Those who have been following my blog for sometime know that I am a big fan of Quincy Davis' regular video lessons that he posts on YouTube. Quincy teaches jazz drums at the University of North Texas and up to great things as both a player and teacher.
There are tons of people offering great content on the internet these days (and, unfortunately, even more offering mediocre, or less!) I think what Quincy has been offering is among the best out there and we are very lucky to have access to his knowledge. I recommend digging into what Quincy has to offer. As Kenny Washington once imparted on me during a lesson: "Watch, Listen and Learn."
I usually try to share his videos as he releases them but I got behind (!) so I'll be sharing his most recent videos in instalments, over the course of this coming week.
Quincy is also offering a series of on-line group lessons coming up soon so check out his website for more information and to register:
I also highly recommend checking out his series of play-a-long recordings that he's produced. These are excellent resources to practice along with (in fact Q talks at length about the importance of playing along to recordings in his most recent video).
Well, I got so busy last week that I neglected to post anything (!) however now that things have calmed down for a bit, here's the November edition of the Monday Morning Paradiddle with more than enough interesting items for you to peruse.
Check it out:
1) Art Blakey and Philly Joe Jones both featured extensively in the Howard University Jazz Oral History Project
Joe Farnsworth also shares this important lesson from the great Art Taylor:
3) Ireland's Ronan Guilfoyle continues with his excellent podcast series The Art and Science of Time in this episode featuring Eric Ineke:
4) Carl Allen interviewed by Zoom sound recorders and here's some outstanding footage of Carl with Benny Green on piano and Ben Wolfe on bass from way back:
5) This piece is five years old (but new to me!) Here's Jabali Billy Hart with the WDR Big Band:
Here are some simple but effective linear exercises that I've been working on with a student lately. I like practicing these because they put my limbs in different combinations and make me play things that I'm not used to (always a good thing in my opinion...)
These were inspired by some linear "flow" concepts that Matt Wilson assigned me when I studied with him in 2004 which, I believe (?), were derived from some exercises he had learned during his own time studying with Ed Soph and George Marsh (my apologies as it was a long time ago and my mind is a bit fuzzy with the details Lol). George is well known for his book Inner Drumming (highly recommended) and of course Ed Soph is a legendary drum set educator who taught at the University of North Texas for many years (see my previous blog post from Christopher Smith featuring both Ed Soph and Steve Houghton).
Anyhow, I digress (!) and the point of these exercises that I've come up with is to develop a connected and unified sense of flow around the drums, between the hands and feet.
Here's how it works:
Use the hand-to-hand sticking patterns from the first few pages of Stick Control as a template and apply the systems below, all while playing a steady stream of 8th notes. You could also use any single, double or triple paradiddle combination as well.
A few suggestions:
- Play all the Right hand parts on the ride cymbal, Left hand on the snare drum
- Play the Right hand on the snare drum, Left hand on the left side crash/ride
- Play the Left foot on the hi-hat both both closed and open (ie. splash)
- Take John Riley's suggestion and play through all of these variations not only as 8th notes but at a triplet rate as well
*ed. note: the idea of using Stick Control as a template for different exercises also comes from my studies with John and I believe this was a concept used by Joe Morello as well (credit where credit is due, just saying!)
If you find yourself in Calgary, Alberta this weekend please come check out my band and new project presented by the 2021 TD JazzYYC Canadian Festival:
The Jon McCaslin Quartet +1
featuring Lisa LaTouche
Friday, November 12th - 830pm
Appearing at the King Eddy
(Studio Bell - West Block)
438 9 Avenue SE
Calgary, Alberta
CANADA
Featuring:
Jon McCaslin - drums & cymbals
Jim Brenan - tenor saxophone
Josh Krushel - piano
Jonathan Wielebnowski - bass
Lisa LaTouche - tap
I am excited to play with this great band on Friday night. We'll be performing my new original compositions, most of which were written over the past year.
