More than ever convinced that this is basic language— you got singles in 16ths, singles in triplets, and the RLLR-LRRL paradiddle inversion in 16ths. Certainly any time you get into Latin playing, funk or fusion […]
Very occasional quote of the day: all I know
“All I know about acting is that I just have to keep on doing it.” – Jason Robards Great actor, you can and should see him in movies such as: All The President’s MenPat Garrett […]
Transcription: Airto – Moon Dreams
First transcription in some time— I’m spending too much time on internet nonsense. Have I ever mentioned how wrong every single thing on the internet is in terms of music, this instrument, playing this instrument, […]
Listening to Back In Black
Part 2 in this series of listening to records that have been listened to to death and don’t need anyone to listen to them or talk about them any more at all, ever again, ever. […]
Very occasional quote of the day: negative
The film critic in the United States is in a curious position: the greater his interest in the film medium, the more enraged and negative he is likely to sound. – Pauline Kael – Movies, […]
Chaffee linear patterns – e to a
From my own practice room, i.e., ten feet away over there where my drums are, some more Gary Chaffee linear phrases, ending with a cymbal/bass drum accent on the a of 4, and starting on […]
Reed interpretations: Ed Blackwell – 01
A couple of things cooking with the old paradiddle inversion Reed system. Here is a tom tom groove / solo method, creating an Ed Blackwell like vibe, using a combination of accented paradiddle inversions (RLLR-LRRL) […]
Triplets New Breedified
Here I’ve reorganized the recent straight 8ths in swing warmups page to be a much larger, New Breed-like system of independence, mostly based on single beats of triplets played on the cymbal and hihats, including […]
Confidence – 02
“The polite way of saying it is that he lacks confidence.”“Give him some.” In the you suck video rant I mentioned the need to have confidence as a player, and as a student. Where does […]
Practice loops: 10 tunes – 01
Here is a collection of ten loops for learning jazz tunes, sampled from albums, including several by Thelonious Monk. Each has the head played, then an equal number of choruses of soloing— one or two. […]
Very occasional quote of the day: not smothered, not smothering
One of the prime functions of the drums is to serve as an accompanying instrument. This can be developed by listening to everything around you and by fitting yourself in without being smothered, or smothering […]