Here are some things I do over the course of 15-20 minutes playing that jazz waltz telephone page, in addition to just playing repeating measures as written, in 3/4 time: 1. Play each measure in […]
Month: July 2024
That Steve Gadd lick
More on that Steve Gadd lick from the Full Compass transcription. It’s essentially a familiar kind of four note tom ruff ending on the beat with the bass drum, with an extra snare drum note […]
Transcription: Steve Gadd Afro 12/8
Here’s Steve Gadd playing the whole first part of Full Compass, from George Benson’s record Bad Benson— it’s a fully arranged thing, with some drum breaks. It’s an Afro-feel 12/8, modulating to 4/4 at the […]
On weird gigs
Having just played a weird gig, let’s talk about weird gigs. The kind gig where everything seems basically in place, but for whatever reason, nothing is happening. There’s nothing grossly wrong, but nothing feels right […]
Very occasional quote of the day: movies
“[T]here is so much to love in movies besides great moviemaking.” – Pauline Kael, Movie Love Kael was a movie reviewer for the New Yorker magazine through the 70s and 80s. I think most of […]
Jazz waltz telephone – 01
This is a writing experiment, starting with a jazz waltz cymbal rhythm with triplets filled in, changing one note per measure— or two notes. The cymbal rhythm stays the same, and bass drum is added, […]
Drum lesson with Murray Spivack
Here’s a rare thing, a famous drum teacher, Murray Spivack, giving a drum lesson to Louis Bellson: The portion with Spivack is dedicated to basic stuff: holding the sticks, making basic strokes, and playing rudiments. […]
Transcription: Dannie Richmond – Straight, No Chaser
For my man Michael Griener in Berlin, some more Dannie Richmond, this time with Bennie Wallace, playing Straight No Chaser, by Thelonious Monk of course. From the 1981 album Bennie Wallace Plays Monk, on the […]
Very occasional quote of the day: play what you hear
“Play what you hear, and if you can’t play it, then practice it.” – Barry Altschul, Modern Drummer interview by Rick Mattingly, November, 1982 Periodic reminder that, creatively, the fundamental equation is real simple. Of […]
16th note reading boot camp
Plotting out an intensive couple of lessons with a younger student, who has been doing extremely well with his playing the past year, but who is deficient reading 16th note rhythms. It’s not unexpected that […]
Daily best music in the world: Dannie Richmond with Don Pullen / George Adams
Title track from Earth Beams, a great record by George Adams & Don Pullen, with Dannie Richmond on the drums— all three are Charles Mingus band alumni. Richmond was a key partner in that relationship […]
One measure 5/4 triplet fills with Reed!
Another one of my hack and slash jobs. This is something I improvised in a lesson— a student is working on some of the Pages o’ Coordination in 5/4, based on an Elvin Jones groove, […]