553 - Ben Koller: Drumming for Converge, High On Fire, Advocating for Artists Through the "Heavy Music Collective"

Cassius Goens III is active on the Indianapolis scene primarily as a jazz drummer but he gets into plenty of other trouble there. He’s also a professor at Ball State University in Muncie, IN where he was born and raised. He teaches jazz drumset and also leads a 15-piece commercial music ensemble in the Music, Media, and Production department there.

John Gardner is a Nashville legend who's touring credits include working with artists like Narvel Felts, John Conlee, The Dixie Chicks "Top Of The World" tour, James Taylor and The Dixie Chicks, Earl Scruggs, Don Williams and others. He has recorded with many many artists including Rhonda Vincent, Don Williams, Larry Gatlin, Porter Waggoner, Jerry Douglas, Jesse Winchester, Al Kooper, Gene Watson, Ricky Scaggs, Josh Turner, Lee Roy Parnell, Tim O'Brien, Jim and Jesse ,Jim Lauderdale, Mickey Gilley, Merle Haggard, Daily & Vincent Dierks Bentley, Earl Scruggs, Dixie Chicks Steve Wariner, Michelle Wright, Taylor Swift, Willie Nelson, Phoebe Snow, Ed Snodderly, Steep Canyon Rangers & many more From 1999 - 2002 he was the staff drummer for the Grand Ole Opry. And from 2015 - 2020 he was an adjunct professor at East Tennessee State University He was nominated for a Grammy as a band member for Earl Scruggs "The ultimateCollection, Live At The Ryman". His TV credits include The Grammys, David Letterman, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show and Saturday Night Live

Jay Moeller has spent his entire adult life and career in Austin Texas where he has played with a long list of artists and acts from covers at the dive bar to names with international reach. He has also begun to lead his own projects both live and in the studio.

A native of France, Ben Lecourt spent his childhood studying percussion with George Van Gucht of the Percussion Of Strasbourg while at conservatory in the south of France. During this time, Ben simultaneously began his discovery of bebop through private studies with various drum teachers. Spending a decade based in Paris, Ben honed his playing nightly in jazz clubs and festivals such as Montreux Jazz.

Jason Smay has been in Nashville for a decade and plays with his son, McKinley James. Prior to that, he was based in Rochester, NY and toured with JD McPherson, Los Strait Jackets, and others. He and McKinley are also part of the Nashville group The Tiger Beats with Patrick Sweany and Ted Pecchio.