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The Landing - Greg Landes

Greg Landes’ setup for the Off Broadway production of The Landing at the Vineyard Theatre in New York City.

Greg's write-up below photos.

Greg Landes’ setup for the Off Broadway production of The Landing at the Vineyard Theatre in New York City.Greg Landes’ setup for the Off Broadway production of The Landing at the Vineyard Theatre in New York City.Greg Landes’ setup for the Off Broadway production of The Landing at the Vineyard Theatre in New York City.Greg Landes’ setup for the Off Broadway production of The Landing at the Vineyard Theatre in New York City.Greg Landes’ setup for the Off Broadway production of The Landing at the Vineyard Theatre in New York City.

“I was asked by Musical Supervisor David Loud to come on board for a brand new show that had been gestating for the last few years at The Vineyard Theatre in New York City by the legendary John Kander and his new writing partner Greg Pierce. I was told it would involve a lot of mallet playing including marimba, vibes, xylophone etc, with some percussion as well. Larry Hochman was orchestrating. As the music slowly dribbled in I could see this was going to be a very challenging percussion book. Once we got into rehearsals it was a huge challenge to quickly negotiate and figure out how I was going to play everything. My experiences with my piano and percussion duo, Synchronicity, were invaluable in figuring out the best setup and choreography to accomplish successfully playing the demanding parts.

The set up includes: 4.3 octave marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, crotales, temple blocks, bass drum, snare drum, assorted cymbals, Mark tree, fight bell, and of course two triangles outfitted on Miller Machines. The use of the Miller Machines was absolutely imperative for performing this show. At any given time I am playing with 4 xylophone mallets, 2 yarn mallets and 2 bell mallets in my hands, or 2 snare drum sticks and a bell mallet in my hands. The use of a small violin bow on the vibraphone made for a very beautiful and haunting effect needed in the 3rd part of the show. Larry Hochman left the execution of his orchestrations in my hands which required some fancy hand and footwork to accomplish.

The show was scored for cello, woodwinds, piano, and percussion and four cast members. It was highly exposed chamber music and made for a beautifully intimate exchange between stage and orchestra and a very unique theatre experience. I have never performed a show or percussion book like this in my 20+ years working in the New York City theatre world and it was a thrilling, inspiring and joyful experience for me.”

Greg is a proud endorser of Paiste Cymbals and Innovative Percussion.

The Landing - Off Broadway - Greg Landes
October 2013 thru November 2013

Greg Landes’ setup for the Off Broadway production of The Landing at the Vineyard Theatre in New York City.

"Conducting a National Tour is incredibly challenging, but so rewarding. Stepping on to the podium with a new orchestra every few weeks really keeps you on your toes. Every player responds differently so you are constantly adjusting to get the desired result. I would compare it to playing a multi-percussion piece where the instruments are constantly moving."
"After a grueling four years at SUNY I still had one theory class left to finish. I was really depressed. A classmate of mine recommended me for a tour of a Broadway show. This completely changed the course of my life."
"When I first got the call to start working on Ain’t Too Proud - The Life And Times Of The Temptations, I was curious about which era the show was going to focus on. Their career began in the early 1960’s and they’re still releasing albums today."

Ron Grassi's drum set setup for Mean Girls at Archbishop Performing Arts, in Warminster, Pennsylvania.

"The main challenge that I found with this show was the very quick instrument and stick changes. Having a good pair of swizzle sticks is necessary to go from tambourine to timpani and sometimes rolls on the concert bass drum."
"The real impetus of this book is the timpani. It is definitely the driving force for the percussion inBack to the Future and it requires a big articulate sound and once again Yamaha with the Evans Orchestral White Opaque Heads just deliver."

Gene Krupa's drum solo from "Gene's Blues" from the album Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich released November 1955.

Steve Jordan's drum solo from the title track of the album Casa Loco.
Robbie Ameen's drum solo from the track "Spring Fling".

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