VIC FIRTH ARTIST
TOMMY IGOE

For the last 20 years, Tommy Igoe has lived and worked in New York while touring internationally several months of every year. Recordings or tours include artists such as Stanley Jordan, Art Garfunkel, Lauryn Hill, Dave Grusin, New York Voices, Patti Austin, Mark Mancina, Blood, Sweat and Tears and David Wilcox.

Recently he wrote the drum book for Disney's now legendary broadway musical, “The Lion King”, integrating the modern day drum set into the heavily percussive African score. The Lion King cast album received a Grammy. In addition to drumming, he also serves as assistant conductor of the show.

Lately, his attention has been turned to his solo career. The debut CD, “New Ground”, received numerous 4 star reviews from international music magazines. Modern Drummer Magazine said, “A new drumming power", "breathtaking", and "inventive and disarmingly strong". His anticipated follow-up recording is currently in production.

In addition to his private teaching/recording studio, Tommy has created several of the leading education DVD products currently available. "Getting Started on Drums", has set a new benchmark for quality and content that had never been available before for the beginning drummer. The "Groove Essentials" DVD and "Groove Essentials: The Playalong" book are standards for the drumset student.

VIDEO INTERVIEW SERIES:

 Installment 1: “Growing Up Igoe”
  Tommy talks about what it was like growing up as the son of legendary drummer Sonny Igoe and some of the lessons he learned along the way.
 Installment 2: Going on the Road and Getting the Gig with Lion King
  One year out of high school and Tommy goes on the road with the Glenn Miller Band. Here's how he copes and began working as a sub for Broadway shows.
 Installment 3: Composing, Playing and Conducting “The Lion King”
  Tommy talks about the in’s and out’s of composing the drumset parts for Lion King, as well as the demands required to play and conduct a Broadway musical.
 Installment 4: Tommy's Recommendations for Becoming a Broadway “Sub”
  Entering the world of subbing on Broadway is more difficult than you might think. Tommy gives you some great recommendations.
 Installment 5: Thoughts on the “Groove Essentials”
  Tommy talks about how he uses the Groove Essentials with his students.
 Installment 6: PASIC Clinic: “Applying the Rudimental Vocabulary to the Drumset”
  From his popular clinic at the Percussive Arts Society International Clinic in 2005, Tommy draws upon his DCI experience in the Bayonne Bridgemen to discuss the common pitfalls that many marching percussionists have when approaching the drumset. Tommy also applies his concepts to several of the tunes from his book, "Groove Essentials: The PlayAlong."


Tommy Igoe's Vic Firth stick of choice:
American Classic® 5A
The world's best selling drumstick! Tear drop tip for rich cymbal sounds. Light and fast for jazz, orchestral and pit work.
L=16", Dia.=.565"

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: TOMMY IGOE'S “FRIDAY NIGHT BIG BAND”
      Check out our clips from BIRDLAND in New York City! New tunes added weekly!

 Clip 1: Norwegian Wood
 Clip 2: Lover Come Back to Me
 Clip 3: Runaway
 Clip 4: No More Blues
 Clip 5

Tommy's Groove Essentials DVD is based on the Groove Essentials poster created by Tommy Igoe and Vic Firth. Mastering these patterns will greatly expand your knowledge while allowing you to become a more well-rounded player with the confidence to perform in virtually any musical situation.

Styles include 8th-note, 16th-note and half-time Rock; Jazz waltz, shuffle and swing; R&B, Hip-Hop and Funk as well as World music styles. Tommy thoroughly explains each groove, breaking each down to it's basic elements and performing each one with and without a live band rhythm track at two different tempos.

Check out our GROOVE ESSENTIALS FEATURE, with 12 sample grooves!

Groove Essentials/The Play-Along offers a focused and interactive groove experience for drummers of every skill level with more than six hours of music! Including are professional charts, multiple tempos, groove variations and 88 separate tracks that explore all 47 grooves from the DVD. Additionally, you'll find three “Global Tour” tracks that are 15-minute journeys through all the grooves and feels you've learned.

• BEGINNING DRUMMERS will enjoy playing simple rock beats with a real band, giving them a chance to play the drums with good, solid time, utilizing 4-way coordination.

• INTERMEDIATE DRUMMERS will have a chance to tackle some syncopated 16th-notegrooves in the funk and R&B sections and also start playing good, swinging jazz.

• ADVANCED AND PROFESSIONAL DRUMMERS will find twenty challenging World grooves to master, as well as the opportunity to try an infinite number of different feels on jazz shuffles, jazz waltzes, and R&B tunes.

The CD features all of the rhythm tracks in MP3 format , so that they can be downloaded into your computer (Mac or PC) and moved to your iPod, or any portable MP3 player. The disc is also playable in all MP3-capable CD and DVD players.