The Monday Morning Paradiddle

Welcome back and here is the first edition of the Monday Morning Paradiddle for the fall of 2018. Lots of interesting things to share with you today. Thanks for checking back and don't forget to check out my companion Instagram page as well. Please feel free to leave comments. I'd love to hear from you all.

In any event, here's what we've got for you today:

- Check out the story behind the iconic Gretsch logo:

https://www.gretsch.com/2018/09/the-story-behind-the-creation-of-the-iconic-gretsch-drum-kit-logo/

- Hear what several prominent drummers had to say about the impact of Max Roach, Art Blakey and Philly Joe Jones:

https://drummersmrc.blogspot.com/2017/12/one-drummers-philosophy.html?m=1

- Some older, but great articles from JazzTimes magazine...

Matt Wilson on avant-garde drumming:

https://jazztimes.com/columns/chops/matt-wilson-invites-drummers-to-explore-the-avant-garde/

Bill Stewart

https://jazztimes.com/features/bill-stewart-the-tie-that-binds/

Jeff "Tain" Watts

https://jazztimes.com/features/jeff-tain-watts-how-he-revolutionized-jazz-drumming/

- Ted Panken interviews Lewis Nash (originally from Downbeat magazine):

https://tedpanken.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/for-lewis-nashs-57th-birthday-a-downbeat-feature-from-2006/

- A couple of great interviews from Pablo Held:

Firstly, here's the great Joey Baron (parts II-IV to come later...):



And here's Bill Stewart:



And here is some great studio footage of Bill with pianist Miki Yamanaka from her recent release "A Fake Hero":




- Here's Joe Farnsworth with a clever drum solo that switches back and forth between sticks and brushes...and then back and forth between sticks and brushes! (sure...why not!)




- Carl Allen shows off his new DW drums:




- Christian McBride's new band New Jawn with drummer Nasheet Waits has a new album coming out soon. Check out this preview:




- I've recently been digging the late Mulgrew Miller's piano trio records that feature Karriem Riggins on the drums. Here's some great footage of Riggins in action:




- More action footage, this time up-close with Willie Jones III:




- The always musical and super swinging Lewis Nash:




- Keep an eye on this young guy....here's Charles Goold with an inventive solo:




- And finally, here's one of my all-time Canadian Jazz heroes, Edmonton's PJ Perry on alto saxophone with Vancouver Island's Hans Verhoeven on drums:




- What am I listening to these days?

Michael Brecker "Tales from the Hudson" - Jack DeJohnette (drums)

Neal Smith "Live at Smalls" - Neal Smith (drums)

Michael Blake "Tiddy Boom" - Rudy Royston (drums)

M.T.B "Consenting Adults" - Leon Parker (drums)

Walt Weiskopf/Andy Fusco "Tea for Two" - Billy Drummond (drums)

One for All "Blueslike" - Joe Farnsworth (drums)

Jon Ballantyne "Sky Dance" - Jerry Fuller (drums)

Peter Beets "New York Trio - Page 3" - Herlin Riley (drums)


- And today's Final Word goes to the immortal wisdom of Elvin Jones (and a special thank you to Ireland's Ronan Guilfoyle for passing this one along):

"There’s only one way to achieve this thing, and that’s hard work. You’ve got to do it. You can’t just dream that something is going to happen; you’ve got to make it happen. And the way to do that is to prepare. And preparing requires a lot of discipline. They used to say, ’Go into the woodshed and practice.’ That’s what it’s all about. You have to get into the shed. A lot of young cats have the wrong idea. They forget there’s a lot of hard work involved. I try to keep them aware of the fact that hard work is necessary to accomplish that. They have to get in the habit of self-discipline, and not just when you think somebody’s looking. You have to do it all the time. It has to be part of what your life is all about. You commit to music in a way that you commit to yourself. If you can’t do that, you might as well forget it.” - Elvin Jones