Come on by and tell them that Four on the Floor sent you!
I'm obviously late to the party seeing as this was released a year ago (!) but nevertheless I still think this is really quite amazing and want to share this with you all.
Here is drummer Antonio Sanchez with tap artists Martin and Facundo Lombard from a short film they produced together.
Chris Smith, author of The Jazz Drum Hang took the time to produce this extensive series of interviews with Ed Soph and Steve Houghton, two very important and prolific drum set teachers. This is an incredible resource and I encourage anyone who is interested in teaching drums to check this out.
Here is what Chris had to say about this project:
These interviews revolve around indepth essays that Ed and Steve wrote about their backgrounds, influences, teaching styles, suggested listening, common problems on the drumset, and how to become a serious player.
A treasure trove of information that is free for you and available at the Google link below:
This project is about two friends (Ed Soph and Steve Houghton) both highly regarded drumset teachers, players, and authors, who recently retired from teaching. What became clear after numerous personal discussions was that education, as well as early and ongoing musical experiences shaped their teaching methods and lesson content, creating a very wide menu of drumming ideas and musical concepts. The common thread of course was always jazz drumming.
For further information from Ed and Steve follow the links below:
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.)
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!
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"!):
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.
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.
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
Matt Wilson
Johnathan Blake
13) Neon Jazz interviews Gerry Gibbs about his fantastic new release Songs from my Father dedicated to his father and vibraphonist Terry Gibbs:
14) Joe Farnsworth & Dan Weiss trade on Thelonious Monk's Evidence:
Joe Farnsworth pays a visit to John Ramsay's house to celebrate the great Alan Dawson:
And finally a preview of Farnsworth's latest piano trio outing Sounds of the City with Kenny Barron and Peter Washington:
15) Sherrie Maricle offers this warm-up routine using different roll combinations:
16) Billy Higgins!
17) Kenny Clarke!
18) Here's a very interesting one that I hadn't heard before of Max Roach with the J.C. White Singers from Germany circa. 1974:
19) What am I listening to these days?
Allison Miller "5am Stroll" - Allison Miller (drums)
Joe Farnsworth "Sounds of the City - Joe Farnsworth (drums)
Roy Haynes "A Life in Time" - Roy Haynes (drums)
Rob McConnell "Tentet" - Terry Clarke (drums)
Renee Rosnes "Kinds of Love" - Carl Allen (drums)
Steve Swallow "Real Book" - Jack DeJohnette (drums)
Stanely Turrentine "Up at Minton's" - Al Harewood (drums)
Roy Hargrove & Mulgrew Miller "Blues for Mr. Hill"
20) And today's Final Word goes to John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie:
I usually try to post something on Monday's but this week I got a bit behind. Fortunately I stumbled across these mini-lessons on New Orleans drumming featuring Joe Lastie and Shannon Powell and I think these are just fantastic!
Check these videos out for some great information, straight from the source.
I had the good fortune to study with John on a regular basis last spring thanks to a timely micro grant from the Calgary Arts Development Authority (and I now have no lack of challenging things to practice for the foreseeable future!)
John Riley is an incredible educator and I encourage everyone to pay attention to anything he offers.
A great series of brush lessons today from the Berklee College of Music's Jon Hazilla. As he explains in the first video, these are applications of Joe Morello's seminal work Master Studies using combinations of lateral strokes with the brushes (inspired by his lessons with Joe Morello, Mel Brown and Jeff Hamilton).
There is lots of great information here. These are great concepts and techniques that will only deepen your approach to brush playing. Thanks for sharing these Jon!
Thanks for tuning in and Four on the Floor is now back and into the swing of things following a nice summer break. I hope that your summer months were restful and productive despite the challenges of our current circumstances which remain to be unresolved. As we settle back into the Fall months, blogging will now resume on a regular basis.
