Time for a Set Break!

The Monday Morning Paradiddle - July 2022

And...we're back. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your summer is going well. Things have been on the go and moving along in a few directions lately so this will be my final column before I take a long break from blogging and all things social media for the rest of the summer. 

In the meantime, here's the July 2022 edition of the Monday Morning Paradiddle with more than enough interesting content to keep you busy for the rest of the summer months.

1) Don't forget to check out my Instagram series Four on the Floor *Live* with the next episode happening on Wednesday, July 27th at 12pm mountain (2pm eastern/11am pacific), appearing on Instagram Live IGTV @fouronthfloorblog featuring Clarence Penn!

Since I restarted this regular series in June I've been fortunate to speak with the likes of Dan Weiss, Patrick Boyle, George Marsh, Mike Clark, Gerry Gibbs, Eric Binder, Thomas Wendt and tap dancers Lisa LaTouche and Travis Knights.

The conversations have been insightful and I always come away from these interviews motivated and inspired. I'm looking forward to resuming this series in the Fall as well.

2) A wonderful feature on Han Bennink from Bandcamp Daily that's been making the rounds on social media lately (thank you Nick Fraser, Ted Warren and Reg Schwager for sharing this one!)

3) Another article that's been circulating is this inspiring piece of artistic and creative wisdom from Bill Frisell in Guitar Player Magazine. Great stuff here.

4) An article from bagpipe.com (!) featuring the renowned Canadian jazz drum teacher and author (and accomplished pipe drummer!) Jim Blackley entitled Teachers & Students: Blackley of Hillsdale

And the UK's Russ Gleason, curator of Drum Hangs, offers his own experience working with Jim Blackley:

 

5) Tyshawn Sorey and Keith Hall both featured at the Drummer's Resource Podcast

6) Joe LaBarbera interviewed by Judy Carmichael for the Jazz Inspired podcast

7) Great interviews with GREAT jazz drummers from bassist Todd Coolman and his exceptional podcast interview series The Cool Toddcast featuring Jimmy MacBride Ed Soph John Riley Kenny Washington Lewis Nash Joe Farnsworth and Terri Lyne Carrington

8) Open Studio features bassist Christian McBride and drummer Gregory Hutchinson with some important perspectives and wisdom:

 

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

9) Questlove interviews Terri Lyne Carrington: 

 

10) Dr. Jazz Samo Sâlamon interviews a series of great drummers including Carl Allen: 

 

Jorge Rossy 

 

Gerry Hemingway 

 

11) Quincy Davis continues with his as always prolific and of course very informative Q-Tip series on YouTube.com:

 

12) Andrew Cyrille's Haitian Fascination:

 

13) Evan Sherman and Patrick Bartley offer this (brief) history of jazz drums:

 

14) Drummer Nation LIVE! featuring Adam Nussbaum and Paul Francis:

 

15) Excerpts from Bill Stewart's interview with Pablo Held:

 

16) Rick Beato interviews Bernard Purdie:

 

17) The Third Story with Leo Sidran interviews Eric Harland:

 

18) Joe Farnsworth and Al Foster on brushes!

 

19) A pair of wonderful solo drum performances from Drori Mondlak:

20) What am I listening to these days?

Keith Hall "Made in Kalamazoo (duos and trios)" - Keith Hall (drums)

Freddie Hubbard "Live At Studio 104 Maison de la Radio (ORTF) Paris 1973" - Michael Carvin (drums)

David Liebman Trio "Lieb Plays the Blues a la Trane" - Eric Ineke (drums)

George Marsh & John Abercrombie "Drum Strum" - George Marsh (drums)

Dan Weiss "Sixteen: Drummer's Suite" - Dan Weiss (drums)

Howard Alden "The Howard Alden Trio" - Mel Lewis (drums)

Art Pepper "Gettin' Together" - Jimmy Cobb (drums)

21) And today's Final Word goes to American novelist Jack London with some timely advice (for me anyways...):

"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." 

- Jack London

Okay, that's all I've got. Thanks again for all your support. Have a safe and sound summer and as Clark Terry used to say Keep on Keepin' on...

See you in September.

Four on the Floor *Live* on Instagram IGTV featuring Clarence Penn

Please join us for the next episode of Four on the Floor *Live* happening next Wednesday, July 27th at 12pm mountain (2pm eastern/11am pacific), appearing on Instagram Live IGTV @fouronthfloorblog featuring Clarence Penn!

www.clarencepenn.com

“Clarence is the kind of musician who leaves his judgments of music and musicians aside to provide the best support and complement. He really cares that everyone on stage sound as good as they can. That explains why the results are so great with the extraordinary musicians he brings into his projects. Fireworks!”—Dave Douglas

“Clarence is a charismatic player, with great dynamic range and drama and musicality. He’s an intricate and heady drummer who thinks compositionally, but uses his gut and instincts towards the end result of making something exciting, that feels alive, and is full of energy and passion. He doesn’t have a limited conception of what the drummer is. Of course, he drives the band and pushes the time, but he also knows how to stop and allow things to happen—to be a colorist.”—Maria Schneider

“I think Clarence is a natural leader. He listens like a producer. He has clarity and vision. He hears everything—the bass, the high voices, the middle. He understands harmony. He understands lyrics. He has the will to solve problems and figure them out. He doesn’t stay traditional, but makes the music free and colorful. He understands that music is play. I’d play with him every day if I could.”—Luciana SouzaClarence Penn is one of the busiest jazz drummers in the world, a leader of multiple bands, a composer, a prolific producer, and an educator.

Since 1991, when he arrived in New York City, Penn has placed his unique blend of mega-chops, keen intellect, and heady musicianship at the service of a staggering array of A-list artists—a chronological short-list includes Ellis and Wynton Marsalis, Betty Carter, Stanley Clarke, Steps Ahead, Makoto Ozone, Michael Brecker, Dave Douglas, Maria Schneider, Luciana Souza, Richard Galliano, and Fourplay. Penn’s impressive discography includes several hundred studio albums (including the Grammy-winning recordings 34th and Lex by Randy Brecker and Concert in the Garden and Sky Blue by Maria Schneider) representing a 360-spectrum of jazz expression, and he’s toured extensively throughout the United States, the Americas, Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia. He’s composed music for films and commercials, and produced tracks for numerous singers in the pop and alternative arenas. He earned a “Ten Best of 1997” accolade from the New York Times for his first leader recording, Penn’s Landing.

A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, where he was a protégé of Ellis Marsalis, Penn is active as an educator and drum clinician. From 2004 to 2012, he taught on the faculty of the Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music. He’s also served on faculty at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, the Saint Louis College of Music in Rome, Italy, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Intensive Jazz Institute.

Penn currently leads several ensembles. His most recent “rhythmically intoxicating” recording is 2014’s “Monk The Lost Files” featuring arrangements of the music of Thelonious Monk. Released on the Origin record lable, an amazing quartet comprising saxophonist Chad Leftkowitz-Brown, Pianist Gerald Clayton/Donald Vega, and bassist Yasushi Nakamura performing the music of Thelonius Monk with today’s modern jazz sensibility. Near completion is a “world music” studio project of songs and instrumentals that melds background voices—including his own—with a world class band.

Whether Penn is leading his own band or performing as a sideman, he brings to the table unfailing versatility and professionalism, an ability to find creative ways to interpret a global array of styles and idioms, and a stated intention “to play music that’s warm and organic for the people and for myself.”

His motto: “When people hear my name, I want them to think, ‘I don’t know what band he’s playing with tonight or what he’ll be doing, but it’s going to be good, it’s going to be musical.’"

The Jason Marsalis Monday Morning Snare Drum Solo

An interesting ongoing series from Jason Marsalis in which he offers an exploration of the snare drum and of its possibilities.

Four on the Floor *Live* Instagram IGTV featuring Thomas Wendt & Eric Binder + Lisa LaTouche & Travis Knights

Tune in next week for not one but TWO episodes of Four on the Floor *Live* happening on Instagram Live IGTV @fouronthefloorblog featuring not two but FOUR accomplished and compelling artists!

