Welcome back and thanks again for checking in. Hope you are all hanging in there despite our extraordinary circumstances these days.
As the great, late Clark Terry used to say: Keep on keepin' on!
I'd love to hear from you, whoever you are or wherever you may be. Please drop me a line anytime at fouronthefloorblog@gmail.com or via our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages (follow the links in the sidebar). We are all in this together!
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Okay, so here are a few articles and pieces of interest. Some are recent, others not so much, but I think they are all interesting, inspiring and hopefully you will find them as such as well!
Here's what is on the docket for today's column:
- Great interviews with Adam Nussbaum and Lenny White with Michael Lake via his Vimeo channel
Here's a recent clip of Lenny White in trio action with Chris Potter and Buster Williams, celebrating his 70th birthday:
- Billy Martin interviewed by Joe Wong via the The Trap Set podcast
- Vinnie Sperrazza blogs on the legacy of Jo Jones
- CJSW's Gordon Fick recently featured the music of Paul Motian on an episode of his weekly jazz radio program Lift the Bandstand
- Joe Lovano also offers his thoughts on Paul Motian in this wonderful Jazz Times magazine article
I also found this clip with Lovano to be quite inspiring:
- Given the dramatic recent changes in our society and to our regular day-to-day activities and careers, many are trying to keep motivated and engaged in the music by keeping up a dedicated practice routine over the course of their self-isolation. Personally, I am trying to take advantage of this opportunity and work on musical ideas and concepts that have been eluding me for some time and, up until now, I just haven't had the opportunity to address (whether drumming, playing the vibes, composing, listening, etc.)
You don't have to post everything you do on Instagram or share constantly on social media, but the important thing is that you do something and keep going. I am a firm believer in trombonist/pianist Hugh Fraser's mantra that if you dedicate yourself to something in an honest way, the universe will notice!
Are you looking for something to practice? Drop me a line and we'll talk! (Alan Dawson's Rudimental Ritual might be a good place to start, just sayin'...)
Anyways, as I was getting to, some people have access to drums these days and many don't, but either way practicing on a drum pad is a viable option to keep your hands in shape and your mind in the music (if you do it right...)
The nice people over at TomTom Magazine offer this comprehensive Drum Pad Shootout, comparing many current models of drum pads currently on the market. There are lots of great options out there to consider in case you are looking.
Everyone on Instagram sure seems to like those Reflexx drum pads these days, but I have yet to play one myself. However, I am enjoying my DW Go Anywhere Practice Set and Zildjian L80 low volume cymbals to play in the house while is my family is around and when I can't access my studio space in my garage out back.
For what it's worth, I recently put a bunch of rivets in my 18" and 20" Zildjian L80's and they are great!
- Speaking of practicing, studying and in the interest of the continuous daily betterment of ourselves as musicians and as people (Kaizen, ya dig?), Rakalam Bob Moses is now offering lessons via Skype. Consider connecting with him and learn from a Master. Check out these previews:
I really like his statement that "Music is medicine" and I think he's right! We could definitely use more doses of this kind of medicine these days...
- Joe Farnsworth continues with his wonderful series of videos, honouring the great jazz drummers. Check out his recent episode featuring the coolest and hippest man in the known universe Roy Haynes!
- Mike Clark is interviewed by Bang! The Drum School, speaking about his career and influences
- Discussion in Percussion podcast interviews Bryan Carter
- Some rare bootleg footage of Philly Joe Jones and his band Dameronia circa. 1983:
- Jazz Congress 2020, held last January in New York City at Jazz @ Lincoln Center, hosted this panel discussion entitled "The New Sound of Jazz Drums" moderated by Mark Ruffin, featuring Willie Jones III, Shirazette Tinnin, Allison Miller, Karriem Riggins and Gregory Hutchinson:
- Tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman will be releasing a new album this summer featuring Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride and the dynamic Brian Blade on drums. This quartet was a highly influential group during the 1990s and at the peak of the so-called "Young Lions" era. I, for one, am really looking forward to hearing what they come up with this time.
- Some late 1980s footage of John Riley and percussionist Frankie Malabe driving the Bob Mintzer big band:
- Jason Marsalis has recently been offering on-line performances of his One Man Drums Show. Here is a sample of the creativity and musicality that one drummer can exhibit with even a basic drum and cymbal set-up:
- Allison Miller offers this ride cymbal and time keeping lesson via the 2020 Virtual Next Generation Jazz Festival:
- Ed Soph shares a great story about Alan Dawson and his introduction to a young Tony Williams:
- Quincy Davis interviews Peter Erskine for his always excellent Q-Tip series:
- And finally, some older but burning footage of Kirk MacDonald's quartet from a 2018 performance in Montreal featuring the late Harold Mabern on piano and Andre White on drums on Mabern's classic modal burner The Beehive:
Yeah!
- What am I listening to these days?
Art Farmer & Benny Golson "The Complete Jazztet Sessions" - Albert "Tootie" Heath, Lex Humphries, Roy McCurdy (drums)
Joe Lovano "Trio Tapestry" - Carmen Castaldi (drums)
Elvin Jones Trio "On the Mountain" - Elvin Jones (drums)
Steve Nelson "Brothers Under the Sun" - Lewis Nash (drums), Steve Nelson (vibraphone)
Michael Davidson & Dan Fortin "Clock Radio" - Michael Davidson (vibraphone)
Sam Jones "The Bassist!"- Keith Copeland (drums)
Ryan Shaw and Jake Reed "Drum & Drummer" - Ryan Shaw, Jake Reed (drums)
- And today's Final Word(s) goes to two wise and esteemed gentlemen...
First off, Canadian astronaut and former Commander of the International Space Station Colonel Christopher Hadfield offers his suggestions on dealing with self-isolation:
And finally, Matt Wilson offers this sage piece of sonic advice to keep in mind during these challenging times, complete with a swinging brush groove that, if you listen to it enough, will certainly swing you "out" of bad health ya dig?
- Mayor Naheed Nenshi
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