Here's a wonderful piece featuring bassist Christian McBride and drummer Carl Allen on the art of playing uptempos:
Is this part of a longer, upcoming instructional feature from Open Studio? I sure hope so!
And here's a couple of good examples of those concepts put into action with McBride's trio playing Cherokee featuring Ulysses Owens Jr. on drums:
I am taking a break from blogging and all things internet in general for awhile. Thanks again for all your continued support and I'll see you in a minute.
In the meantime, don't forget to buy a limited edition Four on the Floor t-shirt. Hurry, while supplies last! (please e.mail me at fouronthefloorblog@gmail.com)
Frequent Four on the Floor correspondent Tim Mah returns once again today, this time offering his extensive mid-year list of music released by Canadian jazz artists, so far in 2021.
As you will see below there's already lots of great jazz music that has come out of Canada since December of last year.
Tim's weekly radio program Jazz Today can be heard on CJSW Radio 90.9 fm (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) on Thursday mornings from 530-7am MST. It is also streamed on the CJSW website and available through Apple Podcasts.
New Music From Canadians in 2021 by Tim Mah
As we head into summer, you may be interested in spending some of your time listening to new music. There are many albums released every week. It can be overwhelming and challenging to sort through it all. Below is a list of thirty albums, released from December 2020 to May 2021, and led (or co-led) by Canadians.
This list is in alphabetical order and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all of the new releases from Canadians over this time frame. Rather, it is a starting point for readers to learn more about what is happening in the Canadian music scene.
Amanda Tosoff “Earth Voices”
Andres Vial “When is Ancient?”
Anna Webber “Idiom"
BLOOP (Lina Allemano & Mike Smith) “Proof”
BPM Trio (Phil Dwyer, Ben Dwyer & Mark Adam) “Audi Alteram Partem (Live)”
Carl Mayotte “Pop de Ville, Vol. 1"
CODE Quartet (Christine Jensen, Lex French, Adrian Vedady & Jim Doxas) “Genealogy”
Dan McCarthy (with Thomas Morgan & Rudy Royston) “A Place Where We Once Lived”
Dan Pitt Quintet “Wrongs”
David Restivo Trio “Arancina”
Emily Steinwall “Welcome to the Garden”
Erin Propp & Larry Roy “We Want All The Same Things”
Evan Arntzen “Countermelody”
Francois Bourassa “L’impact du silence”
James Danderfer & Quincy Davis “All The Flowers” (feat. Oliver Gannon, Brad Turner & Karl Kohut)
Jesse Ryan “Bridges"
Jessica Ackerley “Morning / mourning”
Jester Champwick (Curtis Nowosad & Joel Visentin) “Homework”
Kevin Dean “Going Down Slow”
L’abime (Hugo Blouin, Alex Dodier, Gabriel Genest, Jean-Philippe Godbout & Jonathan Turgeon) “L’abime”
Lara Solnicki “The One and the Other”
Lina Allemano Four “Vegetables” (feat. Brodie West, Andrew Downing & Nick Fraser)
Lorne Lofsky “This Song is New”
Mark Eisenman “Jazz Classics” (feat. Steve Wallace & John Sumner)
Mireille Boily “Refuges Mouvants”
Misc. (Jerome Beaulieu, Simon Page & William Cote) “Partager l’ambulance"
Sam Wilson “Into a Heart, Part Two”
Sarah Jerrom “Dream Logic” (feat. Harley Card, Rob McBride & Jeff Luciani)
See Through 4 (Pete Johnston, Lina Allemano, Michael Davidson & Jake Oelrichs) “Permanent Moving Parts”
Thanks for tuning in and after this week I'll be taking a break from blogging, Instagramming, Facebooking, interviewing jazz drummers and all things social media in general over the summer.
Next Monday, frequent Four on the Floor correspondent Tim Mah (host of Jazz Today heard on CJSW 90.9 fm on Thursday mornings from 5:30 - 7:30am) will be contributing his excellent and informed list of significant Canadian jazz releases from the first half of the year 2021.
