personally.

DD: What is your impression of Raul Rekow, your fellow percussionist in Santana's current line-up?

Karl: Raul is the supreme master, he''s done so much, I'm a very big fan of his, and now his brother. Used to stand at the front of the stage and watch him with excitement. The great Congo players of the world know for sure, its Raul Rekow.

DD: There are so many great Drummers, we here at the Drum Dungeon have trouble deciding who is in the TOP drummers list.

Karl: With so many drummers, it's like going to a vast garden full of so many flowers, it's so hard to pick out just ONE - each one has its own beauty, and endearing qualities - to me that is the drumming community, so many unique players and individuals with so much to offer in so many ways - it is the joy of my life to be a part of it all.

DD: I'm going to leave the fans with that final thought from you Karl, it has been a pleasure to speak with you and please let us know when you have upcoming clinics so we can get the word out to the masses. Hope to talk to you soon.

Karl: Thank You

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Karl Perazzo is currently playing:

LP "Karl Perazzo" Timbales

Sabian cymbals

Remo heads

Vater Sticks

known nationally, but internationally as well. He is known to have recorded with some of the best acts in Japan and Italy.

In addition to all of the above, Karl has also performed on an array of TV shows, such as American Bandstand, Soul Train, Solid Gold, Jay Leno, Johnny Carson, David Letterman, The Grammies, The American Music Awards, and was the first percussionist to be invited to sit in with The Arsenio Hall Show house band on more than one occasion, and to perform on his 100th show.

Aside from all this Perazzo still finds the time to travel the country doing clinics for the Latin Percussion Music Group. He strongly believes that the knowledge he has is not his to keep, but to be shared with people around the world!