It's Friday folks...and here's some rare footage of the Max Roach Quintet featuring Booker Little on trumpet along with George Coleman on tenor and Ray Draper on tuba to enjoy:
This particular edition of Max Roach's band has long been a big influence on me for sometime. I spent quite a bit of time during the later years of my undergrad degree at McGill transcribing Max's playing on the album "Deeds, Not Words". I dig the use of the tuba as the third voice, particularly in a three-horn configuration with no piano in sight. It's still a rare occurrence by today's standards.
I think Max had a bit of an affinity for the tuba and brass instruments in general. At one point Max even had a short-lived group during the late 90s called "The So What Brass" that featured him with a brass quintet (much like Dave Douglas' current Brass Ectasy project). Unfortunately there is only one recording of this band that I know of it's only one track featured on an album that features Max with a Symphony orchestra. I myself have had an interest in leading a brass quintet + drums project like this for some time.
I think that the piano-less configurations that Max played with in general post-Clifford Brown really allowed him to open a bit more in terms of his comping. His albums "Max Roach + 4" and "Max Roach + 4 Plays Charlie Parker" are also a couple of albums that I've really learned a lot from and Kenny Washington suggested that I really check out these recordings, in particular, for Max's comping vocabulary while playing up tempos.
Today's post features a great Canadian drummer from Quebec, the creative Michel Lambert. Here's Michel letting it all hang out in a solo drum set from Montreal's very hip and newest Jazz venue, Cafe Resonance:
I was fortunate to study with Lambert during the last year of my Master's degree at McGill University in 2002. He really encouraged me to "loosen up" my style and approach. We spent a lot of time working on the snare drum (mostly playing rolls) with the goal of getting me to play with a bigger/looser stroke and sound. Michel is a very engaging and free spirit when it comes to improvisation on the drums but, ironically, he was also one of the most technical drum teachers that I've ever worked with.
Check out these drum duets from Michel's website featuring himself with the likes of Hans Bennink, Rakalam Bob Moses, Montreal's John Heward and Daniel Humair:
Michel also lived and worked in Toronto for a number of years and played quite extensively with bassist Dave Young's band. The album "Fables" featuring Lambert with the Dave Young/Phil Quartet has always been a favourite.
To finish off "Brian Blade Week" over here at Four on the Floor, here's some clandestine home footage of Blade's Fellowship ensemble from a performance at the famed Village Vanguard brought to us by a very brave concertgoer (no pictures or video please!!!)
Since this is now my self-proclaimed "Brian Blade Week" here at Four on the Floor, I thought I would feature today the dynamic duet of Blade and guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel. I posted some of their recorded work on Monday but here's a nice live clip to chew on:
I really appreciate Brian's joyful spirit when he plays the drums and the diverse influences he blends together while still grounded in the Jazz tradition. The open texture of the drums/guitar combination offers some really nice space for both of these accomplished musicians to play off of each other.
I haven't checked this one out but look forward to hearing this album that they put out a couple of years ago:
A few people have inquired as to what I've been up to lately and where I can be heard in the next couple of months. So here's a few interesting gigs of mine to take note of:
January 25 - Calgary Creative Arts Ensemble Big Band featuring Ralph Bowen presented by the National Music Centre's Summit Jazz Series
February 3 - Big Band Clinic @ The University of Calgary
February 5 - Ralf Buschmeyer Trio hosts the Wine-Oh's Jazz Jam Session
February 6 - Carsten Rubeling Quartet @ The Cliff Bungalow Jazz Series
February 8 - The Yardbird Suite (Edmonton) with The Brenan Brothers
February 16 - The Invertigo Trio with Jim Brenan and Rubim de Toledo host the Broken City Jazz Jam 3-6pm
March 15 - Brad Shigeta Swing Band
March 16 - Fraser Calhoun Quartet featuring Mulgrew Miller @ Riverside Church
March 17 - Fraser Calhoun Quartet featuring Mulgrew Miller @ The Yardbird Suite (Edmonton)
March 18 - Fraser Calhoun Quartet featuring Mulgrew Miller @ Grant MacEwan University (Edmonton)
March 19 - Fraser Calhoun Quartet featuring Mulgrew Miller @ The Ironwood Stage & Grill
March 20 - 22 - Optimist Band Festival (Regina, SK)
March 23 - Guest Artist with the Regina Jazz Orchestra (Regina, SK)
Please drop by and say hello!
Here's a few things that have been making the rounds lately around the Four on the Floor offices. Enjoy!