My sincerest thanks to everyone who has been tuning into to my weekly Tuesday evening talk show Four on the Floor *Live* happening on Instagram IGTV. When I started this experiment back in mid-December I thought this would only last two or three weeks (!) but it really turned into a thing.
I am very grateful to all the great people who took time to speak with me and make this the unique series that it's quickly become. I've sure learned a lot from this experience and hope you have as well.
Special thanks to:
Chad Anderson
Christopher Smith
Tim Mah
Adam Nussbaum Joe LaBarbera Geoff Clapp
Dave Laing
Quincy Davis
Ted Warren
Patrick Boyle
Francisco Mela
Jason Marsalis
Matt Wilson
Curtis Nowosad
Ulysses Owens Jr.
Mareike Wiening
Carl Allen
Allison Miller
Colleen Clark
Joe Farnsworth
Jon Gordon
Colin Stranahan
George Sluppick
Johnathan Blake
Jerome Jennings
Lewis Nash
George Fludas
Adonis Rose
And thank you to all of you who have tuned in every week to watch. You know who you are!
Please join me for the final episode of Four on the Floor *Live* of the season happening tomorrow, Tuesday, June 29th at 7pm mountain (9pm eastern), appearing on Instagram Live IGTV @fouronthfloorblog featuring Justin Faulkner!
5) Han Bennink interviewed by Ken Vandermark from Option Talk Music and the Experimental Sound Studio:
6) Rodney Green interviews Marvin "Smitty" Smith:
7) John Ramsay speaks about the legacy of Alan Dawson on the Drum History Podcast:
And here is a fantastic clip of Mr. Dawson in action with Dave Brubeck, featured on Paul Desmond's hit Take Five:
8) Edu Ribeiro interviews Billy Hart in the final instalment of his amazing weekly interview series from Open Studio:
9) Ulysses Owens Jr. is now hosting The Drummer's Perspective through Open Studio and this includes interviews with Lewis Nash:
...and Herlin Riley:
Owens also recently released an important new book entitled The Musician's Career Guide: Turning Your Talent into Sustained Success.
Here is a preview of his latest book:
Oh yes, Ulysses also has a great method book on brush playing that came out last year. Study it, practice hard and maybe you'll be lucky enough to play like this:
10) Lewis Nash was kind enough to share this incredible Zoom session with Christian McBride in which they listen to and reminisce about recordings they have played on together over the past 30+ years:
This is incredible!
11) Quincy Davis is still turning out incredible, regular content through his ongoing Q-Tips series on YouTube. I tell all my students to check these out and so should you:
11) I've really been enjoying pianist Emmet Cohen's ongoing series of live-stream concerts with the always swinging Kyle Poole on drums.
Here's a couple of recent ones from a concert featuring the great Joe Lovano:
Yeah!
12) Zakir Hussain and the Masters of Percussion featuring Marcus Gilmore on drums:
...and here's Marcus Gilmore's recent interview with Pablo Held:
13) This one has been making the rounds for a while now but a recent IG live from Dan Weiss prompted me to revisit this amazing footage of Pat Metheny, recorded at L'Air du Temps in Montreal circa. 1988, featuring Rakalam Bob Moses on All the Things You Are:
14) What am I listening to these days?
Miles Davis "In Person, Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk" - Jimmy Cobb (drums)
Johnathan Blake "Gone But Not Forgotten" - Johnathan Blake (drums)
Jeff "Tain" Watts "Watts" - Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)
Joe Magnarelli "If You Could See Me Now" - George Fludas (drums)
Adonis Rose "Song for Donise" - Adonis Rose (drums)
Dr. Lonnie Smith "Live at Club Mozambique" - Joe Dukes (drums)
Lou Donaldson "Alligator Boogaloo" - Leo Morris (drums)
Avishai Cohen "Gently Disturbed" - Mark Guiliana (drums)
Phil Dwyer & Don Thompson "Look for the Silver Lining"
15) And today's Final Word comes in the form of this inspiring quote from Twyla Tharp (via Matt Wilson):
"When you're in a groove, you're not spinning your wheels; you're moving forward in a straight and narrow path with pauses or hitches. You're unwavering, undeviating, and unparalleled in your purpose. A groove is the best place in the world. Because when you are in it, you have the freedom to explore, where everything you question leads you to new avenues and new routes."
