Instagram!

Hey folks, Four on the Floor is now on Instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/fouronthefloorblog/

I'll be posting photos and short videos on a fairly frequent basis, a personal companion to my existing blog. Hope you dig it.

Messing around with a 3/4 (9/8?) Afro-Cuban groove inspired by Ed Blackwell...

A post shared by Four on the Floor (@fouronthefloorblog) on Sep 27, 2017 at 12:57pm PDT

The Monday Morning Paradiddle

And....we're back. I hope that your respective summer month's were productive, restful and now getting into the swing of things now that the fall season is upon us. With students and teachers going back to school in September I always feel inspired to start new projects and work on brilliant new ideas. Onwards and upwards. The learning never stops.

The minions over here at the Four on the Floor offices have been hard at work lately and here's what we've compiled for you with the latest edition of the The Monday Morning Paradiddle. As always, thank you for your support and enjoy!

- Check out Jack DeJohnette's latest cover feature from Modern Drummer magazine:

https://www.moderndrummer.com/article/october-2017-jack-dejohnette/

I found this piece quite interesting. In particular, when asked if he had any advice for young Jazz drummers, Jack replied:

"I recommend that they have knowledge of a melodic instrument..."

- From Scott K. Fish a similar sentiment from Max Roach on the importance of learning a melodic instrument:

https://scottkfish.com/2017/09/18/max-roach-every-drummer-should-play-a-melodic-instrument/

- Paul Wells recently compiled this excellent listening list of 50 Jazz drumming recordings to check out, for Modern Drummer magazine:

https://www.moderndrummer.com/article/october-2017-50-crucial-jazz-drumming-recordings/

- Seattle's Matt Jorgensen interviewed by workingdrummer.net:

http://www.workingdrummer.net/2017/08/30/mattjorgensen/

- Antonio Sanchez speaks about his latest offering "Bad Hombre":

http://drummagazine.com/antonio-sanchez-talks-about-his-new-album-bad-hombre/

- An archived radio interview with Max Roach from NPR's Hot Air:

-  Another suggested listening list, this time it's Elvin Jones from DRUM! Magazine:

http://drummagazine.com/elvin-jones-suggested-listening/

 - More Elvin goodness, this time interviewed by former Santana rhythm man Michael Shrieve:

https://soundcloud.com/tangletown-1/elvin-pt1

Thanks to Todd Bishop over at Cruiseship Drummer for this find!

- Kendrick Scott is interviewed over at the Drummer's Resource podcast:

http://www.drummersresource.com/kendrick-scott-interview/

- Dennis Mackrel is an incredible drummer that I've always enjoyed listening to. Here he is interviewed by Drummer Nation:

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-4qd32-6ff64e

And also from Drummer Nation, here's Eastman drum professor Rich Thompson interviewed:

http://drummernation.podbean.com/e/rich-thompson-audio/

- Not one, not two but THREE interviews with the great Art Blakey":

http://www.thenotesyoudontplay.com/three-interviews-with-art-blakey/


- More Jack DeJohnette, this time in a little "percussion discussion" with percussionist Don Alias:




- An Interview with Jeff "Tain" Watts from The Trap Set:




- Christian McBride offers some important advice drawn from his own life experience:




- What am I listening to these days?

Dexter Gordon "A Swingin' Affair" - Billy Higgins (drums)

Brad Mehldau & Joshua Redman "Nearness"

David Friesen "The Name of a Woman" - Alan Jones (drums)

Ulysses Owens Jr. "Falling Forward" - Ulysses Owens Jr. (drums)

Steve Lacy "Only Monk"

Brandi Disterheft "Blue Canvas" - Joe Farnsworth (drums)


- And today's Last Word goes to the immortal Art Blakey (via Bobby Sanabria):

"What the people want is FIRE." - Art Blakey

John Riley en Italia

From earlier this summer, here's John Riley in a masterclass in Italy (with translation!) As always, John's playing is great as is his ability to break down, explain and demonstrate many important concepts.

Tootie for President

Thanks to Roberto Gatto who shared this footage of Albert "Tootie" Heath, taken from "Drummer's Row" at the famed Village Vanguard, while performing with his brother, Jimmy Heath. Dig the very clever Calypso beat that Tootie plays on Blue Mitchell's "Funji Mama":

Carl Allen Speaks

Another masterclass today from the University of New Orleans, here's Carl Allen sharing some words of wisdom:



And to put things into context, here's Allen in some swinging piano trio action with Benny Green on piano and Ben Wolfe on bass:

Shannon Powell Speaks

New Orleans drummer Shannon Powell (The "King of Treme") is an important drummer in my own early development. During the early 1990s when I was first developing ears for Jazz music, Powell was the first Jazz drummer that I saw on television. It was on a Harry Connick Jr. New Year's Eve special from London, England that featured Connick's big band with string orchestra and trio featuring Ben Wolf on bass and Powell on drums. I was quite impressed and inspired by Shannon's Powell's drum feature on Connick's up tempo arrangement of Stompin' at the Savoy and for me the rest, as they say, was history...

Thanks to the kind folks over at the University of New Orleans, here's an hour long masterclass with his majesty: