Interview – Calvin Webb

By Kelly Meacock

Q. What shaped your thinking to be a musician?
A. The turning point for me was going to see a mate’s recital at the con and I thought, “I gotta get me some of that.” He was a jazz drummer.

Q. You have played with many different artists and bands over the years – can you list a few of them?
A. Krister Arnott, Jono Brain, Sundays Away, Brenda Chapman, Freya Hanley, several different jazz ensembles, Arrival (cover band), Supersonic (cover band), and a few other cover bands too.

Q. What instruments do you play?
A. Drums, percussion, guitar, bass. (Bass and guitar not very well though.)

Q. As a drummer do you change your drumming style greatly when you play with different artists/bands?
A. I try as much as I can to play in the style the music calls for.

Q. Do you have a favourite place where you like to rehearse/practice drumming and experiment with new styles and rhythms?
A. At home I think, but as long as the room and the drums sound good and I’m not annoying anyone else, I don’t mind.

Q. If you could own any drum kit in the world what would it be? Why?
A. I don’t think there is any one kit that would do it all. So many different sounds and styles. That said, an old vintage Gretsch bebop kit would be nice.

Q. What recordings have you been involved with? How do you find the studio recording process as a drummer?
A. I’ve done a few EPs and album recordings for people now, so I’m starting to get a little experience. I find it fun but hard work. The more you do it, the better you get, I think. Love it when I’ve got time to work on the parts and the production of the tracking.

Q. When you play a drum solo at a live gig do you prefer to improvise on the spot or do you prefer to have an arrangement rehearsed with the band beforehand?
A. Jazz gigs are improv all the way, but for other band gigs I feel I need to work on arrangements first.

Q. What have been some of the highlights of your musical career so far?
A. Meeting people and making lifelong friends. Touring with a band.

Q. What is the best thing that has happened at a live gig so far?
A. It’s not much but it stuck in my mind. A few years ago, I had some guy come up to me after a gig at the uni bar with Roy Martinez and Trevor Jalla and say he liked my playing. He said if I stuck with these guys, I’d be one of the best players in Perth. Not sure about that, but it was nice to hear. It was a fun gig. I think he was a muso too.

Q. You also arrange music and edit and mix and master audio and video tracks. How did this come about?
A. I think I discovered it by just doing the music thing. At the con I learnt a bit about music production and wanted to further my knowledge.

Q. Do you have any forthcoming recording projects, and are you planning a solo CD?
A. Working on our next Sundays Away CD at the moment. Also doing a few demo recordings for people too. Trying to get around to finishing a chill-out type CD I produced with a mate a few years ago. Just gotta master it and do some artwork for it, then it’s done I think.

Q. What are your next few projects planned?
A. In the next year or so I want to get a new band together with some guys I work with at a few different schools and do the funk-soul-groove thing — brass section and all. A few of my mates are brass players and don’t get the chance to play much these days with families and life getting in the way. They’d love to blow over a few old-school tunes. Would be a lot of fun, and they’re all great players. One day.