Take Five With Jochen Rueckert

Meet Jochen Rueckert:

Jochen Rueckert was born in 1975 near Koeln, Germany and started playing drums at age six. In 1995 he moved to Brooklyn, NY, where he lives now.

He has been playing and recording with a variety of bands including Marc Copland trio, Nils Wogram quartet, Kurt Rosenwinkel Group, Marc Turner Band, Chris Cheek, John Abercrombie, Sam Yahel, Pat Metheny, etc.

Jochen has been touring all over North and South America, eastern and western Europe, Asia and Australia. He is also known for his non-jazz work with NYC punk rock band Bonnie Lundy, NYC rock band Seems So Bright and electronic work with Marcus Schmickler, Jochen Bohnes, Hayden Chisholms, The inflictors, Burndt Friedman and Nublu bands, most mentionable Wax Poetic and I Led 3 Lives. He also plays bass in NYC rock band Wworldclass and programs, remixes and produces music for various artist in the electronic music/idm/breakcore sector. His programming alias is Wolff-Parkinson-White.

Instruments:

Drums, some bass, programming.

Teachers?

I studied with some Hungarian guy from age six to fourteen in Germany, who taught me the basics, then when I got interested in jazz I couldn't really find a good teacher so I didn't really study with anybody after that. I took a lesson from Bill Stewart and one from Jeff Watts when I moved to NYC, which consisted mostly of me trying to (by the way successfully) coax him into giving me one of his old Zildjan K cymbals (thanks, Jeff). I learned the most from going to Smalls every night when I got here.

Influences?

Jazz drummers. My peers. Venetian Snares. That drummer from Lightning Bolt. Hayden Chisholm.

I knew I wanted to be a musician when...

I realized it was the only skill I ever acquired. I knew I didn't want to be a musician once I figured out there's 15 hour plane rides for 75 minute concerts involved.

Your dream band:

Rage Against the Machine needs to get back together. That guy from Soundgarden is not working out.

Did you know...

I did have Wolff Parkinson White. It's a disease, look it up, it's not funny.

Also, if you know me from the Roast Beef Curtains" video from Sean Wayland's Chinese instructional DVD, it's a take on Tommy Igoe's Barbeque Chicken Drum Fill, from one of his instructional videos (look that up too, it is funny).

What is in the near future?

I just recorded Sam Yahel's piano trio record, am on the road with Nils Wogram's band a lot ( Nils Wogram is possibly the only trombone player I enjoy listening to), been doing some work with Kurt Rosenwinkel, which is an honor, being a long time fan, playing and recording with Sean Wayland (somebody give this man his own gig please).

I've been helping out in Madeleine Peyroux's band, I do every Sunday with John McNeil and Bill McHenry in Brooklyn for all eternity, I am about to release my electronic music record, my programming alias is Wolff Parkinson White. The packaging is made from velcro hook, which I had to put together myself, I am hoping it'll be as uncomfortable to touch as it is to listen to. It features a song titled "Ben Street Can Fuck Right Off."

Oh, I have written a short book, which I am getting printed right now, for Christmas.

I will be touring Asia and the south Pacific for the next three weeks, after that I hope to mainly occupy myself with Halo 3 and sleeping in regular intervals.

By Day:

Offensive question. Fortunately I never had to have a day job. When I am not rehearsing, recording, practicing, waiting in line at some Consulate, filling out jazz magazine questionnaires, chasing my landlord to fix my fridge, etc. I enjoy sitting around my apartment smoking cigarettes, drinking macchiatos and turning the stereo up to ten. I am on the road a lot, so time off at home is sacred. On nights off I enjoy what I assume most non-musicians enjoy—friends, girlfriend, food, drinks/drugs, shows, movies etc.

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