- Twyla Tharp, renown choreographer
Well, that's all for today.
Thanks again to all of you for reading my blog and for all your support over the years.
Okay that's all I've got for now and see you in the fall.
In the meantime stay safe, stay healthy and keep it real.
Please join us for the final episode of Four on the Floor *Live* of the season (!) happening next Tuesday, June 29th at 7pm mountain (9pm eastern), appearing on Instagram Live IGTV @fouronthfloorblog featuring Justin Faulkner!
Philadelphia native, drummer, educator and philanthropist, Justin Faulkner has cultivated a sound that invites, entertains, informs and heals.
Throughout his career, Faulkner has shared the stage with musical luminaries like Kenny Barron, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Peter Nero, Jimmy Heath, Orrin Evans, Ornette Coleman, Sean Jones, Tim Warfield, Bernard Purdie, Pharoah Saunders, Terence Blanchard, Mingus Big Band/Dynasty/Orchestra, Bootsie Barnes, Jacky Terrasson, Terrence Howard, Bilal, Christian McBride and continues to be the drummer of choice for numerous others.
Justin's training began at the Girard Academic High School Music Program (GAMP). His formal education, starting at age 7, included studying classical percussion with Susan Jones, jazz drums and percussion with Samuel Ruttenberg at the Settlement Music School. Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Ensemble and Choral Ensemble education at the Kimmel Center created a new understanding of community and the creative ecosystem. The Clef Club of Jazz and the Performing Arts provided freedom of expression for a young musician to find his way. Principal Timpanist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Don Liuzzi, cultivated the detail-oriented nature that is necessary to craft the full musical experiences Faulkner presents.
Justin, as a child prodigy, entered the jazz scene at the tender age of 13, playing his first professional gig with bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma of Ornette Coleman's band Primetime. In the coming years, his apprenticeships with Orrin Evans, J.D. Walter, Boris Kozlov, Bootsie Barnes, Denise King, Michelle Beckham, and The Charles Mingus Big Band would shape the still teenager into a gentleman entering the scene elegantly and with a presence.
On March 19, 2009, his 18th birthday, Faulkner started his tenure with the Branford Marsalis Quartet. Since then, Faulkner has toured the world extensively for the last 11 years. The musical expedition has included performances at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Michener Museum (Doylestown, PA), The Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.), Jazz at Lincoln Center( New York City), The Sydney Opera House (Sydney, Australia), The Blue Note Jazz Club (Tokyo, Japan), Royal Opera House (Muscat, Oman), Vienna Konzerthaus (Vienna, Austria), and Concertgebouw (Amsterdam, Netherlands), to name a few.
Entrepreneurship and education have always been driving forces in Faulkner's life. Passion for community building and revitalization is the framework of his ethos. In 2015, these dimensions, his business partners Carol Faulkner and Nazir Ebo, joined forces to create The Community Unity Music Festival. This festival is a family philanthropic endeavor that creates music education opportunities for young people in the Philadelphia area. The mantra, "Put down the guns and pick up an instrument," changed the scope through which his family viewed the current gun violence problem in Philadelphia. Directly affected by this terror, losing two cousins, the family felt there was a responsibility to intervene. "Free music lessons, free instruments, and free interactive concerts with the elite musicians of the world are just starting points to creating social change and hope in our community. These opportunities will provide an alternative, build character, create intellectual liberation, and inspire generations to come". The festival additionally offers job opportunities for the community.