On Wednesday, July 20th I'll be speaking with two great jazz drummers: Pittsburgh's Thomas Wendt and Chicago's Eric Binder. These guys really know their stuff and I'm looking forward to discussing all things jazz drums and jazz drumming with these two.

https://www.duq.edu/academics/faculty/thomas-wendt

https://canopusdrums.com/en/endorsers/eric_binder/

https://ericbinder.bigcartel.com/

Then on Friday, July 22nd I'll be joined by two very accomplished tap dance artists, Lisa LaTouche (Calgary) and Travis Knights (Toronto). These two also really know their stuff and we are going to be talking about all things rhythm and the important musical and historical relationship between tap dancing and jazz drumming.

https://www.lisalatouche.com/

https://www.travisknights.com/

Both of these are happening on their respective dates at 12pm mountain (2pm eastern/11am pacific) on Instagram Live IGTV @fouronthefloorblog

I'm honoured to speak with all of these individuals next week and I'm looking forward to what will surely be a pair of exciting conversations.

The Drum Candy Podcast with Thomas Wendt

Pittsburgh's Thomas Wendt and the Drum Candy Podcast have been putting out some great content lately including interviews, artist features and a wonderful jazz drumming instructional series featuring Thomas himself.

Check out these great interviews with the likes of Lewis Nash, Reggie Quinerly, Jonathan Barber, Johnathan Blake, Ulysses Owens Jr. and Thomas Wendt:

 

• Gain some insight into several important jazz drummers in The Drum Candy's 10 Reasons series featuring:

Jack DeJohnette

 

Art Blakey

 

Roy Haynes

 

• And finally here's the first two instalments of Thomas Wendt's ongoing series Jazz Drumming Essentials:

Part One: The Quarter Note

 

 

Part Two: The Feet

 

*Nice shirt Thomas!*

Four on the Floor *Live* on Instagram IGTV featuring Gerry Gibbs

Please join us for the next episode of Four on the Floor *Live* happening next Wednesday, July 13th at 12pm mountain (2pm eastern/11am pacific), appearing on Instagram Live IGTV @fouronthfloorblog featuring the Thrasher himself, Gerry Gibbs!

www.gerrygibbsmusician.com

 

  

 

Gerry Gibbs is a Grammy nominated Drummer, Multi-Instrumentalist, Producer, Band Leader, Composer & Arranger. His father is jazz vibraphone legend & band leader Terry Gibbs; who is among the earliest of pioneers from the be-bop era. 

In 2021, Gerry's much-anticipated new CD "Songs From My Father" has extended the vision of his Thrasher Dream Trio once again. In this latest contribution, musical polymath Gibbs presents a smashing double-disk masterwork featuring four iterations of his acclaimed Thrasher Dream Trio. Despite being in the midst of our global Covid 19 pandemic, Gibbs nonetheless commenced on a nationwide trek of over 15,000 miles to (safely) capture the recordings of himself alongside a long list of his friends and collaborators - essentially, the finest improvisors of our time. With Gibbs in the drum chair, the Thrasher Dream Trios include 1. Chick Corea & Ron Carter, 2. Kenny Barron & Buster Williams, 3. Patrice Rushen & Larry Goldings and 4. Geoff Keezer & Christian McBride. Under his astute direction and vision, Gerry and his band of jazz titans pay homage to the musical legacy of Gerry’s father, Terry Gibbs (now 96 years old). Notable, "Songs From My Father" features the last recorded performance of the great Chick Corea. 

As a Solo Artist, Gibbs has released thirteen recordings. Gerry's 1995 debut CD: "The Thrasher" was executive produced by Quincy Jones on his Qwest/Warner Brothers label and won several awards. Since then, Gerry has gone on to record numerous albums under his own name constituting an expansive and eclectic range: a tribute to Miles Davis' later electric period, original Big Band music, Gerry's epic 4-piece band playing forty instruments between them along with launching his all star 'Thrasher Dream Trio' in 2013. The trio features Ron Carter on Bass and Kenny Barron on Piano and recorded 3 CDs highlighting Gerry's gifted arranging abilities. All three trio recordings made their way to #1 on the JazzWeek International Radio Charts and one garnered a Grammy nomination. The Thrasher Dream Trio would later feature many different all-star guests such as Cassandra Wilson, Roy Hargrove and others. In the 25 year history of JazzWeek Radio (charting the success of jazz music played on radio across the USA), Gerry holds the distinction of being the only jazz musician to have received four consecutive #1 CDs. Quite the feat! 

