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Jazz

Asaf Sirkis Time For Space Drum Playalong

Time For Space Drums Play​-​Along by Asaf Sirkis

My teacher, Asaf, has released the instrumental tracks from his recent series’ of YouTube videos as drum playalongs. This is a really cool collection of original music that gives drummers something interesting to play along to. Time For Space Vol. 1 is not for “comfort playing”. You won’t be able to just stick a track on and play your favourite funk grooves and fills. Each tune needs a dfferent approach to filling the space and playing along to these will… Read More »Time For Space Drums Play​-​Along by Asaf Sirkis

Interview with Drummer Georges Paczynski

I’ll admit I’d never heard of Georges Paczynski before seeing this interview posted in my Facebook feed by the great street drummer, Oded Kafri. Paczynski talks about his love for jazz, for drumming and his philosophical outlook regarding pedagogy, human nature and the art of mastering oneself. The appearance of the interview coincided with a couple of students commenting on the philosophical nature of drum lessons so it seems quite apt to add here. This, I quote from the early… Read More »Interview with Drummer Georges Paczynski

How To Play The Jazz Ride (Swing) Pattern

Here’s my latest YouTube video demonstrating the way I play the swing pattern on the ride cymbal. I learned this approach from the great Ralph Salmins and find it’s a great way to play an even, relaxed and swinging jazz ride. The key thing is to spend plenty of time working on the two-for-one rebound stroke so that you produce the “ga-dang” part of the the rhythm with only one movement of the hand. You then get three sounds with… Read More »How To Play The Jazz Ride (Swing) Pattern

That Mark Guiliana Is Quite Good And Why Do I Still Want Another Ride?

Mark Guiliana Actually, Mark Guiliana is bloody incredible. I hadn’t paid all that much attention to him until this random solo happened to catch my eye in the YouTube recommendations. I first stumbled upon Guiliana while letching at the Sabian HHX Groove Ride in this video: Then I searched for more. This solo came up, I was flabbergasted! The dude’s coordination is amazing. His compositional skills, the dynamics, the tension and release and sense of humour are all evident here.… Read More »That Mark Guiliana Is Quite Good And Why Do I Still Want Another Ride?

Short Clip of Ralph Salmins With The Anthony Kerr Trio

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to watch Ralph Salmins playing a jazz set with The Anthony Kerr Trio at the Royal College Of Music’s Percussion Festival which takes place annually at the end of June. Any drummer or percussionist would be insane to miss this amazing event which included clinics by Ralph and Jojo Mayer, percussion workshops, performances by classical percussionists and drum corps and a big band show with the college’s student band with Jojo playing… Read More »Short Clip of Ralph Salmins With The Anthony Kerr Trio