I was having a great conversation over coffee with pianist David Restivo last December and we spent the afternoon talking all things drumming and drummers (Dave's also a great drummer!). Eventually Jack DeJohnette, Billy Hart and Joe Chambers became the hot topic of conversation and one theme that David emphasized in the context of these amazing drummers (and other jazz musicians) was the concept of musical storytelling. I think one can agree that the way great improvisors can develop an abstract yet compelling sort of musical narrative and development through the course of their solos is something real and something important (the opposite being just stringing together a series of unrelated phrases that individually might work but as a whole might not really lead anywhere or add up to much...)
Antonio Sanchez is one of my favourite storytellers on the drums and he's obviously given a lot of specific thought to developing ideas and musical narratives on the drum set. Check it out:
Here's a few other favourites of mine featuring even more great "storytelling" from behind the drums featuring Antonio Sanchez:
Some amazing concert footage of Elvin Jones and his quartet with Dave Liebman, Steve Grossman and Gene Perla performing in Berlin circa. 1972 recently appeared on YouTube:
I believe I shared some black and white footage of this band, from the same European tour, many years ago so it's cool to see this one in colour. If you aren't familiar with the Elvin Jones Live at the Lighthouse recordings that feature this same band, I highly recommend it!
And for like many of you I'm sure, it's also the beginning of a new year and it's time to get back to work and back to school.
Thanks for checking in for today's post, the very first of the year, the January 2026 edition of the Monday Morning Paradiddle, my occasional all-things jazz drumming variety column.
It's been awhile since I've posted one of these. Life takes over sometimes and it was a pretty busy Fall last year, so blogging was bit lite for awhile. It's hard to believe that my last column was back in September! But I'm still here and not planning on going anywhere anytime soon so please enjoy this month's collection.
The Monday Morning Paradiddle - January 2026
1. More excellent writing and great commentary from Vinnie Sperrazza's Substack Chronicles including:
2. Todd Bishop's Cruiseship Drummer is still one of my go to drumming blogs. His excellent and concise latest piece Who and Why: The Magnificent Seven is an example why.
6. Portland's Alan Jones with Phil Dwyer (piano) and Ben Dwyer (bass) on Bean and the Boys by Coleman Hawkins:
7. Check out Gregory Hutchinson's new YouTube series In the Pocket with Hutch. He's dropping some pretty serious knowledge and wisdom here, so take the time to check these out. Here's a preview of a couple recent episodes:
8. Thanks to the JP Bouvet Method for this interview with Dave King:
9. Inspiring drumming from Shakoor Hakeem and Kweku Sumbry:
10. Johnny Vidacovich shares some deep wisdom on groove and feel:
11. Footage of Marvin "Smitty" Smith from Calabria circa. 1991:
12. Pat LaBarbera talks all things drums, drummers, Buddy Rich and Elvin Jones with Michael Vosbein and Adam Nussbaum at Drummer Nation:
13. And, of course as always, many more fantastic lessons from Quincy Davis' Q-Tips jazz drumming lesson channel on YouTube:
Make sure to check out and sign up for Quincy's latest endeavour Q/munity.
Quincy has done a great job creating a very engaging ongoing, on-line jazz drumming community.
So come join the fun, get to work, learn something and....Let's Goooo!
Well, I'll likely elaborate more on this in a future blog post but aside from listening to and learning music for specific upcoming gigs, the main focus of my music listening over the past couple of months has intentionally been jazz music with no drums! It's all part of a specific musical exercise I'm putting myself though and I'll explain my rational later but in the meantime check out this fantastic duo recording of Joe Lovano and Hank Jones (with no drums!):
15. And today's Final Word goes to Kenny Washington:
"It doesn't take much for a drummer to make a band sound good."
- Kenny Washington (via Gregory Hutchinson)
*editor's note:*
...and I'll just add my two cents (Canadian!) here as well:
"...and it doesn't take much for a drummer to make a band sound bad either!"
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.