Besides leading his own bands, projects and studio productions, Gerry is also an in demand drummer who has worked with a who's who in the history of jazz: Mccoy Tyner, Alice Coltrane, Stanley Clarke, Joe Henderson, Hubert Laws, James Moody, Sam Rivers, Patrice Rushen, Dewey Redman, Eddie Harris, Mike Stern, Larry Coryell, Randy Brecker, Tom Harrell, Brad Mehldau. Gerry's versatility has enabled him to work with a variety of artists from other genres as well: Parliament Funkadelic, Rose Royce, Flying Lotus and even legendary comedian Steve Allen.

Most recently, Gerry's engaging compositional abilities has led him to writing film music while his internet comedy shorts (with wife Kyeshie Gibbs) have gone viral. These video spoofs include many jazz luminaries and even a cameo from comedian legend Dave Chappelle.

Kenny Clarke Antibes 1979

One more blog post in my ongoing series featuring my hero Kenny Clarke. This a time a full concert featuring Kenny Clarke and his trio, recorded by French television circa. 1979:

Four on the Floor *Live* on Instagram IGTV featuring Mike Clark!

Please join us for the next episode of Four on the Floor *Live* happening next Wednesday, July 6th at 12pm mountain (2pm eastern/11am pacific), appearing on Instagram Live IGTV @fouronthfloorblog featuring Mike Clark!

www.drummermikeclark.info

 

Mike Clark gained worldwide recognition as one of America’s foremost jazz and funk drummers while playing with Herbie Hancock in the early seventies. His incisive playing on Hancock’s “Actual Proof” garnered him an international cult following and influenced generations of drummers. While Mike digs the funk, he considers jazz his first love, and playing that music is what he says feeds his soul.

Besides Herbie Hancock, Mike has performed and recorded with such well-known jazz greats as Christian McBride, Chet Baker, John Scofield, Nicholas Payton, Tony Bennett, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Donald Harrison, Eddie Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Vince Guaraldi, Woody Shaw, Albert King, Larry Coryell, Mike Wolff, Wallace Roney, Billy Childs, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Chris Potter, Bobby McFerrin, Nat Adderly, Oscar Brown Jr., and Gil Evans and his Orchestra.

Born in Sacramento, CA, Mike traveled around the country with his father, a union man for the railroad, and a former drummer himself. His dad had a great appreciation for jazz and blues music, and Mike credits this exposure as forming the foundation for his ability to synthesize many different regional styles. He absorbed the music of America while riding the rails. From age 4, he was a prodigy, sitting in—and getting “house” —- with bands in Texas and New Orleans. By the time he reached his early twenties, he had become one of the founders of the distinctive East Bay Sound coming out of Oakland, California.

During the late sixties, Mike led his own jazz organ trio,. Then he met Hancock in 1973. With Herbie, Mike set the rhythms for the acclaimed group, The Headhunters. Afterwards, he did a two-year stint with Brand X, the British jazz/rock fusion band founded by Phil Collins. With them he recorded ”Do They Hurt?” and “Product.”

By 2000, Mike had made a foray into the popular jam band scene. His group Prescription Renewal pulled together cross-generational talents, such as Charlie Hunter, Fred Wesley, Skerik, Robert Walter, and DJ Logic, and featured special guests such as Donald Harrison, George Porter Jr. of The Meters, Les Claypool, Larry Goldings and fellow Headhunters alumni Bill Summers. He also toured with The Roots Funk All Stars.

Along with James Brown's drummer Clyde Stubblefield, Mike's beats with The Headhunters (most notably “God Make Me Funky”) include some of the most sampled in hip hop. He has been featured in Downbeat, Musician, International Musician & Recording World, Modern Drummer, Jazz Times, Guitar Player, Jazz Is, and numerous jazz history and method books.

Mike is a popular and busy clinician. His latest book, “The Post Bop Drum Book” on Hudson Music is a big hit. A previous book, “Funk Drumming: Innovative Grooves & Advanced Concepts” was published in 2012 by Hal Leonard.

