Some filler options for a basic, very common right hand lead method used with the book Syncopation— the top line book rhythm is played with the RH/RF on a cymbal and bass drum in unison, […]
Category: funk
Funky Primer p. 22 converted to sixtuplet funk
In a lesson the other day I realized I don’t really like any of the sixtuplet funk materials in my regular books. Joel Rothman’s are pretty good, Funky Primer are pretty not good, Jim Payne’s […]
Converting 3/8 hemiola patterns to 2/4
That’s it, CRUISE SHIP DRUMMER! is now an all what-I’m-teaching-in-lessons web site. I’m preoccupied with other stuff right now, travel plans and whatnot. I started doing this around 2013, and quite a bit lately— changing […]
More Tiki Fulwood funk fills
Another item I was working on with a student, for everyone waiting for the other shoe to drop on that 2013 Tiki Fulwood/Funkadelic fills post. It’s a fun, low-intensity thing to do with Syncopation pp. […]
Subtractive method overview
Here’s a broad overview of this subtractive thing I’ve been working with. It’s a new approach, but not unprecedented, and I think it’s worth exploring. The idea starts with a Stone-type 8th note sticking pattern, […]
Groove o’ the day: Little Feat – Front Page News
Here’s a very inventive modern-sounding groove by Richie Hayward with Little Feat, on Front Page News, from the group’s album Down On The Farm. What he’s doing on the hihat reminds me of the staticky […]
Reed interpretations: special voicing – 01
This came out of the groove part of my recent Country Rock thing. It’s a kind of subtractive method for voicing the snare drum and bass drum. Not unlike my John Riley-inspired “that with interruptions” […]
Half time country rock with Reed
This swingy country, folky, gospel type of half time feel groove is all over the music of the late 60s/early 70s. You Can’t Always Get What You Want, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, for […]
Daily best music in the world / groove o’ the day: Sookie Sookie
I heard this on Portland’s jazz station KMHD yesterday— on Ben Turner’s excellent afternoon show. You probably don’t have a decent local jazz station, so you should be streaming KMHD online and becoming a monthly […]
Stone flam beats as independence patterns
I like doing this once in awhile: converting familiar materials into another format. Rhythm patterns (plus filler) can be converted to sticking patterns, accent patterns can be converted to rhythm patterns, sticking patterns can be […]
Transcription: Jack Dejohnette – Mr. Clean
Took a break from the really long and hard Elvin Jones transcription and did something else really hard. From the Freddie Hubbard album Straight Life, this is Jack Dejohnette playing behind Joe Henderson’s solo on […]