Sad news just coming across the internets that legendary rock ‘n’ roller Lou Reed has died. I’m pretty fond of Transformer and New York and despite not being a huge fan of the Velvets, I have a lingering affection for the band as my dear departed friend Hetty’s husband, Angus, used to be their drummer before quitting in the early days. Hetty said that Angus wrote some of the early tunes. Anyway, Lou kept it going through the years and… Read More »Lou Reed Est Mort!
Here’s my ten beginners’ fills in a convenient Youtube playlist. These should all be pretty straightforward for beginners and every one can be used in rock, pop, funk and any other popular styles of music, and some unpopular ones too :-).
This is sage advice but not so easy to follow. As a nouveau jazzer, I find myself thinking about everything too much. I get pages of Riley flashing through my head mid-performance. I’m playing in a restaurant so I am thinking about keeping the volume down and thinking about whether the next thing I do will be too loud. I think about tensions arising in different body parts, my posture, what drum-striking implements I need in the next song. I… Read More »Don’t Think!
Sad news to hear of Ronald Shannon Jackson’s recent demise. Although he was well known for his avant garde jazz playing, I am familiar mostly with his work with James “Blood” Ulmer. Jackson’s drumming is very gritty to my ears, and he plays with a wonderful touch. Here is a great clip – Jazz is the Teacher.
This interview with Ginge is brilliant, he’s got no time for a bunch of silly questions from a music journalist. Quoth Frank Zappa, “Most rock journalism is people who can’t write, interviewing people who can’t talk, for people who can’t read.” In lieu of a more substantial and long overdue post, read it here.
I saw Ralph Salmins at a clinic put on by my old teacher, Phil Solomon, in Brighton a few years back. Ralph’s playing and approach were presented in a fun and informative way and his professionalism and practical attitude towards his work as one of the UK’s leading session drummers was inspiring. I asked Ralph for a lesson but due to complicated schedules, we couldn’t find a suitable date. My next meeting with Ralph was at this year’s Ultimate Drum… Read More »Lesson with Ralph Salmins
Been trawling YouTube for recordings of songs I need to learn for a new project wot I’m working on and happened upon this version of Billy Strayhorn’s Take The A-Train. I’ve seen the late Michel Petrucciani a couple of times in the past but not with this particular combo. Steve Gadd is just wonderful here, his light touch a marvel to behold. Drummers, you don’t need gear or seven-way coordination. You just need a thimblefull of this good stuff. Listen… Read More »That Steve Gadd Bloke is Pretty Good
Frank at JPF Amplification (London Amp Repairs and Custom Amp Builders) sent me a link to this fantastic live set from Black Sabbath circa 1970. Bill Ward is an amazing drummer who isn’t mentioned as often as some other legendary 70’s rock drummers but he’s a real original. Heavy metal was just loud funk back then. Yeah. If you don’t have time to watch the whole thing, check out this splendid clip showing the drum tech setting Bill’s kit up… Read More »A Bit of Black Sabbath
So, where was I? Oh yes, John Riley. John Riley’s clinic was, for me, the highlight of the RCM’s Festivl of Percussion. It was a treat to see a talk by the guy who’s book is such an essential part of drumming education. The presentation was at core a walk through the history of the drumkit which was told very engagingly with the accompaniment of samples of the drumming of each era. We were introduced to the topic with the… Read More »The Royal College of Music Festival of Percussion Part 2
This past Sunday I met up with my dad just behind the Albert Hall in Kensington and went to the RCM’s (Royal College of Music) Festival of Percussion. It was a brilliant day out with an amazingly broad range of percussion-related performances and activities. The styles on offer included rock and jazz drum kit, Western classical percussion, “World” music, “Latin” music, military snare drumming and that very important part of music, selling stuff. The packed schedule had enough in it… Read More »The Royal College of Music Festival of Percussion