The Monday Morning Paradiddle

Welcome back and thanks for checking in for what is the very first Monday Morning Paradiddle column of 2019. Incidentally, this coming spring will represent the 10th anniversary of Four on the Floor. Holy smokes! We're still here! Anyways, as per usual, here's an assortment of interesting things to check out:

- Several great articles on the late, great Alvin Fielder (1935-2019) including:

• A recent obituary from TheWire.co.uk

• A 2002 interview with Ted Panken

• A 2018 feature from Offbeat.com

• A piece from NPR on Fielder and Joseph Jarman

- Dig this! An extensive audio interview with Kenny Clarke

As always, when the Masters speak, we listen!

- Ed Soph and Johnny Vidacovich both interviewed over at the Contraption Podcast

- Kate Gentile talks about her recent album release over at the Greenleaf Music podcast

- Ted Panken interviews Jeff Tain Watts with a "Before & After" listening session and another one from JazzTimes magazine

- Ralph Peterson Jr. interviewed by Neon Jazz:




- Pablo Held "investigates" Peter Erskine:




- A short, but quick AND spirited drum solo from Johnathan Blake:




- The Late Show's Joe Saylor with pianist Emmet Cohen:




- Lewis Nash reminds us all how to play a ballad (pay attention now everyone!):




- A very special thank you to Ted Warren, via his fine blog Trap'd, for finding this awesome, recent BBC documentary on the history of the drums, hosted by Stewart Copeland:




- And check out these cool George Way drums (and great drumming!) as played by Vancouver's Jesse Cahill:






- What am I listening to these days?

Terri Lyne Carrington "Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue" - Terri Lyne Carrington (drums)

Kirk MacDonald "The Atlantic Sessions" - Jerry Fuller (drums)

The Herbie Nichols Project "Strange City" - Matt Wilson (drums)

Kurt Rosenwinkel "Reflections" - Eric Harland (drums)

Dexter Gordon "Doin' Alright" - Al Harewood (drums)


- And today's Final Word goes to Anthony Tidd (via vibraphonist Joel Ross) over at the Facebook:


"Seven Steps to Solving Most Musicianship Issues"

If you are not good at something and, if you wish to improve, you should:

1) Identify said thing.

2) Admit that you are not good at said thing, and dispense with all ego.

3) Find somebody that is great at said thing.

4) If you can take lessons from this person or spend time around this person, do. If not, make a serious study of this person and the thing that you want to learn, using whatever means are at your disposal.

5) Practice incessantly.

6) Practice some more.

7) Repeat.

- Anthony Tidd, via Facebook (February 2019)