- Brian Blade is indeed one of our generations most influential Jazz drummers (and for good reason!) His work as a leader with his Fellowship ensemble and as sideman with the Wayne Shorter Quartet are two examples of why Brian has been leading the charge over the past ten or so years.
I've really been enjoying his duo work with guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel and this track is a good example of the interesting music this drums/guitar duet is capable of:
And if you like that, here's another bass and drums duet featuring Blade with bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa from his album "Prayer" on Sonny Rollins' "Oleo":
More interesting Brian Blade clips coming this week...
- Drummer Marcus Gilmore, who also happens to be the grandson of Jazz great Roy Haynes (!), has been making quite an impression lately. Here's a nice article on Gilmore courtesy of NPR's A Blog Supreme:
- Lewis Nash was recently in Calgary with the Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour and it was incredible. Nash has always been a favorite of mine. Here's a couple quick ones of Lewis in action from the same recent tour:
- Pianist Benny Green was also on that bill and, as far as I was concerned, really stole the show (and that's saying a lot considering how well everybody played!)
Here's another clip of Benny Green and his trio featuring Kenny Washington on drums:
Dig the very explicit accents that Kenny displays during his drum solo. Time for me to revisit my Wilcoxin snare drum solos, me thinks!
And here's a nice interview with Green talking about his days as a Jazz Messenger, mentored by the great Art Blakey:
- What am I listening to these days?
Mulgrew Miller Trio "Live at the Kennedy Center" - Rodney Green (drums)
Danny Grissett "Form" - Kendrick Scott (drums)
JJ Johnson & Stan Getz "Live at the Opera House" - Connie Kay (drums)
Oscar Peterson Trio "West Side Story" - Ed Thigpen (drums)
Jim Hall "Live!" - Terry Clarke (drums)
- Carl Allen recently gave an excellent masterclass at this year's edition of the JEN Conference in Atlanta on his approach to playing the ride cymbal. Here's a highlight of his session courtesy of Bret Primack, the "Jazz Video Guy":
- My good friend and fellow McGill alumni Rich Irwin recently launched his own on-line drumming school:
More on Rich and this exciting project coming soon!
- New Orleans drummer Herlin Riley is always a pleasure to listen to. His modern approach of dealing with New Orleans Second Line music and infectiousness groove always inspires me:
I've been checking out this album of Riley's lately too and enjoy not only his unique playing but interesting compositions as well:
- Special thanks to Chad Anderson who hipped me this special one (audio only!) of Max Roach:
- And finally, to finish off today's extensive Monday Morning Paradiddle, here's a little Tony Williams that has inspired me of late and should provide more than enough "fuel to the fire" to motivate me in the old woodshed this week!
I was going to post a drum lesson today that I've been working on but it's been a really busy week between nightly gigs and other commitments. So instead I give you today somebody else's drum lesson (!) featuring the great Cuban jazz drummer Ignacio Berroa demonstrating a couple of his own concepts courtesy of the nice people over at Latin Percussion:
And here's a clip of Ignacio with his trio putting these ideas into action:
Thanks to Chad Anderson who sent me this full-length concert featuring Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, George Coleman and the great Billy Higgins on drums:
I've posted some clips of these two before but I dig this music so much, here's some more of a great duet featuring drummer Ari Hoenig and Columbian harpist Edmar Castaneda to enjoy over the coming weekend:
Thank you to everybody who came out to our big band show last Friday evening at Calgary's National Music Centre with the Calgary Creative Arts Ensemble featuring tenor titan Ralph Bowen on saxophone. The band played great and we played to a very enthusiastic, full house. We are already looking forward to our next show on April 20th featuring Brad Turner on trumpet and the music of Kenny Wheeler. Thank you all for your continued support.
Now that I can catch my breath following that epic show (!) here's a few things making the rounds over here at Four on The Floor:
- This has been a great few weeks for Jazz drummers in my hometown of Calgary, Alberta. In the last two weeks I've heard Jesse Cahill with the Cory Weeds/Steve Davis Quintet at Wine-Oh's (formerly known as the Beatniq), Lewis Nash with Christian McBride and the Monterey Jazz All-Stars and, this weekend, local drummers Tyler Hornby and Jon May with Ralph Bowen (also at the National Music Centre). Canadian Jazz drummer Morgan Childs will have his group through town this coming weekend and I'm quite looking forward to that.
And here's a little preview of what to expect from this group featuring Morgan on drums, Kelly Jefferson on tenor saxophone, Dave Restivo on piano and Jon Maharaj on bass:
- I was searching for something else this morning and came across this brief but cool footage of Dafnis Prieto from a recent clinic performance in Toronto at Long and McQuade:
- Check out this full-length concert of Bill Stewart with Pat Metheny and Larry Grenadier:
- What am I listening to these days?
