The Drummer Loves Ballads is a story 40 years in the making and an album five years in development. The result is a 16-track, 62-minute full-album listening experience featuring extraordinary music, musicians, and moods with unique narrative interludes. Designed for lazy Sunday afternoons, romantic evenings, and melancholy midnights, The Drummer Loves Ballads includes a different featured artist on every tune. It comes in an elegantly designed 6-panel eco-friendly CD wallet with cover shot by veteran music photographer Andy Amyx. Hand signed. Free shipping within the 48 continental United States.
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The Drummer Loves Ballads is the debut album of John Armato. Featuring extraordinary music, musicians and moods, it was produced and engineered by some of the industry’s top talent. The album was designed to be a new soundtrack for lazy Sunday afternoons, romantic evenings, and melancholy midnights, but you’ll swear it’s a long-lost jazz favorite.
Featuring more than 25 musicians, including the legends Houston Person and Warren Vaché (and a different featured artist on every track), The Drummer Loves Ballads combines spoken word interludes with gorgeous music to tell a story more than 40 years in the making. From intimate quartet settings to sweeping orchestral arrangements, it is as rewarding to listen to closely as it is relaxing to listen to casually.
credits
released May 27, 2021
The TDLB Quartet is John Armato (drums), Rod Fleeman (guitar), Wayne Hawkins (piano), Gerald Spaits (bass).
Guest artists: Carol Bar (French spoken word); Steffen Drabek (viola); Ron Gutierrez, Molly Hammer, Lisa Henry, and Lucy Wijnands (vocals); Brett Jackson (baritone sax); Jeff Lisenby (accordion); Houston Person and Doug Talley (tenor sax); Warren Vaché (cornet); Lynn Zimmer (clarinet).
Strings: Matt Bennett, Carmen Dieker, Zsolt Eder, and Filip Lazovski (violin); Alyssa Bell and Christine Grossman (viola); Ezgi Karakus and Susie Yang (cello).
Winds: David Chael (alto sax and flute), Mark Cohick (alto flute), Paul Roberts (trombone), Brandon Wilkins (tenor sax and flute).
Produced by John Cushon.
Recorded by Justin Wilson, Sound81. Additional recording by Pete Millrose and Keaton Comiskey. Mixed and co-produced by Howie Lindeman, Howie’s Mix House. Mastered by Greg Calbi, Sterling Sound.
Strings and winds arranged, contracted, and conducted by Paul Roberts.
Special assistance and oversight of Houston Person and Warren Vaché session by Anne Phillips.
TDLB was recorded in 10 sessions in four cities over three years. Most tracks were recorded in Kansas City (Sept. 24-25 and Oct. 10, 2018, and Mar. 26-27, July 29-30, Aug. 24, and Sept. 19, 2019). Some guest artist tracks were recorded in New York (Nov. 15 and Dec. 15, 2018), Nashville (Jan. 20, 2019), and Bremen, Germany, (April 14, 2021). Mixing and mastering took place late 2020/early 2021.
Forty years ago, John Armato played one of his first jam sessions. That's where the story of "The Drummer Loves Ballads,"
and the album itself, begins. A Kansas City native, New York City ex-pat, and now Sacramento resident, Armato appears on the CDs "Claudette," by vocalist Claudette Stone and "Comfort" by praise singer Lisa Bloecher. "The Drummer Loves Ballads" is his first release as leader....more
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