In this episode, I sit down with drummer Jordan Perlson for a deep dive into collaboration, sound, and how we listen to music in 2025. I’ve admired Jordan’s playing for a long time, especially with Becca Stevens, and it was a joy to finally talk with him about his journey and how he thinks about music.

We start with how he first connected with Becca Stevens and her band in New York, and what it means to show up as a collaborator while still protecting your own musical “mission statement.” Jordan talks about the tension between being a supportive hired gun and staying true to his instincts – and how, as he gets older, it’s harder to ignore that inner compass.

Jordan shares some of the drummers who have shaped his ears over the years, from John Bonham and Will Calhoun to Bill Stewart and Jay Bellerose – and why the “magic” of certain players only grows with time. We get into Bellerose’s multi-percussionist approach to the drum set, compensating for supposed “weaknesses,” and how those limitations can actually lead to a more unique sound.

From there, we talk about Jordan’s move from New York to Nashville in 2016:  what he was (and wasn’t) seeing in 10-year-old versions of himself on the New York scene, and why he decided to build a life in a place where quality of life and long-term sustainability felt more achievable. I loved hearing how his “wide net” hustle in New York evolved into a more focused, intentional approach in Nashville, where his priority list was: Jeff Coffin, Victor Krauss, Adrian Belew – and then figuring out how to be musically meaningful to them.

Jordan also shares beautiful stories from touring with Adrian Belew, including Adrian’s fearlessness as a guitarist, singer, and composer, and what it’s like to sit inside that kind of energy every night.

We spend a good chunk of time talking about how we listen to music now versus how we listened when we grew up. Jordan reflects on the difference between buying a record or cassette for one song and then slowly falling in love with the deep cuts, versus today’s playlist culture, where it’s easy to skip anything that doesn’t hit instantly. We compare notes on hearing albums at 14 versus revisiting them in our late 40s, and how our relationship with certain songs completely changes over time.

Later in the episode, we get into:

• Growing up outside Philadelphia, going to Berklee, and why classical percussion never really clicked for Jordan, beyond a love of snare drum and books like Portraits in Rhythm
• His experience teaching – from a stint at MTSU to working with already-professional drummers looking to refine specific skills – and why an intermittent, online-friendly lesson model actually fits his students best.
• His work with Guthrie Trapp’s trio (and their weekly gig at the Underdog in Nashville), the expanded Guitar Party project with Guthrie, Tom Bukovac, Jed Hughes, Tim Marks, and Jimmy Wallace
• The trio with Jeff Coffin and Victor Krauss, their first record together, and the almost-finished follow-up featuring guests like Mike Stern, Jerry Douglas, Béla Fleck, and Sam Bush
• Playing on Jessica Simpson’s recent JD McPherson-produced projects and how surprising (in the best way) that music is
• The realities of remote recording from his home studio: the freedom, the creativity, the weird waiting-game around revisions, and why some magic can only happen when a band is in the room together

Jordan is thoughtful, honest, and funny, and this conversation felt like hanging out with a friend who happens to be one of the most musical drummers on the planet. I had a great time talking with him, and I think you’ll really enjoy hearing how he sees the instrument, the industry, and the future of making records.

To learn more about Jordan, please visit his website.

Music from the Episode:
e (The Adrian Belew Power Trio)

Thank you for listening. If you have questions, feedback, or ideas for the show, please email me at [email protected].