Roy! Haynes!

A few days late here with this blog post as I've been preoccupied lately, finishing up an impending grant application due imminently (fun times...)

The great Roy Haynes passed away last week at the age of 99 and I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the legacy of this great musician.

Roy Haynes was a prolific jazz drummer who's career spanned decades, playing with the likes of Louis Armstrong, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Sarah Vaughn, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Stan Getz, Pat Metheny and so many, many more.

Haynes, affectionately know as "Snap Crackle", was an icon who lifted the bandstand with his uncompromising and unique style and personality, on and off the drums.

Lenny White has often referred to the Magnificent Seven, a distinguished club of the greatest of the greats that includes Kenny Clarke, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams and, of course, Roy Haynes. Haynes was the last of these Titans among us and now he's gone. I feel a great sense of duty to up hold the high level of musical integrity that these artists set for the rest of us.

I was fortunate to see Haynes perform on numerous occasions, notably with his Fountain of Youth and Birds of a Feather bands. Probably my most memorable memory of hearing Roy play was a mind-blowing duet with Kenny Garrett on Charlie Parker's My Little Suede Shoes at the Blue Note in New York City circa. November 2001 (sitting in the front row, in front of Haynes' glittering Yamaha drums of course, with my friend and bassist Solon McDade). 

I also shared a brief 60 second elevator ride with Roy Haynes at an IAJE convention when I was 18 years old. I knew he was going to be at the conference so I kept my CD liner notes to Now He Sings, Now He Sobs in my back pocket in case I had the opportunity for an autograph. The liner notes were well worn, crumpled and bent out of shape by the time I stepped in that elevator but Mr. Haynes kindly obliged and I got my autograph.

I distinctly remember when and where I was when I first heard Roy Haynes on record. After I heard his intro to Solar from Question & Answer with Pat Metheny and Dave Holland, played over loud speakers in my high school band room, I was hooked. I've never heard or played the drums the same since then.

Thank you Mr. Haynes for your lifetime of music.

Here's a few articles that have been making the rounds lately:

• Rembering Roy Haynes with Adam Nussbaum from UK Jazz News

• Wonderful commentary from Vinnie Sperrazza's Substack Chronicles including a wonderfully curated playlist to listen to

• Obituaries from NPR's Ben Ratliff and the New York Times's Nate Chinen

• Todd Bishop's thoughts on Roy Haynes via his always excellent blog Cruiseship Drummer

• Three great columns from Ethan Iverson including Farewell to Roy Haynes, John Coltrane and Roy Haynes and Roy Haynes and the Piano Trio (great commentary and insight from Billy Hart here too!)

• Ted Gioa on Roy Haynes

Here's a few of my favourites clips of Roy Haynes that I often watch for some inspiration (feel free to offer your favourites as well...):

The Monday Morning Paradiddle - November 2024

And...we're back.

Thanks for checking in and there's lots of interesting and compelling things to check out in this instalment of The Monday Morning Paradiddle, my more-or-less monthly jazz drumming variety column.

But first I just wanted to give a quick shout-out to a few amazing drummers I heard in Calgary last week during the JazzYYC Canadian Jazz Festival including Fabio Ragnelli with guitarist Jocelyn Gould, Louis-Vincent Hamel with the No Codes quartet and local Andy Ericson with Chris Tauchner's piano trio.

The Monday Morning Paradiddle - November 2024

1. Sherrie Maricle talks big drumming in the Secrets of Big Band Drumming

2. Bobby Sanabria shares his afro-cuban Secrets of the Clave in this informative article

3. Lamy Istrefi Jr. interviewed for the The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt, on his new album Sparkle from the Infinite featuring David Liebman, George Garzone and Ben Street.

4. Colleen Clark interviews Gregory Hutchinson and Peter Erksine for the Percussive Arts Society in advance of their upcoming clinics at this year's annual PASIC convention in Indianapolis.

