Lewis Nash Speaks

Definitely not the greatest audio/video quality but definitely some quality wisdom from the great Lewis Nash thanks to an intrepid audience member with his/her iPhone:



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

Andre Ceccarelli 13"17

 I've been checking out a lot of great European Jazz drummers lately and French Jazz drummer Andre Ceccarelli is certainly no exception:



And here's a little masterclass/lesson to dig into:

Up Close with Billy Hart

A couple of interesting, up and close videos of Jabali Billy Hart in action with his quartet from a recent performance at Bimhuis:





It's always a lesson for me to watch and listen to Billy play. His clear sense of exaggerated dynamics, textural orchestrations and musical accompaniment behind other soloists is always a joy and a clear reminder of what it means to be a Jazz drummer.

Jon Christensen

An interesting one today featuring Norway's Jon Christensen (of ECM fame) with Sonny Rollins circa. 1971:

Roberto Gatto

Thanks to Toronto's Reg Schwager who passed along this one of Italian Jazz drummer Roberto Gatto, via the Facebook, a very fine drummer I wasn't previously familiar with:



And I enjoyed this one as well, featuring Gatto on a set of drums previously owned/played by Elvin Jones:

The Monday Morning Paradiddle

Spring is upon us and here's what's on the go over here at Four on the Floor these days:

- Clayton Cameron offers some inspiring and refreshing perspectives in his TED Talk entitled "How I Fell in Love with the Drums":

http://blog.ted.com/how-i-fell-in-love-with-the-drums/


- Scott K Fish is always up to great things over at his blog Life Beyond Cymbals. Here's a recent piece on Keith Copeland:

https://scottkfish.wordpress.com/2016/04/20/keith-copeland-md-interview-1984/


- Todd Bishop is, as always, also offering great things over at his blog Cruiseship Drummer. Here's a great piece that Todd recently shared, some thoughts on Billy Higgins offered by Jeff Tain Watts:

http://www.cruiseshipdrummer.com/2016/04/jeff-watts-on-billy-higgins.html


- Another edition of "Life of Drums" from Billy Martin entitled "The Para-Riddle":




- An article/interview featuring Terri Lyne Carrington from Drum Magazine:

http://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/terri-lyne-carrington-jazz-soul-and-sisterhood/P3/


- Master drummer Jack DeJohnette has a trio album on ECM with Ravi Coltrane and Matthew Garrison that drops this week. Here's a piece on DeJohnette from NPR:

http://www.npr.org/2016/04/21/473830013/jack-dejohnette-a-drummer-who-stays-in-movement-by-keeping-good-company

And here's another interview with DeJohnette from the Jake Feinberg show:

http://www.jakefeinbergshow.com/2015/06/nftf-with-jack-dejohnette/


- Kendrick Scott shows off his new Yamaha drums, some nice Zildjian cymbals and one really hip, funky looking wide-brimmed hat:




- Speaking of new drums, here's a hip clip of Adam Arruda and Colin Stranahan double-drum-demonstrating their nice Canopus drums:




- Thanks to Toronto's Reg Schwager who passed along this one of legendary guitarist Sonny Greenwich in an old CBC clip featuring Jerry Fuller on drums:




- George Marsh discusses his concept and philosophy of "Inner Drumming" via Jake Feinberg:




- And an oldie, but still a goldie...Steve Gadd on brushes:




- What am I listening to these days?

John Coltrane "The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings" - Elvin Jones (drums)

Thelonious Monk "Monk's Dream" - Frankie Dunlop (drums)

Dick Oatts Quintet "South Paw" - James Oblon (drums)

Danish Radio Big Band "The Impaler" - Jeff Tain Watts (drums)

Nicole Glover "First Record" - Alan Jones (drums)

Dave Holland "Razor's Edge" - Marvin Smitty Smith (drums)

Jack DeJohnette "Made in Chicago" - Jack DeJohnette (drums)


- And today's Last Word goes to Jack Mouse via my good friend (and fellow Canadian Jazz drumming blogger!) Ted Warren:

"The hardest part about practicing is taking your butt and putting it on the drum stool. Usually after that, it goes alright!"

Indeed.

Thanks again for taking time out of your busy day to read my blog and have a great week!