Pedro Ahets - Diggin' Into the Source

A wonderful new jazz drumming book showed up in my inbox the other day. Argentinian jazz drummer Pedro Ahets has compiled an impressive collection of 65 drum transcriptions, featuring solos by iconic jazz drummers such as Art Blakey, Art Taylor, Billy Higgins, Louis Hayes, Max Roach and many, many more.

Pedro was nice enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions about his new book.

Pedro Ahets - Diggin' Into the Source

1. Tell us all about your new book! What is it all about and what are the goals of your text?

"Diggin' Into the Source" is a compilation of drum solos that I’ve transcribed over the course of the past eight years.

My objective in transcribing drum solos was to discover and understand how those phrases were constructed and how they relate to each other. Also, I wanted to analyze the common threads and differences between different drummers, highlighting the subtleties of each one’s style, and what makes each one unique. The solo selections were based on the drummers that inspire me.


2. What was the motivation and inspiration for putting this together?

I was motivated by my desire to understand the musical language within each solo, and to search out ways to incorporate it in my own playing. I’m also fascinated by the ways in which the masters of the instrument used rudiments to construct and combine their phrases in order to develop a powerful musical statement.


3. How do you recommend students and teachers approach working through this?

I recommend memorizing the solos, phrase by phrase. Feel the balance and the identity of each phrase, and then learn the next one.

It’s also important to disassemble each phrase, re-orchestrate it, stretch it, and shrink it. Try to find what you like, and if you find something good, keep it, repeat it and try to improvise with it.


4. What future book projects do you have in mind?

I think I'm going to do an exercise book based on the solos or maybe a compilation of comping transcriptions.

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Learn more about Pedro, his wonderful book and his music at his website www.pedroahets.com

You can also contact and order his book from him directly at pedroahets1@gmail.com