5. John Riley's offers these fantastic lessons, part of JP Bouvet's amazing new on-line lesson platform The JP Bouvet Method:

 

6. Stanton Moore sits down with legendary New Orleans rhythm Master (aka The King of Treme) Shannon Powell:

 

7. Questlove interviews Cindy Blackman Santana:

 

8. Jason Tiemann offers yet other great lesson, this one on how to develop a concept of soloing on the drums that is informed and guided by melody, rather than relying exclusively on playing licks:

 

9. Quincy Davis continues with his wonderful and always informative YouTube series Q-Tips (in particular, check out his incredible brush lesson):

10. Jazz at Lincoln Center's Obed Calvaire featured by SFJazz:

 

11. The 80/20 Drummer interviews Clarence Penn:

 

12. Antonio Sanchez and his Yamaha Drums:

 

13. Thanks to Loren Schoenberg who took the time to put together these fantastic pieces featuring:

Shadow Wilson

 

Art Blakey

 

Art Blakey and Percy Heath

 

Max Roach

 

14. An interview with Kyle Poole:

         

15. Cymbalholic founder and visionary Chad Anderson interviewed by cymbal wizard Timothy Roberts: 

 

16. A couple of episodes of Trading Fours from Drummer Nation with Brian Nation, Adam Nussbaum, Ed Soph, Billy Drummond and Harold Jones:

 

 

17. Billy Drummond shares his beautiful Gretsch Ridgeland snare drum:

 

18. Johnathan Blake with Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau and John Patitucci:

 

19. What am I listening to these days?

Miles Davis "Miles Smiles" - Tony Williams (drums)

Donald Byrd "Mustang" - Freddie Waits (drums)

The Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra "The Definitive Thad Jones, Vol.2" - Mel Lewis (drums)

William Parker & Hamid Drake "Piercing the Veil" - Hamid Drake (drums and percussion)

Alan Jones "Spirits" - Alan Jones (drums)

Jim Hall "Live!" - Terry Clarke (drums)

Pat Metheny "Bright Size Life" - Bob Moses (drums)

20. And today's Final Word goes to Al Pacino (via Bobby Sanabria):

"Well, because somehow I felt as though my life was saved by acting. Because I knew that I could do something. Look at Buddy Rich, the drummer. My god. Three years old he was on those drums. I was at Carnegie Hall listening to him at a Frank Sinatra concert. He went on before Frank. I said, “I don’t want to hear a drummer, I want to hear Frank,” you know? A drum solo? And it was one of those great moments in my life! Because when he was finished and he took his two sticks — he just left you with the silence. And everyone in that house, I mean everyone, stood up and started screaming! I found myself screaming! So Sinatra comes out afterward, and he looks at the crowd and he says, “See what happens when you stay at a thing?”

- Al Pacino

Ti Roro

I was recently listening to the latest album from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra featuring the exceptional drumming of Obed Calvaire and, in particular, his composition Between Max and Ti-Roro caught my attention.

Apparently the Haitian drummer known as Ti Roro (or Tiroro) was a formative influence on the drumming of Max Roach, when Roach first heard him around 1939.

Here's a couple of interesting pieces to check out to that effect:

https://farsidemusic.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/tiroro-best-of-tiroro-the-greatest-drummer-in-haiti/

https://donpaul1.bandcamp.com/track/david-on-haitis-musical-influence-across-the-americas-and-on-max-roach-meeting-his-musical-peer-ti-roro

From Wikipedia:

"Baillargau Raymond, known as Ti Roro, was a Haitian drummer known for bringing the artistry of Haitian Vodou ritual drumming and other traditional Afro-Haitian drumming styles to the stage and to recording studios. He was an international performer who influenced jazz musicians, in particular, Max Roach. His year of birth is estimated to be 1915. It is widely believed that he died in 1980, probably in Port-au-Prince. Ti Roro's performances and collaborations can be found on solo recordings and in work for such artists as orchestra leader Issa El Saieh, singer Guy Durosier, and dancer Jean-Léon Destiné."

Come Study with me at the Mount Royal Conservatory!

