Companion to the Philly Joe Jones appreciation from the other day— I’ve transcribed some kicks and setups from the tune Soft Winds, from Chet Baker In New York. Jones plays figures all through the head; the time […]
Key players: Philly Joe Jones
This series is difficult for me, because it means writing a lot of words about somebody’s playing, at which I am not good. I never felt a need to put it into words. It also […]
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 […]
“Snare Conditioner” in 6/8
I mentioned to Adam Osmianski that I wanted a 6/8 version of his transcription of the found-music malfunctioning air conditioner drum solo, and he encouraged me to go ahead and do it myself, so here […]
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 […]
From the zone: Snare Conditioner
This was not a legitimate FTZ submission, but I am bequeathing it with that title because this is EXACTLY the kind of crap you’re supposed to do when holed up in your studio because of […]
Inauguration day
One of many inspiring moments. I got nothing today, congratulations to everyone on this late move towards national sanity. I suggest watching President Biden’s inauguration this morning if you haven’t. Even after four years of […]
Very occasional quote of the day: Max Roach fast
“We’d have jam sessions at Minton’s where the tenor players were long-winded,” Roach explained. “Don Byas would play 20 minutes on ‘Cherokee,’ and then Johnny Griffin would play another 20 minutes, and then somebody else […]
Listening: more Freddie
Let’s listen to some more Freddie Hubbard, again with Louis Hayes on drums. The album is The Black Angel, recorded in 1969, same as Hub of Hubbard. With James Spaulding, Kenny Barron, and Reggie Workman— […]
Accents on 8/8 jazz rhythms
A background project lately has been to create some ways of practicing feathering the bass drum as part of a modern, varying, organic jazz texture. This page is related to some things I’m hearing in […]
Syncopation exercise: Accents from Chasin’ the Train – 01
Companion to yesterday’s post: a syncopation exercise based on part 5 of the Chasin’ the Trane transcription— all of the accents played on the snare and bass drum. As usual I’ve followed the Reed convention […]
Transcription: Elvin Jones – Chasin’ the Trane – 05
Here is part 5 of this transcription— the 25th-30th choruses of Elvin Jones playing Chasin’ the Trane, from John Coltrane Live at the Village Vanguard. The transcription begins at 4:38 in the track. We’re nearing […]