Brian Blade with John Pattitucci and Danilo Perez
Wow! What is this beautiful noise? Listen.
Jazz
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
Tony Allen tribute to Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
This is brilliant. Tony Allen is releasing an album of Jazz Messenger tunes played in his own inimitable style. It’s fantastic. Listen on Spotify – Tony Allen tribute to Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers and watch this live show. Just bought a ticket to see the progenitor of Afrobeat drumming at the Jazz Cafe in September.
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
Modern Drummer Article On Learning Jazz
Here’s an interesting article from Modern Drummer that Jon McCaslin linked to in a recent post on his Four On The Floor blog. It’s a bunch of drummers sharing their thoughts on the benefits in learning to play jazz. These comments made by Marc Dicciani really stuck out: 9. Life skills: We play drums because we love it, but the world doesn?t need another drummer. What it does need are creative, problem-solving critical thinkers who can help transform society. I… Read More »Modern Drummer Article On Learning Jazz
Cruise Ship Drummer’s Book of The Blog – 2013 is Here
My copy of Todd Bishop’s latest book-of-the-blog has arrived. His blog, Cruise Ship Drummer (he’s based in Portland, Oregon, despite the .co.uk thing) is a frequently updated stream of drum lessons, transcriptions, music suggestions and bits of drumming related wisdom. Todd’s previous publications include the Book of The Blog – ?2011 and the fantastic, almost pocket-sized, 100 Grooves. The 2013 Book of The Blog has 122 pages and contains all of the downloadable drum exercises and transcriptions that appeared on… Read More »Cruise Ship Drummer’s Book of The Blog – 2013 is Here
Don’t Think!
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!
That Steve Gadd Bloke is Pretty Good
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
What I’m Listening To This Week – Clutch
Having worked on the groove on Clutch’s Burning Beard, I got the album, Robot Hive /Exodus. John Paul Gaster is a great funky drummer. Check out 10001110101 for some fabulous groove playing. In a slightly mellower vein, I have been learning Grant Green’s Ease Back with the wonderful Idris Muhammad laying down some very tasty, loose and fluid grooves. The main groove is in Todd Bishop’s 100 Grooves. Or you can get it off his blog here. And in a… Read More »What I’m Listening To This Week – Clutch
What I’m Listening To This Week – Elvin
I have been getting back into jazz lately. I went through a period of only listening to Jazz, mostly bebop. Once I heard Dizzy Gillespie, the rock ‘n’ roll I loved seemed flat and simple. From my late teens until my mid twenties I listened only to jazz. Actually, jazz and some classical music of the Romantic era. I studied Chapin’s legendary book and spent my twenties at Ronnie’s soaking up some of the greatest music on the planet. Then… Read More »What I’m Listening To This Week – Elvin