Hey! I am now officially part of the percussion faculty at the Mount Royal University Conservatory in Calgary, Alberta and currently accepting drum set students of all ages and levels of experience. 

Contact the Conservatory or myself directly and let's get to work!

https://www.mtroyal.ca/ProgramsCourses/FacultiesSchoolsCentres/TheConservatory/

Jason Tiemann on Drums

Jason Tiemann is a killing New York City based jazz drummer and he's been compiling and sharing these excellent instructional videos on his YouTube page.

These are all very useful concepts and patterns to work through. What I really appreciate is that, in addition to being well explained and articulated, these come straight from the source and they are demonstrated by a great drummer who is the real deal, someone who's done his homework and regulary plays with a great informed sound, feel and a deep sense of swing with many of the world's greatest jazz musicians.

Check these out.

Max Roach Norway 1977

I'm still on cloud 9 these days, following my Max Roach tribute concert a few weekends ago at Congress Coffee. Thanks to everyone who came out.

Studying and researching the music for this epic gig lead me to this incredible Max Roach concert recorded in Norway circa. 1977 featuring Cecil Bridgewater (trpt), Billy Harper (tenor saxophone) and Reggie Workman (bass).

In particular, check out the free-wheeling 20 minute version of "It's Time!":

I would also like to draw your attention to a portion of the interview at the very end of this footage. 

Specifically, listen to Roach's very eloquent, articulate and inspiring answer that he gives to the interviewer when asked to describe "the history of Jazz music":

As Sonny Rollins said so profoundly in the recent Max Roach documentary The Drum Also Waltzes, "Max was Heaven" and I think these videos illustrate this perfectly.

Jazz Drumming Workshop + Trio Performance

Jazz Drumming Workshop and Performance

Saturday, November 2nd

Cornerstone Music Cafe
14919 Deer Ridge Drive SE

Jazz Drumming Workshop   3pm   $25

Trio Performance   6pm   $30

featuring:

Jon McCaslin - Drums
Aaron Shorr - Guitar
Jeff Gammon - Bass

*Attend both events for $45*

www.cornerstonemusic.ca

Art Blakey 1974

Thanks to the Jazz Estate for sharing this rocking footage of Art Blakey, performing with Benny Golson in France circa. 1974:

 

(for some reason the camera footage is sometimes reversed so it looks like Bu is a southpaw, but that's obviously not the case!)

And from 1985 here's a brief portion of a conversation between Ben Sidran and Art Blakey:

The Monday Morning Paradiddle - October 2024

Thanks for stopping by today and here's the October 2024 edition of the The Monday Morning Paradiddle, your one-stop on-line jazz drumming variety column.

But first, just a couple of brief advertisements:

I am reluctant to advertise these on Facebook these days due to all the ridiculous fake profile t-shirt scams going around (!) but rest assured that these are indeed legit and I still have a handful of the classic black Four on the Floor black t-shirts left in stock if anyone is interested.

But once they are gone, they are GONE and it will very likely be a very long time before I have any more printed (if at all...) so don't miss out and get yours today!

These shirts are still available in small, medium, large and xxl sizes (sorry folks, all the xl sizes are gone!) and are lightweight premium fitted 100% cotton tees. I am also told that they are very comfortable : )

The shirts are $30 each (+shipping)

If you are interested in purchasing one, please drop me a line at fouronthefloorblog@gmail.com or reach me through social media and I'll set you up asap.

It's Time! 

Hey, if you happen to find yourself in Calgary, Alberta this coming week, don't miss my upcoming tribute to Max Roach happening on Saturday, October 12th at Congress Coffee www.congresscoffeeyyc.com

I will be performing a mix of solo drum set repertoire made famous by Max Roach. I'll also be performing several of Max's iconic compositions and music associated with him from over the course of his career with Chris Tauchner on keyboards and the percussive force that is Raul Tabera on percussion.

I'm really looking forward to this one and make sure to reserve your seat in advance as seating is limited.

