The Monday Morning Paradiddle - November 2023

And...we're back.

Thanks for checking in and I'm pleased to offer you the November 2023 edition of The Monday Morning Paradiddle, my occasional and semi-regular jazz drumming variety column (however, I just realized that I haven't published one of these since late July...anyways, here it is. Busy times I suppose!)

I was fortunate to spend some time in New York City earlier this Fall following a busy summer on the road, studying with John Riley, checking out gigs and all my favourite drummers on a nightly basis and, of course, drinking the best coffee I could find in mid-town Manhattan. 

Thank you to all of those whose generosity (musically and otherwise) made my time in New York a truly special and inspiring experience. Onwards and Upwards.

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Anyways, here's a collection of interesting things making the rounds around the Four on the Floor office these days...

The Monday Morning Paradiddle - November 2023

1. Vinnie Sperrazza continues to offer great insight and commentary in his ongoing series Chronicles including excellent pieces on:

Ed Blackwell

Philly Joe Jones

Tony Bennett and Jazz Drummers

Clifford Jarvis

Terri Lyne Carrington

Ed Blackwell, Elvin Jones and John Coltrane

Five Awkward Conversations with Paul Motian

2. Billy Martin interviewed by the Free Jazz Collective

3. Montreal's Michel Lambert Le Coloriste entrevue par Citizen Jazz

4. Allison Miller and Tina Raymond interviewed on The Working Drummer Podcast 

5. Four features and interviews with Max Roach from NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross

6. Kendrick Scott offers his thoughts on Max Roach via PBS, on the heels of the release of the recent documentary Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes on Amercian Masters.

If you haven't seen this excellent work yet, check it out. Now!

7. Check out Sherrie Maricle's excellent collection of drum tips on her YouTube page. Sherrie is the real deal and there are lots of great lessons and things to practice here!

8. Joe LaBarbera and Peter Magadini both reflect on the legacy of Tony Williams from Not So Modern Drummer.

Sadly, Peter passed away last August. I didn't know him very well but our paths did cross on several occasions when we both lived in Montreal during the mid 1990s and I also use his books routinely in my own teaching practice.

Check out Aldo Mazza's interview with Peter from his ongoing series Shaping Your Journey:

9. Montreal bassist Fraser Hollins interviews my teacher and good friend Dave Laing in his ongoing drum and bass interview series The Hook Up: 

I am really hoping that Fraser interviews Montreal's Andre White next...

10. Allison Miller playing great drums as always!

 

11. A great interview and lesson with my good friend Geoff Clapp:

12. Willie Jones III and Rudy Royston both interviewed by the Drum Candy Podcast:

 

 

13. 10 Reasons to Love Elvin Jones from Thomas Wendt and the Drum Candy Podcast: 

 

...and 10 Reasons to Love Joe Chambers:

14. Ulysses Owens Jr. and Drumeo offer How to Play Jazz on The Drums:

 

15. Joe Farnsworth with Emmet Cohen:

 

16. The 80/20 Drummer interviews John Riley, Dan Weiss and Stanton Moore: 

 

17. Quincy Davis continues to share great concepts and things to practice in his ongoing Q-Tips series on YouTube. There's a wealth of information here folks, so check it out! 

 

18. A few words of wisdom from the always inspiring Matt Wilson:

19. What am I listening to these days?

Allison Miller "Rivers in Our Veins" - Allison Miller (drums)

Don Cherry "Art Deco" - Billy Higgins (drums)

Max Roach & The J.C. White Singers "Lift Every Voice and Sing" - Max Roach (drums)

Kelly Jefferson "Rituals" - Morgan Childs (drums)

Oscar Peterson Trio "Night Train" - Ed Thigpen (drums)

Philly Joe Jones "Drums Around the World" - Philly Joe Jones (drums)

Joel Haynes "The Return!" - Joel Haynes (drums)

George Sluppick "Play What You Love" - George Sluppick (drums)

20. And today's Last Word goes to the great swing drummer and teacher Cozy Cole:

“The more you study, the more you find out what you don’t know, but the more you study, the closer you come.”

- Cozy Cole