DrumJamm Drummer of the Month - Ralph Salmins
Immersed in jazz and R&B from a young age, Ralph became a professional
musician at the age of 16, when he joined Ken Mackintosh’s band.
He has toured the world playing with amongst others, Everything But The Girl, Kirk Whalum opening for Whitney
Houston, the Count Basie Orchestra and Van
Morrison’s band,
Ralph’s versatility and signature groove have established him as the
drummer of choice for producers and composers worldwide. Artists he’s worked
with in the studio include Madonna, Tori Amos, Macy Gray, Alanis Morisette,
Sheryl Crow, Kelly Rowlands, Celine Dion, John Williams, Elton John, Mike
Oldfield , George Martin, Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello, Gloria Estefan, Tom
Jones, Michel Legrand and Diana Ross. Ralph’s unique swinging feel can be
heard on Bjork’s top ten hit “It’s Oh So Quiet” and Robbie Williams’ 7x
Platinum “Swing When You’re Winning” album and live DVD. Movie composers with
whom he works regularly include Patrick Doyle, Hans Zimmer, Anne Dudley and
Mike Figgis and he has worked on the soundtracks to over 80 movies, including
Bridget Jones’s Diary, Chaplin, Donnie Brasco, Evita, Goldeneye, Great
Expectations, Love’s Labours Lost, Hamlet, Philadelphia, The Saint, Tomorrow
Never Dies, and BAFTA Award and Oscar-winning movies Gosford Park , Moulin
Rouge and Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King.
- When did you take up the drums?
When I was twelve.. I had been pestering my
parents for three years and they had promised me that if I played the piano
for three years, I could learn the drums...and so it happened!
- What's your most embarrassing moment on stage or in the studio?
I was doing
a TV show in Holland many years ago with a fantastic gospel band called Nu
Colours and there were make up girls dabbing tiny beads of sweat from my brow
every few minutes so it would look absolutely perfect. And it did until at
the end of one number I played the ending fill from hell, hit the final crash
and disappeared off the back of the stage! The show came to a halt as
everyone was unable to play for laughing!! (I believe a film of that is
around...I'd LOVE to see it!).
- How did you get to work with Robbie Williams?
I have known Steve
Sidwell, Robbie's MD on the swing stuff, for many years, and we've done loads
of sessions and gigs together. When Robbie asked Steve to get a band together
for the recording of Have You Met Miss Jones, Steve called me, as his likes
my big band playing. Robbie liked the result and that led to Swing When
You're Winning.
- What is your set up?
Click to Enlargedrum and cymbal wise This is my current set-up...Drums
Gretsch USA series in white marine pearl, Sabian cymbals.
- When did you first a really big gig, and who was it with?
Probably
Everything But The Girl in the early nineties. I did three days rehearsal and
we were off to Japan for a tour.
- What do you think is the most important thing to practice?
Time and feel. So
work with a metronome and concentrate on making the groove feel as good as
you can...all the time.
- who's your favourite 5 drummers?
1.Steve Gadd 2.Tony Williams 3. Jack
DeJohnette 4.Dave Garibaldi 5.Bernard Purdie But honestly I love all the
greats and i learn from listening to everyone I hear.
- Have you ever done a drumming grade?
Yes, I did a set-up grade 8 while at
school so I could put it towards my music A-level. There weren't any grades
for percussion at that time, so we put one together ourselves. I was lucky
enough to have James blades examine me! Luckily, I passed.
- What type of music do you like?
All good music, but I listen mostly to Jazz,
funk and R&B. My tastes are wide, though and I also love classical music.
- Who's your favourite football team?
I don't follow football at all,
although I was lucky enough to see Real Madrid play last month at home in
Madrid. The match was great and we saw Zidane score a hat trick!
- how many gigs have you done?
I've been gigging since I was 16 without a
break except for holidays.I'm now 41. I don't do so many gigs now, but in the
past, I used to do 4 or 5 gigs a week on average. When I've done shows, I
would do 8 shows a week and fit in sessions during the day. That was a
punishing schedule and some weeks would entail working 10am-10pm seven days a
week. Often the hours can be 10am-2am when I play at Ronnie Scott's.
- whats your favourite album?
Phew...Tough one to answer. I couldn't list
one, but I adore Miles Davis and Steely Dan... There's a
start!
- Who's the most amazing drummer you've seen live?
Buddy Rich
- Who has been your most influential drummer?
Steve Gadd
- Would you like to visit drumjammin Shetland?
Yes please!
- Whats the most complicated song you've ever played?
Probably The Black Page
by Frank Zappa
- Whats been your most memorable gig played?
There are many, but The Count
Basie Band at The Barbican, London was fabulous. Van Morrison in San
Fransisco 1999, perhaps. Georgie Fame Big Band live in London was also great
fun. I get a buzz from most playing situations!