The Monday Morning Paradiddle - October 2024

1. Fantastic columns and commentary from Vinnie Sperrazza's Substack Chronicles including:

Kenny Clarke and Miles Davis

The Big Tent: Richard Davis and Roy Haynes

and

Back to School - on rudiments, George Lawrence Stone and Charles Wilcoxon

2.  A Sunday interview with Berlin's Michael Griener from The Free Jazz Collective

3. Max Roach teaches The Count a thing or two about counting on Sesame Street:

 

4. And (if you need more than one...) here's Ten Reasons to Love Max Roach from the Drum Candy podcast:

 

5. Adam Nussbaum featured on The Hang podcast with, as always, many words of wisdom:

 

6. Billy Drummond and Adam Nussbaum featured on Drummer Nation:

 

7. Peter Erskine interviewed for the Jazziz magazine podcast:

 

....and some fantastic creative duets recorded with Kim Richmond:

 

8. Carl Allen with Christian McBride's band Inside Straight from the Detroit Jazz Festival:

 

9. Allison Miller plays on Thelonious Monk's "Green Chimneys" at the Women Who Drum festival:

 

10. A pair of great bebop drumming lessons from Jason Tiemann:

 

11. The inimitable Trilok Gurtu with a brilliant opening solo:

 

12. Jerome Jennings and the Lichtfield Jazz Camp present The History of Essential Jazz Drum Grooves:

 

...and Max Roach at 100: Listening Session with Jerome Jennings:

 

13. Quincy Davis continues with more instalments of his always informative Q-Tips series on YouTube:

"LET'S GOOOOOO!!!"

14. John Daversa interviews Ari Hoenig:

15. Brilliant brush work from Joe Farnsworth:

 

16. Christian McBride interviews Louis Hayes:

17. Classic Joe Morello with Dave Brubeck on "Blues for Joe":

18. Some more inspiring Max Roach from a concert in Norway circa. 1987:

 

19. What am I listening to these days?'

Pheeroan Aklaff "Drumset Variations" - Pheeroan Aklaff (drums)

Don Cherry "El Corazon" - Ed Blackwell (drums)

Max Roach "Drums Unlimited" - Max Roach (drums)

Chick Corea Trio "Trilogy" - Brian Blade (drums)

Milford Graves "Grand Unification" - Milford Graves (drums)

Neil Swainson "49th Parallel" - Jerry Fuller (drums)

Jim Hall "Live!" - Terry Clarke (drums)

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

20. And today's Final Word goes to Rick Rubin via Rick Beato:

(take the time to watch this...)

Johnathan Blake!

Johnathan Blake has been a busy guy these days (which is no surprise, of course, because he's such a fantastic musician!) and here's just a few examples of the wonderful music he's been making lately including recent gigs with:

Terell Stafford

 

Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau and John Patitucci

 

a new trio recording with pianist Kris Davis and Robert Hurst

and Blake's own group featuring Donny McCaslin and Scott Colley

More Billy Drummond!

My previous post that I shared featuring Ken Micallef's insightful conversation with Billy Drummond was really well received after I posted it earlier this month. Thank you Ken and Billy for dropping all this wonderful knowledge and to the rest of you out there for all your feedback and enthusiasm. How lucky are we to have access to Billy's extensive knowledge of music shared with us like this? Well, you can never get enough of a good thing in my opinion when it comes to good music and lucky for us, Ken Micallef has uploaded yet another two fantastic instalments of his conversation with Billy Drummond.

 

All in favour of Billy Drummond hosting a regular podcast like this, please raise your hand...

In any event, and as always, when the Masters speak, we listen.

Dave Holland on Time Meters

 

As drummers, "rhythm is our business" but it's certainly not an exclusive club! 

