FOUR ON THE FLOOR: The Monday Morning Paradiddle

And...we're back!

Now that October is upon us I hope that everyone is well into their Fall routine. Things obviously haven't quite returned to "normal" yet (!) but I think it's important to, as Clark Terry used to say, "Keep on Keepin' on."

This is the first Monday Morning Paradiddle column in awhile now (since last June in fact!) but I enjoyed a nice break over the summer. Here is today's collection of interesting things to check out.

But first a few updates from our sponsors:

Falk Willis continues to offer great, regular content through his wonderful site Jazz Heaven.

Here's what Falk has to say:

Because of drums not really coming across well sonically during our weekly live masterclasses, which we ran for over 2 years now (over 100 at this point and with no end in sight) we sadly hardly did any live masterclasses with drummers, but with lots of other fantastic Masters from Fred Hersch to Gary Thomas and many, many more. The exception being one with Richie Barshay on Alexander Technique for Musicians (he also played some drums).

And...one with Bill Stewart, Larry Goldings & Peter Bernstein that was great, informative and, you guessed it, at times very funny! We just released the recording of this live masterclass:
LARRY GOLDINGS, PETER BERNSTEIN & BILL STEWART: Ask Them Anything! JazzHeaven.com/gbs (There is a 3-day free trial.)

Also, awhile ago we launched a community part on our site https://community.jazzheaven.com/ (think "Facebook for Jazz") This also includes a "corner" for jazz drummers: https://community.jazzheaven.com/group/jazz-drummers

So far it's still a bit "quiet" there. Feel free to pay it a visit and change that. This can hopefully develop into a nice resource for all of us to exchange knowledge and ideas.

Another long-time favourite of mine is Justin Varnes' extensive library of lessons on various topics at Jazz Drummers' Resource.

Here is Justin's update:

Now that the Jazz Drummer’s Resource video library contains nearly 300 lessons on everything from up-tempo technique and vocabulary to jazz theory and form for drummers, the site’s focus has turned more to individualized attention and something we call workouts.

A “workout” is just that; grab your sticks, sit down at the kit, press play, and in 20 or 30 minutes you will have learned a new piece of vocabulary or technique. This is a streamlined way to help solve one of the biggest issues we all have: what to practice and how to practice it.

I've been a fan of Chris Smith's Jazz Drum Hang since he first launched his platform and lesson series. His regular informative and relevant content and his enthusiastic, articulate delivery makes it a worthwhile investment in my opinion. I'm always impressed when I check into his site and see what he's come up with.

Be sure to check out Jochen Rueckert's excellent video lesson series found on his website www.jochenrueckert.net

This is a great collection of lessons on a variety of topics in which Rueckert offers a lot of very tangible and practical information informed by his extensive work as both a sideman and a leader.

Okay, now get to work!

Here's todays collection of things to check out:

1) Check out the new Paul Motian documentary Motian in Motion!

2) NPR's Jazz Night in America with host Christian McBride features Sketches of Tain: Music and Stories from Drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts

A link from that page led me to this past concert featuring pianist Mulgrew Miller and Wingspan and also this older piece from NPR featuring Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista and a concept known as Anthropofagia (or "Musical Cannibalism"!):

3) Billy Drummond interviewed by ECM Records

4) A feature on Mike Clark from JAZZIZ magazine Playing the Changes: Influential Drummer Mike Clark is More than the Master of Funk

5) Barry Elmes celebrates 30 years of his quintet from Toronto's JAZZ.FM and also this interview with Andre White from his long-time jazz webzine Jazz View.

Be sure to check out Time Warp's recent re-release Down to Earth on Cornerstone Records featuring the drumming of Barry Elmes, originally released on cassette in 1985.

Order or download that here

6) Fresh Air Archives with this piece featuring Max Roach on playing with Duke Ellington

7) The late Dottie Dodgion remembered in The New Yorker

8) Irish bassist Ronan Guilfoyle recently launched his amazing new podcast series The Art and Science of Time

Make sure to bookmark his page and check out his very insightful and informative conversations about rhythm with the likes of Dave Liebman, Jim McNeely, Ramesh Shotham and many more to come.

9) Toronto's Nick Fraser interviewed on the heels of his latest album No Opposites by Industry Tactics with Friendly Rich

Also here's a great lesson with Nick from Larry Graves' The Garage Sessions: Keeping Time with Nick Fraser:

10) Jack DeJohnette interviewed by Jake Feinberg:

11) Jazz Talk interviews Lewis Nash:

12) Ulysses Owens Jr. continues with his excellent weekly interview series The Drummer's Perspective featuring regular interviews with the great jazz drummers of our time including, among others, the likes of:

Billy Drummond