Day of Percussion Sets Sights on Drum Sets

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 2, 2011) — The Kentucky Day of Percussion returns this year with an all-star lineup of local, national and internationally recognized drum set artists including jazz drummer, educator, author and percussion product designer Steve Fidyk. The PAS (Percussive Arts Society) Kentucky Day of Percussion, featuring Fidyk, will run from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5, in the University of Kentucky Singletary Center for the Arts.

Fidyk has earned national and international acclaim. In addition to his international appearances, he is the drummer for the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble in Washington, D.C., and for Maureen McGovern, as well as co-leader of the Taylor/Fidyk Big Band (with Stan Kenton arranger Mark Taylor). Outside of his work performing, Fidyk is an educator serving as an adjunct faculty member at the Department of Jazz Studies at Temple University.

For Fidyk, rhythm is a perfect match. He has performed and recorded with a wide variety of artists, including McGovern, James Moody, New York Voices, Dick Oates, Arturo Sandoval, Doc Severinsen, Terell Stafford, Byron Stripling, Dr. Billy Taylor, Clark Terry, Tim Warfield, Bill Watrous and many others. Fidyk's discography as a leader/co-leader of recordings includes: "Big Kids" (U.S. Roots); "A Perfect Match" (Write Groove); and "Live at Blues Alley" (OA2). He can also be heard on more than 50 recordings as a contributing artist. Fidyk's lectures, clinics and workshops, bandstand and studio work are in demand.

Sponsored by the Kentucky Chapter of the PAS, the Kentucky Day of Percussion is a popular event open to drummers and percussion enthusiasts of all ages. Cost to attend the daylong event is $10 or $5 for PAS members. Sessions run from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with registration beginning in the Singletary Center lobby at 8:30 a.m. Door prizes donated by percussion manufacturers and valued at thousands of dollars will be awarded throughout the day.

Other drum set artists to present and perform at Kentucky Percussion Day include:

- Rande Sanderbeck, percussion professor at East Tennessee State University, who will demonstrate how to create a musical drum set solo;
- Andy Smith, percussionist, clinician and educator, who will explain baião, choro and maracatu in the context of Brazilian drum set performance;
- Paul Deatherage, percussion instructor at UK School of Music; pianist Raleigh Dailey, assistant professor of jazz studies at UK; and bassist and UK alumnus Danny Cecil, lecturer at Morehead State University, will demonstrate important factors of interaction and internalization of music and time; and
- Jason Tiemann, jazz drumset instructor at University of Louisville, will demonstrate practice techniques and strategies for more efficient development.

Percussion enthusiasts, teachers, band directors, students, parents and pros are all encouraged to attend this event devoted to all things drums and percussion. For more information on Kentucky Percussion Day, call (859) 948-3849 or visit the event's webpage online at: http://community.pas.org/PAS/Kentucky/Home/Default.aspx.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, (859) 257-1754 ext. 229, Whitney.Hale@uky.edu