Thanks to the people at SF Jazz here's a fantastic piece in which bassist Dave Holland shares his concepts dealing with time meters and rhythmic structures:

It's Time! a sonic tribute to Max Roach

 

It's Time!

a sonic tribute to MAX ROACH

featuring Jon McCaslin solo drums
and duets with Chris Tauchner keyboards
with special guest Raul Tabera percussion

Saturday, October 12th, 2024

8pm

Tickets $15

Congress Coffee
215 - 36th Avenue NE

Calgary, AB

www.congresscoffeeyyc.com

-----------------------------------

I am really excited to finally present this project next month in my hometown of Calgary, Alberta. This year represents the 100th anniversary of Max Roach's birth and since he's one of my biggest influences and a major reason why I even play the drums, it seemed fitting that I perform something to honour his legacy.

For this upcoming performance in October I'll be playing half of the concert solo and the other joined by the creative force that is Chris Tauchner on keyboards. My good friend, Cuban percussionist and heavyweight rhythmatist Raul Tabera will also join us a for a few numbers.

The solo repertoire I'll be performing will be my interpretation and a mix of Max's iconic solo pieces (including The Drum Waltzes, Conversation and Drums Unlimited, among others) as well as some of my own Max Roach-inspired solo drum pieces that I've been developing and exploring over the last few years.

The concept of performing solo drums is one that has intrigued and challenged me for a number of years. Last year I performed solo for a project with a solo contemporary dancer and this upcoming gig is the next step towards even more of this kind of thing. In addition to Max Roach I've also checked out and been inspired by solo works from the likes of Andrew Cyrille, Milford Graves, Gerry Hemingway, Beaver Harris, Pheeroan Aklaff, Ted Poor, Fransisco Mela, Billy Martin, Antonio Sanchez, Matt Wilson, Mark Guiliana and many more. So there's lots of material to work from and the sky is the limit. I'm hoping to record this music and further perform it in the future as well.

My duets with Chris Tauchner are somewhat inspired by the many iconic duets that Roach performed over the course of his lengthy career with artists such as Cecil Taylor, Abdullah Ibrahim, Randy Weston, Mal Waldron, Archie Shepp, Anthony Braxton, Clark Terry and, of course, Dizzy Gillespie (a personal favourite of mine...)

The repertoire we are going to play will be drawn from different points in Max's career as a composer and from artists that he collaborated with (of which there were many!). We'll also play a few of my originals that definitely feature the drums in the spirit of Max Roach (hopefully he would have dug them...)

Anyways, I'm really looking forward to this gig and hope you can check this out if you find yourself in Calgary in October.

Indeed, it's time!

Billy Drummond Talks Jazz Vinyl

Thanks to Ken Micallef for sharing this wonderful piece featuring Billy Drummond and his favourite jazz vinyl picks: 

As always, when the Masters speak...we listen!

Colleen Clark: Evolution of the Ride Pattern

And...we're back.

I hope you all had wonderful Summer holiday and now that September is upon us it's time to get back to work and back on saddle over here at Four on the Floor.

Today's blog post features some wonderful work from Dr. Colleen Clark and the Avedis Zildjian Company featuring Clarke's research of the evolution of the ride cymbal pattern.

https://ae.zildjian.com/education/the-evolution-of-the-ride-pattern-with-colleen-clark/

There is a ton of great and well researched information here and I encourage you all to check this out:

In this lesson series, Zildjian artist Colleen Clark provides a historiographical and musical analysis examining the jazz ride cymbal pattern, from its inception on woodblock, small accessory cymbals, hand cymbal mechanisms and brushes through what becomes known as the modern-day ride cymbal pattern. This research examines a wide array of drummers and bandleaders, with the objective of identifying the earliest recordings of this important addition to jazz drumming, and popular music history while analyzing the ride cymbal pattern’s evolution through definitive recordings.

Part One Pattern on Non-Drum Surfaces 1917-1924

Part Two Pattern Played with Brushes 1927-1933

Part Three Pattern Played on Hi-Hats 1928-1936 + Bonus Hi-Hat Lesson

Part Four Pattern Played on Small Cymbals 1927-1933

Part Five Zildjian's Influence on the Ride Pattern 

Part Six Pattern Played on Large Cymbals 1928-1940

Part Seven Transition to Bebop and the Influence of Kenny Clarke 

Oh yeah, make sure to check these out too:

The Monday Morning Paradiddle - Summer 2024

Welcome back and here's the Summer 2024 edition of the Monday Morning Paradiddle my more-or-less monthly jazz drumming variety column. 

