Another choice item from a 1981 column in Modern Drummer, in which Scott K. Fish talks to a lot of great bass players, about drummers: “Faults I hear in drummers? Mainly that they play too […]
Category: playing
Limitations of loops
There’s a good post about playing along with recordings, that everyone should read, over at Ted Warren’s Trap’d blog. Since he commented about playing with loops vs. whole tunes— and I do a lot with […]
Very occasional quote of the day: listening
“Listening is the whole thing. I’ll tell you exactly how I play. My whole approach to playing is reaction. I don’t listen to myself play. I’m not aware of myself because I’m too busy listening […]
Very occasional quote of the day: space to contribute
“The way guys like Bud Powell shaped their solos, they automatically left spaces for the drummers to contribute. A lot of times today, in student performers, I don’t hear that space being offered, because they’re […]
Some short tempered performance notes
Following are some comments I wrote after hearing some younger drummers— in a jazz setting, players far enough along with their playing to let their ambitions get the better of them, musically. I got a […]
Comments on some younger drummers
Since COVID especially I haven’t been playing as much as I should be, so I’ve been getting my lazy butt out to some jam sessions to try to stir up some work. Playing really is a […]
Bill Frisell’s advice to musicians
Posting this article from Guitar Player in it’s entirety, because it’s too important to be permanently entrusted to their little site: Bill Frisell’s advice to guitar players, which applies to all musicians, and all humans […]
Very occasional quote of the day: learning
“I learn something every time I play.” – Philly Joe Jones, 1982 Modern Drummer interview with Rick Mattingly
Very occasional quote of the day: you have to be there to play every night
“You have to work with the people for a while. I was talking to Jo Jones one day. He commented something like, ‘It’s very important how a person develops his own musical personality.’ He says, […]
Very occasional quote of the day: the hands are like monsters
From the late Barry Harris: “Are the hands doing something they’re used to doing, or is the mind leading the hands? Because the hands are like monsters— and they have a separate entity— and they […]
Very occasional quote of the day: the instrument itself
“If you get too involved in the playing of the instrument itself, you forget that the whole purpose of what you’re doing is to add to the music. There’s more to music than having control […]
Very occasional quote of the day: practicing vs. playing
Most important thing on this site: DL: How important is it to play, and how important is it to practice on your own? SM: It’s more important to play. I’ve always felt that playing is […]