The Wednesday Morning Paradiddle

And....we're back.

It's been a fun-filled summer with lots on the go and now that fall is upon us, back to the grind we go! Blogging was on the relatively light side over the past couple of months but I've got plenty to share and now that September is here I will resume somewhat regular posts again. Thanks again for all your support and continued e.mails/messages.

So here's what's shakin' over here at the Four on the Floor offices these days:

-Winnipeg up-and-coming Jazz drummer Curtis Nowosad has a very nice blog of his own over here worth checking out:

http://curtisnowosad.blogspot.ca/

-Here's a Q&A with drumming great Jimmy Cobb from the Seattle Music Insider:

http://seattlemusicinsider.com/?p=9155

-My good friend Matt Wilson is playing the Village Vanguard with his own group Arts & Crafts all this week. You can tune in for a live-stream broadcast this evening and even participate in a real-time question & answer session with Matt following his performance.

Here is an article from NPR previewing the show:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2012/09/04/160561304/the-drummer-who-blows-bubbles-at-gigs

-Albert "Tootie" Heath also played the Vanguard earlier this year with his own trio (with Ethan Iverson on piano and Ben Street on bass). You can catch that great performance archived here:

http://www.npr.org/event/music/158904890/ethan-iverson-ben-street-tootie-heath-live-at-the-village-vanguard

Search around and you'll find several other great Village Vanguard performances to listen to as well.

-Here's another one of Cuban Jazz drummer Francisco Mela with Joe Lovano:




-It's a very brief clip, but here's the legendary Rakalam Bob Moses demonstrating his unique approach to time keeping on the drums:




-I first heard vibraphonist Dick Sisto at the 2009 PASIC conference in Indianapolis (with Ed Soph on drums). Here's a clip of Dick on vibes with Ed on drums along with Rufus Reid holding down the fort on bass:




-Jazz drumming Icon Jack DeJohnette recently celebrated his 70th birthday earlier this summer. Terri Lynn Carrington threw a party for the birthday boy and here's a very interesting clip of Jack sitting in during the celebrations (playing a small four-piece kit and Zildjian cymbals!):



Bill Stewart also sat in for a few numbers and here he is doing his thing:



-I recently picked up a copy Jim Blackley's book "The Essence of Jazz Drumming":

Numerous people have recommended that I check out this text over the years but it was only recently that I took the plunge. Interestingly enough, it's mostly been non-drummers that took up the drums that have raved about it to me! Jim is a Canadian Jazz drumming legend whose teaching concepts and principles have influenced several generations of Canadian Jazz drummers and teachings. I'll keep you posted as I dig into this one deeper...