Kassa Overall, a Brooklyn based jazz drummer and producer was one of the guest instructors and performers as part of the ongoing Snow College Jazz Festival.
Growing up, Overall was influenced by the hip hop movement in the late 80s, saying that “Hip hop was something that just the kids who’s into it was almost like collecting comic books. It was like a thing that adults didn’t even really get it and it was like our little thing out on the playgrounds and then all of the sudden it blew up and it became the world’s thing”.
Overall also found inspiration by playing the drums and wanted to combine the two passions of his life, hip hop and jazz drumming saying “My whole life, it was kind of these two trees that grew up, and eventually I became a jazz drummer, but I also was making beats, it’s always been trying to figure out how to mix the two together and figure out what was my thing, which is jazz drumming”.
Overall was scheduled for three events during his time at Snow College. He first participated as one of the guest instructors for the jazz festival on February 8th. Overall was one of two guest performers along with saxophone player Chase Baird.
As part of the festival, Snow College’s music program offered an opportunity for middle school and high school jazz ensembles from throughout the region to come to Snow College, perform their set pieces, and get feedback and coaching from Overall and Baird.
When asked about young musicians following in his footsteps, Overall said that he doesn’t want anyone to repeat his way of getting into music. “You can take some of what I did, you can utilize some of my tools, but go your own path” Overall said.
“So I think if you want to follow me, you’re going to have to be ready to work really hard, just be ready for a difficult path and you got to tap into your creativity because that will guide you” Overall also said.
The next day, Overall was invited to perform and give a lecture as part of Snow College’s Convocation series. For the performance, Overall and his band improvised a 25-minute set piece with the song Who’s on the Playlist being featured as one of the songs.
During the lecture portion of the convocation, Overall mentioned that his dad was one of many mentors that helped guided him in becoming the person he is today, “my dad was an avantgarde hobbyist pianist player, and then my brother played the drums, so I followed him. Larry Jones, my first teacher in Seattle was another mentor I had, countless people inspired me, but I’ve had a lot of help to get where I am today”.
After the performance concluded, Overall and the members of the band took questions from audience members. One of the band members worked with Miley Cyrus in the past, bringing up that she was one of the nicest people he ever worked for.
Later that night, Overall performed a concert for the students of Snow, performing songs from four of his critically acclaimed albums.
Overall stated that he would be appreciative if people checked him out on his tour. “Go to my website and come see me on tour, I’m a quasi-independent artist just grinding hard, and if you dig my music, please support and please check it out”.
For more information on Kassa Overall and his music, go to http://www.kassaoverall.com.