This will be my last post before I take a break for remainder of the summer months.

But first one last advertisement before I take my leave...

I have a handful of the classic black Four on the Floor t-shirts left in stock. Once they are gone, they are GONE it will very likely be a long time before I have any more printed (if at all...) so don't miss out and get yours today!

These shirts are available in small, medium, large, x-large and xxl sizes and are lightweight premium fitted 100% cotton tees. I am also told that they are very comfortable : )

The shirts are $30 each (+shipping)

If you are interested in purchasing one, please drop me a line at fouronthefloorblog@gmail.com or reach me through social media and I'll set you up asap.

The Monday Morning Paradiddle - Summer 2024

1. Thanks to Will Chernoff who interviewed me for his podcast series Rhythm Changes 

Keep up the great work Will!

2. The Practicing Drummer podcast featuring Colleen Clark

3. Allison Miller interviewed on The Drummer's Pathway podcast

4. Baseball and the Secret to Max Roach's Success by Martin Johnson

5.  Max Roach's mallet feature on Ghost Dance:

 

6. I believe that today July 15th is Philly Joe Jones' birthday. Happy Birthday PJJ!

 

7. Joe Farnsworth plays tribute to Kenny Clarke in Paris:

 

8. 10 Reasons to Love Jeff Tain Watts from the Drum Candy Podcast: 

 

9. Jeff Watts interviewed by John DeChristopher for his series Live From My Drum Room: 

 

10. A burning rendition of Sonny Rollins' Airegin from Mike Clark and Mike LeDonne on B3 Hammond Organ: 

 

11. On The Real Side with Adam Nussbaum:

 

12. A fantastic drum solo from Joe LaBarbera circa. 1977: 

 

13. Quincy Davis with more outstanding offerings from his ongoing Q-Tips series: 

 

Make sure to check out and sign up for one of Quincy's on-line Zoom masterclasses this summer!

14. Fantastic brush playing from the great Lewis Nash on Duke Ellington's Satin Doll:

15. Check out Ted Sirota's awesome new series on the teachings of Alan Dawson:

 

And thanks Ted for sharing this recording of Philly Joe Jones giving a masterclass at Rutgers University circa. 1979

16. When the Masters speak, we listen...

Thank you to bassist Alexander Claffy for sharing this three-part interview with Kenny Washington:

17. Ken Micallef's Top Ten Blue Note Jazz Drumming Vinyls:

18. I just heard this duet of Elvin Jones and Steve Lacy on Thelonious Monk's Evidence for the first time and I think it's awesome:

19. What am I listening to these days?

PJ Perry "Time Flies [tempus fugit]" - Dave Robbins/Joe LaBarbera (drums)

Walt Dickerson & Richard Davis "Tenderness" - Walt Dickerson (vibraphone)

Pasquale Grasso "Bebop!" - Keith Balla (drums)

David Braid Sextet "Zhen" - Terry Clarke (drums)

Barry Harris "At the Jazz Workshop" - Louis Hayes (drums)

Brian Blade "Lifecycles Vol.1 & 2" - Brian Blade (drums)

Sonny Clark "Cool Struttin" - Philly Joe Jones (drums)

20. And this summer's Final Word (as it were) goes to the great Max Roach:

"You can't win today's ballgames with yesterday's home runs..."

- Max Roach

Thanks again for your ongoing support and see you in September. 

Onwards and Upwards!

Living Music: a film about Ra Kalam Bob Moses

My friend Clifford Koufman has been working hard and is filming and producing a documentary on the life of Ra Kalam Bob Moses.

