When did you first know you had been a drummer? axolotly
I nonetheless don’t know if I’m a “drummer”! Typically folks imply percussion – like congas and timbales – and typically they imply drum set, which wasn’t a factor for me till I performed with George Duke within the mid-70s. My dad [Pete Escovedo, a well-known Mexican American jazz percussionist] performed and practised on the home daily. I’d have heard him whereas I used to be in my mom’s womb. I couldn’t attain his percussion devices so my mum would put the pots and pans on the ground and I’d bang alongside on these. I performed with a neighborhood band after I was 15 and I discovered rather a lot from Billy Cobham, and would play his drums for a minute, however sitting in with George Duke for one tune was sufficient to begin me enjoying drums.
Was there something that stopped you progressing as a feminine musical artist and have these issues lessened at the moment? Whovian79
Rising up in Oakland, California there have been lots of jam periods within the streets and parks. Numerous younger ladies would carry shakers, djembes and such. As soon as I knew I may play, I’d go to concert events and ask if I may sit in. A number of instances they mentioned no so I’d go to the opposite aspect of the stage and get somebody to say sure. As soon as I left house and began flying to Los Angeles to play with different artists I did expertise male chauvinism – “You’re a lady. Women don’t play drums” – till phrase of mouth was that Sheila Escovedo can play. Now there are extra feminine drummers and percussionists all around the world. I message them on social media and simply say: “Hey, I’m a fan.” There’s so many who I attain out to every day.
Is it true that you simply and Prince went straight into the studio in the course of the evening and recorded the wonderful Erotic Metropolis instantly after seeing Parliament-Funkadelic reside? Bauhaus66
We did go see Parliament-Funkadelic. I don’t assume we went into the studio proper after, however Erotic Metropolis was the primary tune we recorded collectively. I had simply moved to LA and hadn’t even completed unpacking after I went into the studio to sing that tune. Clearly you may’t start to guess that there will probably be so many extra, however we performed collectively for a very long time.
It will need to have been unimaginable to play with each Diana Ross and Stevie Surprise. What are your favorite tracks of theirs to play? axolotly
Ain’t No Mountain Excessive Sufficient with Diana Ross – “Miss Ross” on the time – and something from Stevie’s Songs within the Key of Life. He created and performed lots of his drum beats however he let me play no matter I needed and we performed rather well collectively, simply jamming. One time he referred to as asking if I remembered enjoying on a specific tune on one in all his data, and I mentioned: “I feel it’s you.” We sat there arguing over who was enjoying. I went away to hearken to it and referred to as him again. I nonetheless imagine it was him and he thinks it was me!
Is it true that you simply performed water bottles on Michael Jackson’s Don’t Cease ’til You Get Sufficient? VerulamiumParkRanger
I did. Quincy [Jones, producer] referred to as me and mentioned: “There’s some sounds that Michael is making within the studio. We don’t know what percussion instrument it’s, however perhaps you may determine it out. Deliver all of your stuff.” I confirmed up on the studio with circumstances of drugs, listened to Michael and determined to fill small bottles up with water and tune them to the monitor. That little “dink dink” is me, enjoying on the bottles utilizing the steel piece used to play a triangle. I’ve used hairbrushes, spatulas, issues from the kitchen, my automobile keys, the compressed air sprays that blow mud off computer systems as a hi-hat. As soon as I bit an apple, sampled it and layered it over my snare drum to make it sound extra crunchy. I feel what’s saved me within the enterprise is pondering outdoors the field.
What are your abiding recollections of enjoying with Marvin Gaye? DaveSimpson
I used to play [along to] the rhythm to What’s Going On and on the varsity bus the children would say: “Play that beat on the window.” So lastly attending to play that conga beat with Marvin was fairly unimaginable [she played with him on his final tour in 1983]. Throughout rehearsals my brother was within the percussion part. I began enjoying that rhythm and the entire orchestra began dancing. It felt so wonderful I hit an additional beat. Marvin was such a softly spoken, mild and sort man, however he instantly yelled on the mic: “Hey! What’s that? Somebody performed an additional beat.” Twenty-six folks within the orchestra circled. I used to be scared to loss of life and blamed it on my brother. However that was a vital lesson: it’s vital to know when to not play.
