James Davies: Drumming, Black Jesus Experience, Music Theatre, and the Evolution of the Podcast

This week, I’m joined by the brilliant James Davies — drummer for Black Jesus Experience and a seasoned professional in the music theatre world. Originally from Northern Victoria, James moved to Melbourne to study at Box Hill Institute, where he trained under some of the best, including Dave Beck, Tony Floyd, and Robi Parolin. Since then, he’s built a career that spans jazz, funk, drum & bass, Ethiopian rhythms, and theatre drumming, performing on productions like Groundhog Day.We start this chat a little differently—James is not only an amazing musician but also a dedicated listener of the podcast! We talk about his thoughts on how the show evolved over its first 30 episodes, and I share some of my own reflections on its direction, and what I’m trying to achieve with it. If you want to jump straight into James’ story, skip the first 10 minutes!From touring China with Black Jesus Experience to blending traditional Ethiopian music with contemporary grooves, to life as a music theatre drummer, this conversation covers a huge range of topics. James is an insightful, versatile musician with a fascinating journey—don’t miss it!