Jerrold Dubyk "The Maverick" - Jesse Cahill (drums)
Jim Brenan "January" - Dana Hall (drums)
Cannonball Adderley "Things Are Getting Better" - Art Blakey (drums) and Milt Jackson (vibes)
Bobby Hutcherson "Natural Illusions" - Jack DeJohnette (drums) and Bobby Hutcherson (vibes)
Dave Douglas "Spirit Moves" - Nasheet Waits (drums)
Tardo Hammer "Look, Stop and Listen: The Music of Tadd Dameron" - Joe Farnsworth (drums)
Chick Corea "Light as a Feather" - Airto Moreira (drums and percussion)
Phineas Newborn Jr. "We Three" - Roy Haynes (drums)
- Playing recently with saxophonist Ralph Bowen was really quite an experience, to say the least! The guy really knows his drums. While I don't have any footage of my own playing with Ralph and the CCAE big band from last Friday, here's a good one of Bowen playing with my fellow Canadian Jazz drumming blogger Ted Warren (on drums) from Toronto's Rex awhile ago on Bowen's catchy minor tune "Soul Proprietor":
Go Ted Go!!!
Thanks again everybody and have a great week y'all!
The Calgary Creative Arts Ensemble strikes again! My big band that I co-lead with saxophonist Mark DeJong hits the stage at the National Music Centre in Calgary this Friday evening. We'll be featuring our special guest, acclaimed jazz saxophonist Ralph Bowen, on a program of his original music arranged for Jazz orchestra. Don't miss this exciting evening of music. It's going to be epic!!!
The RBC Summit Jazz Series Presents:
The Calgary Creative Arts Ensemble with special guest saxophonist Ralph Bowen
Friday, January 25 - 7:30pm
National Music Centre
134 11 Avenue SE
Calgary, AB
On Sunday evening I heard the "Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour" at the Epcor Centre in Calgary. The band featured an all-star lineup with the likes of Chris Potter, Ambrose Akinmusire, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Christian McBride, Benny Green and Lewis Nash. It was a great show and really featured the strengths and talents of the diverse musicians. In particular, the hook-up between bassist McBride, Benny Green on piano and drummer Lewis Nash was impeccable and a lesson in itself in the art of rhythm section playing. This was definitely one of the better shows I've heard in recent memory.
I searched around for some recent footage of Benny Green and came across this good one of his trio featuring Kenny Washington on drums:
Really dig the deep, relaxed, swinging and soulful groove that Washington gets at this slower tempo, especially when he switches to sticks. Now THAT is hard!!! In fact, I recall from an interview with Washington in a Modern Drummer magazine from the early 90s where Kenny stressed the importance of checking out Mel Lewis' slow cymbal beat on track "The Night Time Is The Right Time" from the album "Presenting Joe Williams and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis - The Jazz Orchestra".
One should never underestimate the importance of practicing one's ride cymbal beat at a VERY slow tempo. This is something that my teacher at McGill, Chris McCann, stressed way back during my undergrad days and I feel that being able to play that cymbal pattern in a relaxed AND accurate fashion really separates the men from the boys! I think it also really establishes one's ability to feel a definitive triplet subdivision and sets the stage for a really authentic sounding/feeling Jazz cymbal beat.
I've always admired percussionist Trilok Gurtu's sense of the term "World Music" and his blending of Indian classical music with Jazz, electronica and whatever else inspires his imagination. Here is a cool documentary courtesy of The DeWarists to enjoy over the weekend:
Just a nice one today of my vibraphone hero, the great Bobby Hutcherson with Joey DeFrancesco on the B3 Hammond Organ:
I think the vibes and organ make for a great combination and will certainly make a point of checking out the album these two did together, "Organic Vibes".
Today's drum lesson deals with playing a three-beat phrase over a popular New Orleans bass drum pattern. I've been messing around with this pattern for a few weeks now and it really twists your sense of timing around.
The inspiration for this exercise comes from mainly three sources:
First of all I have to credit Ted Warren over at his blog Trap'd http://trapdted.blogspot.ca/. Ted has a real knack for coming up with these ingenious (and very difficult) patterns and polyrhythmic exercises that will surely twist ones brain (and limbs!)
Also, I was fortunate to spend some time studying with drummer Yoron Israel at Berklee while I was performing in Boston for an extended period of time with the touring violin troupe Barrage back in 2004.
One of the things that Yoron had me practice was the rudimental etudes from Charles Wilcoxin's classic snare drum text "The All-American Drummer".
Except (and in the spirit of Alan Dawson!) Yoron had me play all the excerpts with the following New Orleans-inspired bass drum and hi-hat pattern accompanied in my feet:
If you haven't tried something like this I highly recommend it as it really helps one apply the rudiments to the drumset in a very practical and musical manner.
Furthermore, years ago while I was studying with Montreal drummer Michel Lambert while completing my masters degree at McGill University Michel often had me play familiar sticking patterns with some kind of foot ostinato. However, he would also have me place accents in odd places and spread them around the drums, hence taking me out of my comfort zone and creating fresh patterns and new ways of playing things I had already played a million times. Very clever, I thought...
So with those three drummers in mind I came up with this pattern to mess around with:
You'll see that this pattern is a three-bar phrase with the eighth-notes played in three-note groupings while the feet play the New Orleans groove underneath 4/4 (also known as the first bar of a 3-2 clave or the first bar of the "Bo Diddley" beat.)
Really emphasize the accents and play the eighth-notes as a hand-to-hand sticking RLRLRLRL etc. Because the accents of the snare drum and bass drum don't always line up, it has a bit of a sideways feeling to it.
Now here are some sticking variations to make things more interesting:
RLL RLL RLL RLL
LRR LRR LRR LRR
RRL RRL RRL RRL
LLR LLR LLR LLR
Once you've got that together then start moving the lead accent around the drums (for the two patterns that start with a double stroke, I keep them together).
- Move the lead hand around the drums in a clockwise direction
- Move the lead hand around the drums in a counter-clockwise direction
- Alternate the lead hand accents between the high tom and floor tom
*All the inner or "unaccented" notes stay on the snare drum
Obviously there are many more variations one could come up with but as Bob McLaren always like to say: "This is enough to keep you off the streets for awhile!"
Some friends of mine recently returned from the JEN conference in Atlanta and raved about, among many other things, Carl Allen's drum clinic entitled "The Shape of the Ride Cymbal". Carl is a great player that I've admired for a long time and he is also an excellent teacher and clinician (who also currently serves as the department head of the Jazz department at Juilliard). In fact, during some trips to New York about ten years ago I spent some time studying with Carl and absorbing his wisdom. To this day I still think about the important concepts about swing and music he laid on me.
The first time I heard him play live was during the summer of 2001 at the Montreal Jazz festival with Michael and Randy Brecker, pianist David Kikoski and bassist Peter Washington in a group labeled as "The Acoustic Brecker Brothers". It was a great band and a shame that they didn't record together (although I think there are a few bootlegs out there...)
Here's a nice shot of Carl in action with the reformed Jazztet with Benny Golson, Art Farmer and Curtis Fuller. Dig his solo that starts around the 1:25 mark:
And here's Carl with Christian McBride's exciting band "Inside Straight" featuring the awesome vibraphone playing of Warren Wolf on vibes:
Allen was also a member of the Benny Green Trio during the 90s and recorded some great albums with Benny including "Greens" and "Testifyin'!: Live at the Village Vanguard". Here's a good one to give you an idea as to what that trio was all about:
Carl has recorded extensively as a sideman and as a leader, however my personal favorite album that he appears on is a Rodney Whitaker date on the Criss Cross label entitled "The Brooklyn Sessions: Ballads and Blues":
Welcome back everyone and I hope you all had a safe, sound and restful holiday season with you and yours. Thanks again for all your support and nice emails. All of us over here at Four on the Floor are looking forward to another year of blogging anything and everything related, or not, to the wide and wonderful world of Jazz drumming, the Jon McCaslin universe and beyond.
I personally had a great holiday at home over the holidays with my family and dug up these fine items for your perusal:
- I accidentally made a glaring omission in my "Best of 2012" list from my last post. While I consider Pimento's Pizzeria in Calgary's Bridgeland neighborhood to be my favorite pizza joint in town in fact I should mention that Vancouver's Pizzeria Barbarella http://pizzeriabarbarella.com/ is actually THE best pizza I've ever tasted. Thanks to Phil Dwyer who introduced me to this East Broadway gem last spring. Proprietor Terry Deane is also a fine Jazz tenor saxophonist as well. Check it out and you won't be disappointed (although please consider eating your pizza with a knife and fork at your own risk!)
