Jay Bellerose (July 2005 Issue)
Vintage Twists With Joe Henry

Watching Jay Bellerose climb behind his kit as troubadour Joe Henry walks on stage is an eye-catching moment. The mishmash assortment of vintage drum gear looks just as likely to fall apart as it does to offer uniquely resounding percussive tones. "I'm more comfortable sitting behind something that looks like a pawnshop kit than a DW kit fresh out of a box," Bellerose admits with a chuckle.

That philosophy certainly carries over to Bellerose's live dates. He settled into a 1957 Gretsch Black Diamond Pearl round-badge kit for Beck's 2003 summer tour. He used the same kit for recent studio dates with Paula Cole, Solomon Burke, and Sam Phillips.

"I love vintage drums," Jay admits. "I love the way they look, feel, and sound. They just make sense to me. Probably what a lot of drummers hate about them is that they're inconsistent, but I love that. I love that I never know what's going to come out of them when I hit them from one day to the next. That adds a certain drama to the music."

While Jay continues to create eclectic kits - he recently added a cocktail and Carleton King combo to his collection'the key is evolving as a player. "I love these little gear things that come in and out of my life," Jay offers. "They just shoot me off in another direction. That's what makes music grow, all these elements popping in and giving us these little twists. I thrive on that."

David John Farinella

Back