641 – E.J. Strickland: Patience is Key
E.J. Strickland, like all of us, is a product of his environment. Growing up in a household full of music, he learned later in life that his father was a percussionist. That, coupled the with the fact that his brother, Marcus, discovered the saxophone the same time E.J. discovered the drums, his musical course was charted. Many would chalk up E.J.’s success to his upbringing, and while that had a lot to do with it, Strickland has worked hard – very hard – over the years.
His patient approach to honing is craft and his never-ending thirst for knowledge has landed him work with a slew of Jazz luminaries like Ravi Coltrane, David Weiss, & Marcus Strickland (his twin brother saxophonist) Nneenna Freelon, David Sanchez, Cassandra Wilson, Lizz Wright, and many others. He’s also released a handful of records under his own name and tours internationally to fans around the world.
The more patience we have with ourselves, the sooner we’ll get there.
E.J. Strickland
E.J. Strickland talks about:
- Growing up in a house full of music
- How he fell in love the with the drums
- What he does to get better at playing with others
- How his skill at the drums developed
- Some of the best advice he’s received about his drumming
- How to get around better drums to learn more
- How he prioritizes elements of his practicing
- What it feels like to perform again after the pandemic
- How he thinks live music has changed since the lockdown
Resources/Links mentioned:
- Contact E.J.: Website | Facebook | Instagram
- The Music Tells You (film)
- Rudimental Ritual by Alan Dawson
- Fire Shut Up in My Bones