In addition to the festival, in 2019, Faulkner joined the faculty of Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance. This appointment has provided an opportunity to create a strong bond with today's youth and their understanding of the historical, sonic, and pedagogical foundation of jazz.
Faulkner is grateful for every opportunity he has to share his gift of music with the world. As a conscientious student of music, Justin asserts that prayer, spiritual reflection, and focused practice are the centers of his life progress. He aims to achieve selflessness in his approach as he recognizes it is not about him; it's about the music. "God gives us gifts and talents. Nurturing and development of those talents are the accompanying responsibilities. Then, the magic starts when its time to curate a collection of narratives that inform, inspire, and leave the listener wanting more."
This is a blog about jazz, jazz drumming and all things unrelated. Thanks for stopping by!
A Bit About Me...
Jonathan McCaslin was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan. Jonathan began playing the drums at the age of nine. He progressed through the Regina Lions Junior Band and the music program at his high school, Campbell Collegiate, soon developing a passion for playing the drums and jazz. Ultimately, Jon's interest in music led him to enroll in the Jazz Studies program at McGill University, graduating with distinction in 1999.
While at McGill Jon had the opportunity to study with some of the finest jazz educators in the country including Gordon Foote, Kevin Dean, Jan Jarcyzk, Chris McCann, Andre White, Michel Lambert and Dave Laing. He also attended the prestigious summer jazz workshop presented by the Banff Centre for the Arts in 1997, where he performed with Canadian jazz greats Hugh Fraser, Don Thompson and Kenny Wheeler.
Jon has also been fortunate to have performed with many of Canada's jazz elite including Charlie Biddle, Brian Hurley, Louise Rose, Alaister Kay, Mart Kinny, Gary Guthman, Mike Rud, Hadley Caliman, Greg Clayton, Chase Sanborn, Andre White, Tilden Webb, John LaBelle, Kevin Dean, Dave Turner, Ralph Bowen, Don Thompson, Dionne Taylor, Jim Vivian, Kelly Jefferson, Ian McDougall, Brad Turner, Jim Brenan, The McGill Jazz Orchestra, Jeff Johnston, Lorraine Desmerais, Steve Amirault, Hugh Fraser, Chucho Valdes, Kieran Overs, The Altsys Jazz Orchestra, Pat LaBarbera, The Regina Symphony Orchestra and The Montreal Jazz Big Band.
In the spring of 2002 McCaslin completed his Master's in Jazz Studies at McGill University where he studied jazz drumming, improvisation and composition.
In January 2003 Jon released his debut CD, “McCallum’s Island”. Featuring his quintet, the CD contains an exciting collection of McCaslin’s original compositions, featuring himself and his band. The release of this CD was followed by a twenty-day tour of Western Canada, performing to enthusiastic, capacity audiences. During March of 2003 Jonathan was the recipient of a fellowship from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and attended the “Betty Carter Jazz Ahead” residency in Washington, D.C. Along with twenty other distinguished young jazz artists, McCaslin was featured with such jazz icons as Terence Blanchard, Carmen Lundy, Winard Harper, Curtis Fuller and John Clayton.
McCaslin’s quintet performed at the 2003 edition of the Montreal International Jazz Festival and was nominated for the General Motors Grand Prix du Festival (awarded to the most outstanding Canadian group). From 2004 until 2006, Jon toured North America, Asia and Europe with the high-energy, critically acclaimed music production troupe “Barrage”. Featuring a cast of seven world-class fiddlers and a four-piece band, this dynamic show featured high-energy music and fiddle traditions from around the world set to upbeat choreography and movement.
In 2015, Dr. McCaslin received his Doctorate through the University of Toronto and completed his dissertation on the conceptualization of contemporary melodic jazz drumming. He is currently based in Calgary, Alberta where he maintains a busy performing and teaching schedule across Canada.