- Drummer Eric Harland has been making some waves over the past few years with a variety of projects. I first heard Eric at the late-night jam session at the Blue Note in New York about ten years ago, playing with saxophonist Rick Margitza and was impressed even back then. Harland is quite the in-demand drummer these days and from this footage of him performing at a Berklee event, you can clearly see why:
I first heard Harland's name mentioned to me via some classmates of his who attended the Manhattan School of Music with him during the late 90s. Lately I've been really enjoying his work with Charles Lloyd and in particular the ECM record "Tales of Rumi" in which Lloyd and Harland are joined by tabla great Zakir Hussain.
- Joe Lovano has long been one of my favorite Jazz saxophonists and I really admire how he embraces such a wide spectrum of improvisation, dealing with straight-ahead standards to freer, more open contexts as well and all with great ease and a personal style. Here's Lovano demonstrating is affinity for playing with great drummers, in this case with the great Milford Graves:
- As I mentioned before, I was fortunate to spend some time studying with the great Joe LaBarbera earlier this fall. When I asked Joe what he considered to be Buddy Rich's "finest moment" Joe replied, and without hesitation: "The Hague 1978". Here's an excerpt from that concert (now available on DVD) and you can clearly see why (here's a hint: it's the blue sweater and large white collared shirt...)
- For my good friend Bryan Niblock, here's yet another one of Peter Erskine from a recent hit in France:
- I had the pleasure of playing a lot of Duke Ellington's music in December with several great big bands, including Duke and Billy Strayhorn's re-arrangement of the Nutcracker Suite. Ellington's music cannot be underestimated nor dismissed and it was a real lesson studying the drumming of Sam Woodyard and Louie Bellson, in particular, in advance of those gigs.
Here's a great one I recently discovered of tap dancer Bunny Briggs featured with the Duke Ellington Orchestra circa. 1965 with Louie Bellson on drums (possibly playing with a single bass drum?):
- I've been listening to and absorbing a lot of Bobby Hutcherson's music lately and I came across this wonderful article in which Hutcherson describes an incident while rehearsing with Eric Dolphy: http://stopsmilingonline.com/story_detail.php?id=1051
I strongly feel that Dolphy's message in that "Love Conquers All" still resonates today. Words to live by indeed...
Welcome back and have a great week everybody!
Well it's come to that time of the year and it seems like everybody and their dog is coming out with their top "whatever" lists of the past year. So here's my Four on the Floor "Best of 2012" list:
- I don't really consider myself a Jazz "critic" per say as I'm not completely up on absolutely everything that's currently being released in a given year. It's not that I don't like new music or that I don't check it out, it's just that I don't actively seek out music just because it's new (also, I don't have the luxury of record companies sending me music on a weekly basis!) Besides, I'm still trying to catch up with the older stuff! So I'll leave the "Best Albums" of the year to the other fine Jazz bloggers out there.
However, I will say this, my best find of 2012 would have to be the Jim Hall Live! re-issues from 1975 featuring Hall with Don Thompson and Terry Clarke.
Apparently guitarists have regarded the original album in very high esteem (one friend even referred to them as the "Plugged Nickel" for guitarists!) and a whole bunch of material was recently re-released via Artist Share. It's awesome. Check it out.
For what it's worth, this is my pick for "Album of the Year" (still a re-issue, mind you!)
In terms of more recent releases, two albums that really stood out to me were:
Ulysses Owens Jr. "Unanimous"
Johnathan Blake "The Eleventh Hour"
- Speaking of "Best Albums of the Year", I was thrilled to learn that my new album "Sunalta" was recently included in Peter Hum's picks for Top 5 Canadian Jazz albums of 2012:
My latest album was released on the Cellar Live label last May. I'm very pleased with the results and please consider purchasing it so I can save my money to make another one!
- By this time next year I will likely have reached just over 1000 posts on Four on The Floor. However, many of the links I've posted (youtube.com videos, etc.) have gone extinct! If you happen to be browsing older posts of mine and you find the content to be inactive, please let me know so I can edit them accordingly.
- Speaking of videos, here's a collection of clips that I posted and inspired me the most over the last year:
- I must admit that I've been very lax in terms of posting any drum lessons over the past year. They take some time to properly put together, however I do have a bunch of great ideas in the works that I will share with you in the year to come, hopefully on a more consistent basis. Thanks to all of you who write me with such positive comments with regards to the lessons I've posted already.
In the meantime check out Todd Bishop's fine blog Cruise Ship Drummer as he always has great things to practice there: http://shipdrummer.blogspot.ca/
- Speaking of drum lessons, I was very fortunate to spend some quality time studying with the likes of Joe LaBarbera, Adam Nussbaum, Dave Mancini and vibraphonist Allan Molnar over the course of the past year. They are all great educators and I definitely have no lack of things to practice and think about in the year to come!
- Do you live in Calgary? Do you like food? Here's my picks for 2012:
Best Breakfast - Dairy Lane
(with special mention to Edmonton's "New York Bagel Cafe")
Best Italian - Borgo
Best Burger - Boogie's Burgers, Five Guys and Smash Burger (a three way tie!)
Best Bar-b-que - Holy Smoke!
Best Pizza - Pimento's
Best Coffee - Deville (corner of Centre Street and 7th Avenue SW)
Best Steak House - Vintage Chophouse
Best Montreal Smoked Meat - Myhre's Deli (aka The Palace of Eats)
Thank you all for your continued support. Blogging will resume early next year. It's time for a break. Drive safe and see you in 2013!
I've been revisiting some favorite albums of mine featuring Bill Stewart on drums lately, as well as checking out some new ones. His cymbal sound and melodic sensibility is always impressive and inspiring.
- Thanks to Calgary saxophonist Jeff McGregor who recently hooked me up with John Scofield's live trio album "En Route".
Fortunately there is some great live footage of that same trio with Scofield, Steve Swallow and Bill Stewart floating around youtube.com these days for us to enjoy:
- Here's also an older Jazz Times article with Stewart:
- For all you Facebooker's out there (ie. the all-mighty colossal waster of humanity's time!!!) here's an interview with Bill Stewart where he his discusses his approach to dealing with polyrhythms on drums:
(if you dig around there are others on that page as well...)
- The sound quality on this next one isn't great, but it doesn't matter! Here's Bill demonstrating his incredible musicality and groove and some very nice Zildijian cymbals courtesy of the Memphis Drum Shop:
I love it how the tiny splash cymbal at his far right gets its own cymbal stand (I noticed that Bill used to "piggy back" his splashes on the top of larger cymbals awhile ago...Billy Hart is infamous for that as well!) It looks so tiny compared to the 22" next to it! lol
- And from the Modern Drummer festival, here's another great one featuring Bill with saxophonist Seamus Blake:
- So what are a few of my favorite Bill Stewart recordings you are probably asking yourself?
Here some of my picks that I keep going back to for ideas and inspiration:
Well it's been awhile since this column has made an appearance on Four on the Floor. Today I'd like to introduce to you a very fine young musician who has recently returned to Calgary from New York City and whom I've had the pleasure of getting to know over the past few months. Gareth is an incredible talent and Calgary is very lucky to have him in its midst! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gareth Bane’s return to Calgary signifies his continuation of hard swinging, forward thinking baritone saxophone playing. Since discovering the Baritone at an early age, he has endeavored to deepen that instrument’s mastery and introduce listeners to its true potential. A blend of jazz, R&B and funk shape the concept of his powerful sound and approach to music. Influences as diverse as Nick Brignola, Ralph Bowen and Tower of Power have solidified into his appealing concept and approach to jazz.
Already in high demand as both a performer and educator, Gareth left Calgary in 2005 to continue his studies and graduated with his Masters of Music from Rutgers University in 2007. After a year working abroad he returned to New York City to live and immerse himself in that great city’s music culture. Studying with such masters as Ralph Bowen, Stanley Cowell, Conrad Herwig, Vic Juris, Bob Francischini and Jason Marshal have only broadened Gareth’s musical direction.
Between Calgary, Rutgers and New York some of Gareth’s favorite associations have been with Ralph Bowen, Conrad Herwig, Brian Lynch, Ed Simon, Frank Sinatra Jr., Eddie Palmieri and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also been building his reputation as a copyist and arranger, completing projects for Conrad Herwig, Tim Ries, Dave Pierce, Joey Van and the Calgary Stampede.
1) Can you tell us about your musical background? How did you learn to play Jazz?
I started in High School at Central Memorial playing in the school Big Band. I switched over from being a classical to a jazz undergrad at the University of Calgary in my 2nd year, graduating in 2000. I dabbled on all the saxes in high school focusing mainly on alto, but UofC was where I embraced the baritone sax and I’ve never looked back. I’ve taken lessons from one time or another from just about every saxophonist in the city including Eric Friedenberg, Pat Beliveau, Rich Harding and most recently Jim Brenan. In 2005 I left Calgary to take a Masters of Music at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey (yes, thats the title) and study with legendary saxophonist Ralph Bowen. While at Rutgers I also had the fortune to learn from Conrad Herwig, Stanley Cowell, Vic Juris and Lewis Porter. I would say this is the time I made the most leaps in my understanding of jazz music to date. Since graduating in 2007 I’ve also studied with Bob Francischini, Jason Marshal and Pat Labarbera. I like learning from any sources that present themselves and feel blessed to have studied and worked with some of the greatest musicians out there.
