(The Vault) The Roots of Reggae Drumming with Gil Sharone

Drum History

(May 2021) Gil is a world renowned drummer who shares his deep passion and knowledge for Reggae drumming in this great episode. He takes us through all the sub genres such as ska, rocksteady, dub, and dancehall. Plus he teaches us about the legends in Reggae drumming such as Lloyd Knibb and Carlton Barrett and the gear that these Jamaican drummers would use when playing with icons such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Lee Perry and many more.

Here is some more info on Gil:

Los Angeles native, Gil Sharone, is highly regarded as one of the most versatile session and touring drummers in the world, who is known for his creativity, authenticity and strong pocket. He is a multiple-time industry award winner as a drummer, but will often wear other hats as a co-writer, producer, and an educator/clinician.

Gil came to notoriety in the rock world as a former member of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Puscifer, Marilyn Manson, Stolen Babies and Team Sleep. However, he is widely known as an expert in other genres. Reggae, ska and rocksteady were part of his earliest influences along with jazz, funk, hip hop and fusion.

Gil has established himself in the Jamaican drumming styles, authoring an award winning DVD and book entitled Wicked Beats, after playing with legends Eek-A-Mouse, HR of Bad Brains, Dave Wakeling of The English Beat, Fishbone, Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra and more recently with Slightly Stoopid, Morgan Heritage, and his current reggae/dub outfit, Gil, Migs and Rog.

Gil is also an active member of a genre bending music collective, Saudade, where you can hear his jazz fusion collaborations with jazz greats John Medeski, David Torn, Robert Thomas Jr., Dr. Know and Chuck Doom.

Gil’s work further extends into the film/television world, working with composers Tyler Bates and Paul Haslinger. His work can be heard in Deadpool 2, Guardians of The Galaxy 2, all three John Wick movies, The Punisher (Netflix), Kingdom and Stumptown. He has also contributed both as a player and co-writer on the DC Comics: Dark Nights Metal Soundtrack, and his most recent work can be heard in the musical score for the live action Cirque du Soleil show, R.U.N.