I always make a point of sharing Quincy Davis' video lessons from his ongoing Q-Tips series on YouTube. The information and content that he shares is important, informed and always presented in a very clear and concise manner. His series is highly recommended, in my opinion.
However, I am making a point of sharing this specific video today in which Quincy deals with different approaches to playing in TWO.
I've made an observation over the past few years that a significant number of drummers don't know how to play in "2". I feel that this a very important groove and concept that every aspiring jazz drummer must consider, study and master.
Quincy lays it all out in his wonderful video. Check it out, get to work and keep swinging.
Please join us for our next episode of Four on the Floor *Live* happening this Wednesday, May 29th at 7pm MST (9pm EST), appearing on Instagram IGTV @fouronthfloorblog featuring Timothy Roberts.
We'll be talking all about the art of making drums and cymbals and whatever else happens to be on our mind...
Timothy is a professional studio and live musician with 50+ album credits and extensive work as an on-call musician. His passion for sound exploration led him to crafting the instruments that he plays.
Our team consists of only a few highly trained and skilled craftsmen who are all musicians. We have a value that every piece we make is crafted with care and attention to detail. We don’t sell anything we wouldn’t (or haven’t) used in musical situations ourselves!
Timothy Roberts Handcrafted Cymbals are made with the highest quality B20 bronze, hand-hammered, and lathed into incredibly expressive and nuanced cymbals for all styles. Whether you have an old cymbal you’d like reworked or you’d like a custom creation, we are dedicated to bringing out the best a cymbal has to offer.
Reverie Drum Co. employs unique drum designs and specs to provide the highest quality sound possible. Our drums are made with thinner shells, minimal hardware, and instrument-grade finishes to enhance the sustain and tone. This allows for smaller sized kits to have incredible beefy and big sounds. These drums are the most inviting and inspirational we’ve played, and we think you’ll agree!
And...we're back. Hope all is well in your part of the world and thanks for checking in.
This is the May 2024 edition of The Monday Morning Paradiddle, a more-or-less monthly collection of various items of interest, for your pleasure and enjoyment.
Hey! It's the 15th anniversary of my blog and the classic black Four on the Floor t-shirts are now back in stock and once again available!
These shirts are available in small, medium, large, x-large and xxl sizes and are lightweight premium fitted 100% cotton tees.
The shirts are $30 each (+shipping)
If you are interested in purchasing one, please drop me a line asap at fouronthefloorblog@gmail.com or reach me through social media and I'll set you up asap.
These are only available in limited quantities and last time these went pretty quickly so don't delay and order today while supplies last!
The Monday Morning Paradiddle - May 2024
1. Another series of great articles from Vinnie Sperrazza's Substack Chronicles including pieces on:
I am going to resume my annual Instagram interview series, at least for a few weeks this Spring. I started doing this back in December 2020 during Covid and have been doing this on and off for four years now.
Please join us for our next episode of Four on the Floor *Live* happening this Thursday, May 23rd at 7pm MST (9pm EST), appearing on Instagram IGTV @fouronthfloorblog featuring the one and only Chad Anderson!
We'll be talking about drums, drumming, drummers, cymbals and whatever else happens to be on our mind...
Thanks to Timothy Roberts of Reverie Drums for sharing these fantastic videos of Geoff Clapp playing and discussing the nuances of Tim's very fine artisan drums and cymbals. Tim is the real deal and doing incredible work these days. Check him, his drums and cymbals out here: www.reveriedrums.com
Clapp is a good friend and he always takes time to answer my texts back and forth. I've learned a lot from him, spending several Zoom sessions with him over the years, taking lessons on aspects of groove. His understanding of New Orleans drumming is deep. He teaches from lived experience and he's a really great educator. If you get a chance, find a way to connect with Dapper and you won't regret it!
Check him out and Timothy Roberts' drums and cymbals here:
Craig VanDerSchaegen also recently interviewed Geoff for his wonderful podcast series and blog The Practicing Drummer so make sure to check this out as well:
Some inspiring drumming this morning to get the week off to a good start with a birds-eye drum view of some ferocious trading from Kendrick Scott and Terence Blanchard:
It's the 15th anniversary of my blog and the classic black Four on the Floor t-shirts are now back in stock and once again available!
These shirts are available in small, medium, large, x-large and xxl sizes and are lightweight premium fitted 100% cotton tees.
The shirts are $30 each (+shipping)
If you are interested in purchasing one, please drop me a line asap at fouronthefloorblog@gmail.com or reach me through Facebook/Twitterland/Instagram and I'll set you up asap.
These are only available in limited quantities and last time these went pretty quickly so don't delay and order today while supplies last!
Lewis Nash is sporting his classic black Four on the Floor t-shirt and so can you!
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.