Check out the trailer below and learn more about how you can help bring this important project to life by visiting this link to his Indiegogo campaign:  https://igg.me/at/livingmusic/x#/

About the Film

This is a film about groundbreaking drummer, composer, and artist Ra Kalam Bob Moses—one of the great musicians of all time. Growing up in the heart of the New York music scene, in the company of iconic musicians like Art Blakey, Max Roach, Elvin Jones, and Charles Mingus (whom he was jamming with by the time he was 13), Ra Kalam is among the legends who have shaped modern music.

He has played on historic records, including Pat Metheny’s Bright Size Life, and performed or recorded with fellow luminaries Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorius, Gary Burton, Jack DeJohnette, Carla and Paul Bley, Steve Swallow, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, John Scofield, Steve Kuhn, Pharoah Sanders, Todd Rundgren, John Medeski, Bobby McFerrin, and more.

Not content to limit himself to the realm of jazz music, Ra Kalam has created his own style and philosophy of “living music,” transcending from music maker to innovator. He has dedicated much of his life to sharing this philosophy with students and fellow musicians, with a mission to help great musicians of different genres find freedom in their expression.

Ra Kalam has received a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis and we are working hard to help him tell the story of his life and incredible musical journey while we still have him with us.

What have we accomplished so far?

Since last year, we have completed most of the filming for this project. We’ve conducted interviews with Pat Metheny, Gary Burton, Steve Swallow, Jack DeJohnette, Bill Summers, and Peter Erskine, as well as many of Ra Kalam’s other musical colleagues, protegés, and personal connections.

Last September we spent an amazing week in New Orleans filming Ra Kalam recording, playing concerts, and interacting with legendary New Orleans musicians including Bill Summers, Johnny Vidacovich, and Tony Dagradi. He also gave masterclasses, passing some of his wisdom along to a new generation of hopeful musicians.

Since then we've traveled to several locations including Richmond, VA, to record a session with Ra Kalam and his spiritual mentor Tisziji Muñoz, and to Miami to interview the great vibraphonist and bandleader Gary Burton. We’ve also conducted Zoom interviews with many of those whom we couldn’t meet in person.

In this process, we have launched a self-contained production company, which has enabled us to film any time a cool opportunity arises, rather than having to hire crews and rent gear for every shoot. This has given us access to more intimate moments.

We have purchased two Netflix-approved cameras, a powerful computer, several high-capacity hard drives, and other necessary equipment, as well as paying for studio time, musicians, travel expenses, etc. We’ve put a couple hundred collective hours into learning Davinci Resolve, the film editing software that we are using for this project.

The depth and wealth of Ra Kalam’s creativity as a musician, composer, artist, and human are astounding. We have some amazing interview footage with a who’s-who of musicians, all of whom have had glowing things to say about him. And we can’t wait to share his story with you!

What’s left to do?

This summer we’re doing more on-location filming and interviews, including a week and a half in New York to fill in the last major pieces of the puzzle: visiting the areas where Ra Kalam grew up and lived among the pillars of Jazz music, documenting some of his favorite stories, and interviewing his longtime friends and family members.

After that, we begin post-production. At this point we will be focused on editing the hundreds of hours of footage we’ve captured and distilling it down to the most essential clips that will tell this story in the best way possible.

We’ll continue consulting with film industry experts on next steps and best practices, and will be working to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s as far as funding, rights, distribution, etc.

Our goal is not just to share this story with as many people as possible, but to do it in a personal, compelling way that captures the essence of Ra Kalam in all his colorful facets. Ultimately, we want him to be recognized alongside his peers for all his contributions to music and culture.

About the Filmmaker

This project is being spearheaded by filmmaker Clifford Koufman, who is a Nashville drummer, percussionist, visual artist, and educator. Clifford has interviewed more than 100 artists and creatives in his series ClifChats. He has developed a close relationship with Ra Kalam as a student, mentee, and friend over 18+ years. They have bonded not only over music but also over their common experiences as single fathers raising sons.

It is an understatement to say that Ra Kalam is a prolific artist. Do yourself a favour and take a trip through a living history of jazz, rock, and avant garde music. rakalamrecords.bandcamp.com