You performed a fictionalised model of your self within the 1985 city cult hip-hop traditional Krush Groove. What recollections do you’ve of creating the movie? VerulamiumParkRanger
I used to be coming off the Purple Rain tour and I used to be so exhausted I wasn’t even positive if I needed to do it. Run-DMC had been in it together with LL Cool J and all these guys. I flew to New York to audition with Blair Underwood, the principle actor, so they may see if we had chemistry. I used to be extraordinarily nervous as a result of I’d by no means acted. My largest reminiscence is that it was the worst potential time to get the largest blemish on my nostril! It regarded like a horn. I used to be so embarrassed I couldn’t even focus. I didn’t even know if I’d bought the gig or not. All I may take into consideration was this huge blemish.
Are there any tracks that you simply recorded with Prince nonetheless in his vault that you simply hope will probably be launched sometime? Neil101
In 1989 or thereabouts he and I listened again to at the least 200 songs. I don’t know how a lot I’ve performed with him however there’s rather a lot! It’s so way back and I can’t bear in mind one explicit tune which hasn’t come out, however there have been so many and typically we’d simply jam; that will be recorded and go into the vault, whether or not it turned a tune or not. It was simply fixed, fixed recording. So there are actually a whole lot and a whole lot.
What did you study from making Bailar, your first salsa album? VerulamiumParkRanger
Rising up as a Latin jazz artist, salsa isn’t my go-to so I knew it will be musically very difficult. I needed to do a few cowl songs to play homage to Tito Puente, Celia Cruz and Cheo Feliciano and the Fania All-Stars. The difficult half was to make it sound genuine but additionally herald parts of jazz, Latin, R&B and pop. It took longer than I anticipated to get it proper and get the best folks on the file. Rubén Blades hardly says sure to anybody so it was essential to get him singing Anacaona, a Cheo Feliciano tune. Getting Gloria Estefan was only a pleasure, after which folks I’d by no means met earlier than like Víctor Manuelle or Debi Nova. El Canario is a type of outdated guys who’s sung with everybody – the true deal. It was stunning and very enjoyable to place collectively and I’m nonetheless on a excessive from enjoying our first present with it final week.
You’ve been an enormous inspiration to me as a drummer and I need to thanks. Do you’ve a favorite feminine drummer? TanyaistheG
My favorite feminine drummer rising up was Karen Carpenter. I noticed her on tv together with her brother [in the Carpenters] and thought: “Oh wow, a feminine drummer, identical to me.” I felt like we had been equals though I used to be in all probability 10 years outdated! I’ve since seen black and white footage of feminine drummers, even all-female bands, however she was singing like she did and enjoying drums and all these different issues 50 years in the past when no one was doing that. Simply unimaginable.
I just lately watched a documentary in regards to the We Are the World charity single in 1985. Have been you disenchanted that you simply didn’t find yourself with a extra outstanding half on the file? Prestonian79
No. It was what it was on the time. I used to be in awe at my first ever reside efficiency on tv for the American music awards in entrance of the world. It was one of many largest exhibits on the time, I used to be on the Purple Rain tour and [Grammy nominated solo album] The Glamorous Life was out, so to have the ability to persuade the community to show the lights down in order that my sticks would glow was a giant deal. What occurred that evening [a promised solo vocal on the record never materialised] was a bit of disheartening, however the actuality of why we had been there was an important half, elevating cash for those that wanted assist. It’s a for ever second in my life that I’m nonetheless pleased with.
What’s your favorite drum rudiment to practise? ChristiaanMuadDib
I didn’t study technical drumming at school. I don’t learn music and I don’t do rudiments. I write music by ear, play a number of issues and simply embellish. I can go “par-a-diddle” however technically it’s at all times been single strokes or double strokes and that’s it!
Is there an achievement that you simply really feel has handed you by? patriciapolloy
Nothing’s handed me by. As you become older, issues change and what you’re feeling is vital in life and what you write about additionally adjustments. If I take a look at my discography I feel: “Wow, that’s rather a lot.” It’s a blessing, however I’ve by no means been caught within the 80s. Individuals at all times need to return to that, however I’m far more than that. So high of my bucket record is to proceed. I actually hope folks take pleasure in the brand new file as a result of I imagine it’s one of many biggest I’ve performed up to now.
