OK, first new content post on the new platform. WordPress handles images a little differently, and it’s messing with my usual post design, so I’ll be fiddling with that a bit. I’ve been working with […]
Category: Afro 6
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 […]
One note / two notes
A little rhythm project, building rhythms based on sequences of one and two notes, spaced in a natural way for one hand— bell rhythms, essentially. It’s a good approach for teaching people who are new […]
Groove o’ the day: two by Elvin Jones
I have a couple of larger transcriptions going right now, from a couple of Elvin Jones live albums, but don’t have time to complete them, so here are the major grooves from them. The first […]
Straight 8ths in funk Afro 12/8
Something I’m working out, that needed to be written out to do it: straight 8ths on the bass drum within a funk-style Afro 12/8 groove. I work a lot with this whole area of groove. […]
Solo transcription: Billy Higgins – Third World
Here’s a drum solo by Billy Higgins, from the tune Third World on Freddie Hubbard’s album Bolivia. I’ve never played this tune and didn’t count out the form. It starts with 8 bars of an […]
Groove o’ the day: Dave Weckl Afro 6
Hey, happy new year— let’s roll in 2024 with a snazzy Dave Weckl groove, which inspired some conversation. It’s from 1994— hey, 30 years ago now— and Weckl is in his zone. He’s been writing […]
Groove o’ the day: Ed Blackwell – Love
Here’s a fast 6/4 Afro type of groove from Ed Blackwell, on the track Love, from a duo record with Wadada Leo Smith, The Blue Mountain’s Sun Drummer. There’s no tune, it’s just free blowing […]
Groove o’ the day: Grady Tate Afro
Grady Tate playing a heavy Afro-Cuban style groove, or Afro 6, as I’ve been calling it, on Grant Green’s The Final Comedown movie soundtrack. The track is Soul Food African Shop, and the transcription is […]
Page o’ coordination: Airto’s afro
Page o’ coordination based on Airto’s unique afro 12/8 groove played on the intro of Casa Forte, from Flora Purim’s album Stories To Tell. It’s a good introductory groove for this style— the hands are […]
Afro 6 in 4
Purely exploring an idea that occurred to me during a lesson— this has nothing to do with anything. Except I’m writing a new book about developing the Afro 6 groove, so I’m thinking about the […]