Shaping Your Journey- Aldo Mazza & Guests

Shaping Your Journey with Karl Perazzo

In this episode of Shaping Your Journey, my special guest Karl Perazzo talks about how he was born into a musical family and he began playing Latin music at age two which shaped his particular interest in Afro-Cuban percussion instruments. At the age of seven, he played in a band that his mother and father created, which later became a gateway for him to perform with Cal Tjader, while Karl was only in 6th grade. He then on to play with Sheila E and eventually he became a permanent member of the group Santana.

Shaping Your Journey with Linda Pimentel

In this episode of Shaping Your Journey, my special guest is the great marimba artist Linda Pimentel. Linda recounts her journey from learning piano to moving on to specializing in marimba. She then went on to become one of the pioneers as a solo marimba artist. She continued her journey, obtaining a PhD and teaching at University inspiring countless others

Shaping Your Journey with Rich Mangicaro

In this episode of Shaping Your Journey, my special guest Rich Mangicaro explains his varied talents both as a percussionist and drummer performing and/or recording with many of music’s most influential artists such as the late Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Jeff Bridges, Aaron Neville, The Tubes, James Morrison, David Crosby, Jackson Browne and many more. He held the position of head of Artist Relations for Paiste for nearly 2 decades and is currently Artist Relations manager of Gon Bops and Innovative Percussion.

Shaping Your Journey with Cyro Baptista

In this episode of Shaping Your Journey, my special guest percussionist Cyro Baptista recounts his path from growing up in Brazil where he was exposed to the rich culture of Brazilian music and its rhythms, to then moving to New York where he went on to becoming an in-demand percussionist working and recording with such greats as Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Trey Anastasio Wynton Marsalis and countless others!

Shaping Your Journey with Frank Bellucci

In this episode of Shaping Your Journey, my special guest Frank Bellucci discusses how he became enamoured with playing music at the young age of five and actually started gigging at the age of ten! His passion led him down the path to becoming one of New York City's outstanding session drummers, an in-demand educator and clinician.

Shaping Your Journey with Mike Balter

In this episode of Shaping Your Journey, my special guest Mike Balter recounts his early beginnings in Chicago, studying with such drum icons as Roy Knapp and then pursuing his studies in Los Angeles with Louie Bellson. Mike then went on to work at the famous "Frank's Drum Shop" while keeping up his performance career which won him a spot in the Disney All-American College Band. He was house percussionist at Chicago's Schubert Theatre where he performed with many worldclass artists such as Frank Sinatra/musicals and more. Mike began creating his own mallets 'Mike Balter Mallets" to become the biggest mallet company in the world.

Shaping Your Journey with Mike Terrana

In this episode of Shaping Your Journey, my special guest Mike Terrana explains his journey growing up in Buffalo, New York and then moving to Toronto, Canada where he began his professional drumming career playing with the band Hanover Fist. He then moved to LA to work with various guitarists such as Steve Lukather and then his journey took him to the Netherlands, Germany and Italy where he continues to be an in-demand hard-rock and heavy metal drummer.

Shaping Your Journey with Gordon Gottlieb

In this episode of Shaping Your Journey, my special guest Gordon Gottlieb discusses his extremely versatile career from being a member of the New York Philharmonic, and performing with several other orchestras such as the London Symphony and the Chicago Symphony, to performing with such iconic superstars as Michael Jackson and Steely Dan. He taught at Yale and Julliard and was repeatedly invited to teach at the KoSA international Percussion Workshops.

Shaping Your Journey with Luis Conte

In this episode of Shaping Your Journey, my special guest Luis Conte recounts his journey from his beginnings in his native country of Cuba where he grew up literally immersed in music. This fueled his passion for a life dedicated to playing music and when he moved to the U.S, he quickly became a very in-demand percussionist playing with such great artists as Phil Collins, Jackson Browne, Madonna, Celine Dion, to name but a few and including being in the house band of the annual Grammy awards.

Shaping Your Journey with Michael Baker

In this episode of Shaping Your Journey, my special guest Michael Baker explains his varied journey growing up in a musical environment where even his church choir in Edmonton, Manitoba was made up of very talented singers who went on to be professionals. His interest in the world of percussion led him to becoming a percussion major, a symphony performer and a soloist, and a successful creator of “Sofbags” cases for percussion instruments and MB mallets - specially designed and manufactured custom-made tympani mallets. He is the founding member of Symphony Nova Scotia, as well as founding principal timpanist of the Mexico City Philharmonic.