The Monday Morning Paradiddle

This column is a little bit late today but hey, it's Monday morning "somewhere" in the world (!) so here you go...This will likely be my last "Monday Morning Paradiddle" column of 2015 and I've tried to include a backlog of things that have been collecting on my desktop lately. So here's what's happening around the interweb these days in the wide world of Jazz drumming:

- John Hollenbeck, the most recent addition to the Jazz faculty at McGill University, and his large ensemble is featured at CBC Music:

http://music.cbc.ca/#!/blogs/2015/10/Live-webcast-John-Hollenbeck-Large-Ensemble-plays-Montreal

- Antonio Sanchez talks drums, music and movie soundtracks over at the Drummer's Resource Podcast:

http://www.drummersresource.com/antonio-sanchez-interview/

- Matt Wilson is currently on the road with his "Christmas Tree-O" project. Hear what he has to say about his recent happenings:

http://straightnochaserjazz.libsyn.com/podcast-408-a-conversation-with-matt-wilson

- A great recent Jazz Times article on the legacy of contemporary Master drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts:

http://jazztimes.com/articles/170486-jeff-tain-watts-how-he-revolutionized-jazz-drumming

And an older Jazz Times article featuring Max Roach's reflections on the legacy of Tony Williams:

http://jazztimes.com/articles/24823-max-roach-remembers-tony-williams

- More on Max Roach via Scott K. Fish's excellent blog:

https://scottkfish.wordpress.com/2015/10/13/max-roach-a-great-drummer-looks-back-at-influences-1958/

- Jerry Granelli, the drummer on the original Charlie Brown sessions with pianist/composer Vince Guaraldi, reflects on the iconic "Charlie Brown Christmas" sessions:

http://observer.com/2015/12/jerry-granelli-reflects-on-a-charlie-brown-christmas/

- A BBC Radio interview with British Jazz drummer Martin France:

http://bbc.in/1MemNjp

And here's some footage with France demonstrating his drums and cymbals…



- WWOZ's "New Orleans Calling" offers this piece on Johnny Vidacovich:

http://neworleanscalling.wwoz.org/portrait-of-a-drummer/

- Thanks to Adam Nussbaum who passed along this great article from Vanity Fair, a piece from drummer Gregg Field about his days playing with Frank Sinatra:

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2015/12/frank-sinatra-final-concert-gregg-field-drummer- Jeff 

- A great story testifying to the generous spirit of the great "Big" Sid Catlett:

https://jazzlives.wordpress.com/2015/11/17/the-generosity-of-a-great-artist/

- From Noel Martin Jr., via the Facebook, here's a great piece on developing your left hand, Traditional Grip from the perspective of Tony Williams:



- "The day Elvin Jones fired up Milwaukee's Lakefront Festival of Art in 1972":

http://kevernacular.com/?p=6713

- Ralph Peterson Jr. laying it down with his brushes!



Get well soon Ralph!


- Johnathan Blake stretches out with Joe Lovano and Chris Potter from their interpretation of John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme":



And here's a great recent interview with Blake from Jazz Times:

http://jazztimes.com/articles/171205-melody-in-mind-drummer-composer-johnathan-blake

- Some up close drumming from Jack DeJohnette from his appearance at the Drum Boogie Festival in Woodstock, New York:



And more DeJohnette with the Jack DeJohnette All-Stars from the Newport Jazz Festival:

http://livejazzlounge.com/2010/2012/12/08/jack-dejohnette-all-stars-newport-jazz-festival-august-2012/


-  An interview with contemporary Jazz drumming icon Brian Blade:




- This is brilliant!




- What am I listening to these days?

Barry Harris "Luminescence" - Lenny McBrowne (drums)

Duke Pearson "Sweet Honey Bee" - Mickey Roker (drums)

Bob Sheppard "Close Your Eyes" - Antonio Sanchez (drums)

The Fensters "Vol. X" - Alan Jones (drums)

Kevin Harris "Bird Interpretations" - Francisco Mela (drums)


- And today's Final Word goes to Toronto's Mark Kelso:

"The Power of Rhythm" by Mark Kelso

"Rhythm is mystical. Rhythm is spiritual. Rhythm is powerful. It has coexisted with mankind since the dawn of time. There are large rhythmic cycles like the change of the seasons, the orbit of the earth around the sun, the swelling of the sea. Smaller rhythmic cycles like the life of a tree, the life of a person, the sun rising and setting and then smaller cycles again like a baby’s rapid heartbeat or an adults slower heartbeat, the barking of a dog or the clapping of hands. Everything has a rhythm to it and it’s what lets us know we are alive.

As Drummers, we are chosen as vessels to keep rhythm important, to make peoples bodies move, to spread joy, fear, create tension, keep time and most importantly, to make music feel good. The power of rhythm is not to be taken lightly by anyone who ventures down its rhythmic path. If you pick up the sticks, you should know there’s a long journey ahead of you. Rhythm is a living thing and it is embedded deep into our DNA. Everyone’s DNA.The knowledge we have today, as sophisticated as we know it to be, comes from a very old place. From the 5000 year old practice of playing a rattle to a newborn baby, to watching an infant react and instinctively dance when they hear rhythm being played, we can see it’s magic. It’s fascinating to watch when we play a rhythm and it affects a persons physicality. Rhythm can do that! That’s when you can see its power in action. That is when you understand why we play the drums. It’s a gift and we give that gift to everyone who joins in the rhythmic cycle and connects on a deep level to what we do. It is our passion. It is our goal. It is our life."

----------

Thanks again for all your support and I'll be back soon with a few more posts before my annual holiday break. Have a great week.