2) Who are your musical influences and why?
Pat Beliveau was the first. He has a power to his sound on baritone I still envy (though I don’t envy playing size 5 reeds!). Ronnie Cuber for similar reasons. Nick Brignola for his virtuosity, creativity and ability to drop a blues lick in ANYWHERE! Tower of Power and Stephen “Doc” Kupka for introducing me to the groove and how the Baritone fits in it. Pepper Adams for his concept and individuality. Earl Seymour, Gary Smulyan, Serge Chaloff, Leo Parker, Harry Carnie... these are just baritone players, but I’ve been influenced by many other saxophonists and instrumentalists. Everyone in a different way. You take something from everyone you hear.
3) Name your top 5 favorite albums and how they have influenced you.
Man...
Pat Metheny Group - "The Road to You"
I love this album and always have. People say you always love the music you listened to in High School and this was it for me. PMG makes complex time changes glide by effortlessly and its live so you feed off the energy. Amazing album that taught me how to look at odd-meter and musicality.
The Brecker Brothers - "Heavy Metal Be-Bop"
In my mind the quintessential Brecker Brothers album. The famous cadenza from Funky Sea, Funky Dew should be all anyone needs to hear to become inspired to master the saxophone. Michael’s ability to create his own grooves that the rhythm sections can’t help jumping in on has always blown my mind. That and Heavy Metal Be-Bop. ‘nuff said.
Mingus Big Band - "Live in Time"
Ronnie Cuber playing “Moanin” embodies my whole perception as to how the Baritone Saxophone should be approached. That and the latin groove he plays on the out-head is awesome and one of the first things I ever transcribed.
Kenny Wheeler - "Music for Small and Large Ensembles"
This is an essential album for any who are interested in jazz composition and has formed the backbone to my arranging style.
Tower of Power - "Live and in Living Color" and "Soul Vaccination"
The MOST grooving band with the most killing horn section in the world. Aside from the awesome which is “Doc” Kupka, this horn section redefines “tight” and is my benchmark for cutoffs.
4) What sort of things are you practicing or developing musically these days?
I’m trying to really focus on vernacular so I’ve been transcribing a lot. Right now I’m working on Nick Brignola’s solo on Billie’s Bounce off of Baritone Madness. I’m also taking several different lines and concepts through 12 keys using the blues as a framework. I’m also working on “Odd Meter Etudes for All Instruments” by Everett Gates and trying to do as much writing as possible.
5) What interesting projects do you have on the go at the moment? (gigs, recordings, etc.)
I’m working on starting my original sextet “Low Blow” back up. Tenor, Trombone, Baritone, Guitar, Bass and Drums. Basic idea is the horns all sound in the bass clef. The original group had more of a hard bop feel, but I’m looking to “modern” things up a bit by getting the current lineup to do some writing of their own for the group. At the moment its looking like me (Bari), Sean Craig (Ten), Carsten Rubling (Bone), Aaron Young (Gtr), Kodi Hutchinson (Bass) and Karl Schwonic (Drums).
6) You were fortunate to spend several years studying and working in New York City. What can you tell us about your experience as both a student and professional in the big city?
I could go on at length on that one... Here are a few lessons I learned.
-Even the “Heavies” are human and you can talk to them like anybody else you respect. Most are wonderful supportive people. All are on their path which is totally different from ours or anyone else’s.
-We are all in this together and being supportive of each other is critical if we want to succeed. It always amazed me how many musicians in the scene would come out to support one an others gigs and projects.
-I truly believe one of the best things you can do for your growth in music or any life pursuit is to travel. Getting away form what you’re used too is paramount for kicking your butt up to the next level.
7)Favorite place to eat and drink in Calgary?
That’s another lengthy one...
Breakfast- Dairy Lane in Upper Hillhurst on 19th Street NW. Amazing locally sourced food. I haven’t had a bad meal in there yet. Decent coffee. I also have to give props to Monki on 10th Ave SW. I’ve only been there once so far, but it blew my mind.
Lunch- Boxwood in Central Park on 13th Ave. Good dinner too, their modest kitchen is in the middle of the restaurant and has a bar around it that you can sit at. I recommend this for dinner. They have Brew Brother’s beer on tap which adds to their awesome.
Dinner- Cassis in Kilarney on 17th Ave SW. Little French restaurant with incredible staff and menu. Great wine list to boot.
Drinks- I’m a big fan of Beer Revolution on 11th Ave SW. They have a rotating craft beer selection which rocks.
