Hope you all had a pleasant weekend. For all those Canadian football fans out there (yes, I'm referring to REAL three down football with the BIG balls ya dig?) I trust you all enjoyed your Grey Cup parties (and congrats to the Toronto Argonauts on their victory over the Calgary Stampeders...look out next year as my beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders will rise and conquer, just wait!)
Here's a plethora of interesting things to check out today, many of which that were forwarded to me by many loyal readers from around the globe:
- Further to my last post on the recent passing of drummer Pete LaRoca, here's a nice article courtesy of NPR's A Blog Supreme:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2012/11/20/165593227/pete-la-roca-top-post-bop-jazz-drummer-has-died
- Conor Guilfoyle, a very fine drummer from Ireland, demonstrates his approach to playing a broken, swing feel:
Sounds great Conor!
- I was very fortunate to spend some time working with the great Joe LaBarbera in the past month. I have lots to work on and think about these days including this recent article written by Joe where he shares his thoughts about playing fast tempos:
http://www.louisvilledrummer.com/how-to-play-up-tempo-jazz-without-getting-tired-by-joe-la-barbera/
- And from that same webpage here's insightful article by Allan Herman (who was recently featured in Billy Martin's very fine DVD "Life on Drums")"
http://www.louisvilledrummer.com/what-is-drum-technique-by-allen-herman/
- Here's a nice, up close one of Joe Farnsworth in action with Pharoah Sanders:
If you find yourself in Vancouver, B.C. this coming weekend be sure to catch Farns with Mike LeDonne's trio at the Cellar. Wish I could be there!
- Courtesy of the kind people over at Vic Firth, here's a great breakdown of Al Jackson Jr.'s iconic groove on "Green Onions" as explained by Zoro:
http://www.vicfirth.com/exchange/2012/11/21/we-want-the-funk-1962-2/
- From a recent masterclass here's the great Peter Erskine demonstrating his "comping game" exercise:
- If you find yourself in Edmonton next weekend I'll be playing with an exciting band at the Yardbird Suite on Friday and Saturday nights, playing Duke Ellington's imaginative interpretation of the Nutcracker Suite:
The Yardbird Suite All-Stars
directed by Craig Brenan
Play the Duke Ellington Arrangements of the Nutcracker Suite
Friday - Saturday, November 30 - December 1, 2012
Tickets - Members $24, Guests $28
Doors 8 PM - Show 9 PM
Featuring:
Jim Brenan, Jerrold Dubyk, Sarah Matheson, Ray Baril, Mark Dejong - woodwinds
Craig Brenan, Marty Majorowicz, Ken Read - trombones
Dave Morgan, Allan Gilliland, Sergio Rodriguez, Doug Berner - trumpets
Chris Andrew - piano
Jeff Johnson - bass
Jon McCaslin - drums
For a twist on seasonal classics, nothing beats the Nutcracker Suite by Duke Ellington. The "Duke" jazzed the titles of Tchaikovsky's legendary score - "Dance of the Reed Pipes" became "Toot Toot Tootie Toot," "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" was rechristened "Sugar Rum Cherry" - and then added swinging brass and colorful solos to the familiar tunes. The whole suite is filled with holiday joy. The evening will feature the complete suite as well as a selection of swingin' holiday jazz standards.
- Billy Drummond has long been one of my favorite contemporary Jazz drummers and during the early 2000's if there was an album on the Dutch Jazz record label Criss Cross that featured Billy, I had it! He's been a big influence on me and I've always really dug his unique style and sound. He's a nice little interview with Billy and an example of his great playing to check out:
- Thanks to cymbalholic.com patron saint Chad Anderson, here's a recent interview with my vibraphone hero, the great Bobby Hutcherson:
- And of no mention of Bobby Hutcherson is complete with out mentioning this amazing clip of Hutcherson with Harold Land and Joe Chambers!
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