Clifford Koufman is a Nashville-based, award-winning drummer who founded Sound & Rhythm Studio in 2000. With over 20 years of experience, Clifford carries a world of experience to every scenario, whether creating music, making videos, or teaching.

Clifford is in the process of creating a film about the drummer/composer Ra Kalam Bob Moses. Clifford has interviewed jazz music icon, Pat Metheny as well as Mike Calabrese of the band Lake Street Dive. Clifford Produced a recording session in New Orleans with music luminaries Bill Summers, Johnny Vidacovich, and Tony Dagradi.

“Clifford is an awesome teacher: he is very patient and encouraging, and challenges you to do things you never thought you could — but can.”
— AUDRA L

LIVING MUSIC: A FILM ABOUT RA KALAM BOB MOSES

About the Film

Ra Kalam Bob Moses has influenced generations of musicians and has played with Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Charles Mingus, and many other greats. Unfortunately, Moses recently received a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. My aim for this film is to help him tell his own story while there is still time.

The film will follow Moses’ journey from his early days jamming with jazz legends in New York to his rise as an artist who has transcended genres and styles. Moses is known for his albums Bittersuite in the Ozone and When Elephants Dream of Music, and for his contributions to Pat Metheny’s Bright Size Life, an album that was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry. Moses has developed a philosophy of “living music” by which he mentors musicians seeking creative freedom.

The most unconventional music lesson of my life led to this project…

PRESS & PODCASTS

The Tangentially Speaking interview Starts at the twenty-four-minute mark.

  • "Clifford has clearly put a lot of thought into how to make zoom learning easy and efficient for his students. Straight from Nashville, the Sound and Rhythm Drumming School rocks!"

    — Jacquee D

  • "Clifford told me he can teach anyone how to drum and after my first lesson I can see why. He is a very good teacher, calm and patient. Clifford explains everything clearly and he has good knowledge of drums. I'm excited and I'm looking forward to continuing on."

    — Glen L

  • "I am deeply grateful to Clifford because I met my husband in his drum class! He even drummed us down the aisle at our wedding. You never know what magic you may discover at Clifford’s classes so don’t hesitate to sign up. You might just fall in love - at least you will with drumming."

    — Julie R

Clif Chats was started as the effects of the pandemic were being felt by all of us.

The goal was to connect with creative people through conversation and to broadcast live to social media as a way to offer insights and enjoyment to listeners.

Some of the people who have been on the show are Rich Redmond (Jason Aldean), Oliver Charles & Leon Mobley (Ben Harper’s drummers), Ben Sesar (Brad Paisley), Viktor Krauss (Robert Plant & Allison Krauss), Herlin Riley, Johnny Vidacovich, Danny De Los Reyes & Chris Fryar (Zac Brown Band), Danny Barnes, Jonathan Scales, Taku Hirano (Fleetwood Mac & Whitney Houston), Jeff Sipe (Aquarium Rescue Unit), Danny Gottlieb, Arthur Hull, Kenny Werner (Effortless Mastery), Ra Kalam Bob Moses & Billy Martin (MMW).