I’ll also give a nod to Wurst on 4th Street SW. I’m a little biased as I used to work there, but their food is killing and you can get the Hacker-Pschorr Kellerbier on tap...
Second nod goes to Phil and Sebastian in Marda-Loop. Some of the best coffee I’ve ever had.
And...it's Monday once again! I hope you are all well and thanks again for checking out my blog and for your continued support. Things have been busy on the go around here lately. I've been lucky to have played with some amazing musicians of late including Rubim DeToledo's CD project with trumpeter Sean Jones, Jim Brenan's incredible CD release, former Duke Ellington trombonist Brad Shigeta's swing band, trumpeter Dean McNeill's quintet and several big band concerts performing Duke Ellington's arrangement of The Nutcracker Suite in both Edmonton and Saskatoon with the Yardbird Suite All-Stars and the Metro Big Band, respectively. I finished this weekend off with some gigs on the vibraphone (has been awhile!) I consider myself very fortunate to perform great music with such great musicians on a regular basis.
Here's a few things brewing around Four on the Floor headquarters these days:
- As I've stated before, drummer Johnathan Blake is one of my favorite contemporary young drummers on the scene today. Here is a great and energetic clip of him playing with bassist/composer Omer Avital's quintet:
Omer's quintet album "Live at Small's" has been on my CD rotation for quite some time and I really dig the variety of influences that pop up in his music (from Jewish folk melodies to Charlies Mingus and beyond...) I really hope that this band releases some more recordings in the future. I'll be first in line.
- In my quest to become a better Jazz vibraphonist and better my overall understanding of Jazz harmony and the practice of melodic Jazz improvisation these days, I've really been taking advantage of all the great information and wisdom posted on the website www.jazzadvice.com.
Calgary baritone saxophonist (and overall really nice guy!) Gareth Bane hipped to this great treasure trove of Jazz knowledge and I highly recommend it as it's a great resource for practical Jazz improv tips and lessons. If you ever find yourself "bored" and don't know what to practice...check it out!
- Here's another one of Peter Erskine playing his nice DW drums and demonstrating DW's latest hybrid maple/mahogony drum shells:
Man, those sound good!
- I first heard drummer Justin Faulkner when he joined Branford Marsalis' band during the summer of 2009 at the Edmonton Jazz Festival. Justin sat in on my drums and cymbals during a late night jam session I was hosting and he tore the house down with Branford and his crew on a lively version of Coltrane's "A Love Supreme". Faulkner is definitely a young drummer to keep an eye on:
- Speaking of drummers to keep your eyes and ears on...When I lived in Toronto several years ago I caught Larnell Lewis several times with many different groups down at the Rex. He is an exceptional talent on the drums and it was always a joy to hear him play, especially with Rich Brown's band Rinse the Algorithm. Here's Larnell unleashing on some cool Yamaha electronic drums and Zildjian cymbals, discussing his approach:
- What am I listening to these days?
Danny Grisset Trio "Encounters" - Kendrick Scott (drums)
Phil Dwyer Orchestra featuring Mark Fewer "Changing Seasons" - Jon Wikan (drums)
Don Cherry "Mu, First Part & Second Part" - Ed Blackwell (drums)
Alex Sipiagan "Mirages" - Johnathan Blake (drums)
Tardo Hammer Trio "Look, Stop & Listen: The Music of Tadd Dameron" - Joe Farnsworth (drums)
Bobby Hutcherson "Oblique" - Joe Chambers (drums) & Bobby Hutcherson (vibes)
Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz @ Lincoln Center Orchestra "Congo Square" - Ali Jackson Jr. (drums)
Ronan's columns and insights are always a great read and I learn something every time I venture over to his site.
- Lastly, to finish up today's post, here is the great Steve Gadd in a solo spot with the Pedrito Martinez group from last fall's PASIC 2012 conference in Austin, Texas:
Dig the retro, blue swirly finish on those slick Yamaha drums with the wood hoops. Looks cool and sounds great too!
It's Friday and, once again, what better way to start the weekend than with a clip of my favorite all-time Jazz drummer, Max Roach from a masterclass in Italia:
I also poached this photo from Leroy Williams' Facebook page. Here are some serious, bad ass, heavyweight drummers posing together following Max Roach's funeral in 2007:
This one is for my friend Bryan Niblock. Today here's the great Peter Erskine in fine form with his trio:
I always admire how comfortable Erskine looks when he plays. Everything seems so loose and rubbery and he has a real effortless "flow" when he moves around the kit.
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.