As a bandleader, his release “Give The Drummer Some” earned a rare four and a half stars in Downbeat. “The Funk Stops Here,” a joint effort with Hancock alumni Paul Jackson got five stars, as did 2011’s “Carnival of Soul.” In 2001, his solo CD “Actual Proof” met with critical acclaim, as did the 2003 acoustic jazz release, “Summertime,” featuring Chris Potter and Billy Childs, which spent weeks in the top ten jazz charts. 2009’s “Blueprints of Jazz” featuring Patrice Rushen, Randy Brecker, Donald Harrison, Rob Dixon, and Christian McBride was considered one of the top jazz releases of the new millenium by Downbeat magazine.

In 2012 Mike co-led The Headhunters,’ with original founding member Bill Summers. 2012 saw a new Headhunters' release, “Platinum.” which featured guest turns by Snoop Dogg, George Clinton, and Killah Priest.

Another musically exciting year was 2015. His second Wolff & Clark Expedition CD released in February, and his hard bop band “Indigo Blue Live at the Iridium” arrived six months later, both on Random Act Records. Both CDs featured Christian McBride on bass, Donald Harrison on alto, Rob Dixon on tenor, Antonio Farao on Piano and Randy Brecker on trumpet.

Mike has produced three releases for the spoken word prophet Tony Adamo, indulging ”Miles of Blu” with Tower of Power's Doc Krupka, bass legend Paul Jackson, and Michael Wolff. Along with drum legend Lenny White (Return to Forever), Mike is co-leading Nu Brew, a double drummer experience in new music. He also appears on Tower of Power's organist Chester Thompson's “Mixology.”

During Covid, Mike did many online drum clinics and co-led a record date with Michael Wolff and Leon Dorsey: “Wolff, Clark and Dorsey Play Sgt. Pepper.” On this date they played swinging arrangements of Beatles tunes, acoustic jazz style. He also was a sideman on Leon Dorsey's “Thank you Mr, Maybern” with the late great Harold Maybern and Leon in a hard swinging trio setting, “DSC MonkTime” celebrated the music of Thelonious Monk, once again with Leon Dorsey, with Dorsey and Greg Skaff as co-leaders. He also is a founding member of The StickPeople, an online interview show, along with Lenny White, David Garabaldi, Michael Shrieve and Greg Errico. The four drummers do online interviews with great artists playing jazz, funk, fusion and all things music!

As of 2021, Mike still lives in New York City. His latest CD, “Mike Drop” with sax great Michael Zilber is in the top ten on Jazz Weekly. Mike is with Leon Lee Dorsey and Manny Valera on Leon's new record “Freedom Jazz Dance” which debuted on Jazz Weekly at number 16. He was in Chicago recently with Donald Harrison and the great Fred Wesley; then Donald and Mike left for Indiana to co-lead an organ trio at the famous Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis. He also just finished a “beats” recording for Yurt Rock which will be out in the fall 2021, along with his newest, “Mike Clark plays Herbie Hancock—Again!” an acoustic jazz recording out next year.

Mike endorses DW Drums, Istanbul Cymbals, Evans Drum heads, and Innovation Percussion drumsticks.

 

Kenny Clarke Returns!

 

Last week's post featuring Kenny Clarke got a lot of attention and I received some great messages and comments on social media from many of you out there. Thanks for reaching out and I decided to follow up with some more Klook today.

Pittsburgh's Thomas Wendt pointed out that the track I posted last week was from a Kenny Clarke-Ernie Wilkins Septet album recorded for Savoy in 1955:

Ireland's Conor Guilfoyle also took the time to scan the liner notes from this album:

And thanks to Toronto's Nick Fraser who shared this track of Billie's Bounce recorded by Eddie Bert featuring a wonderfully melodic drum solo from Kenny Clarke, no doubt informed by the melody in question:

 

And while we're on the subject of Kenny Clarke, check out this episode from the infamous History of Jazz Drumming radio series featuring Mel Lewis and Loren Schoenberg, originally broadcast in 1989:

Kenny Clarke 1955

Three unique and interesting videos featuring Kenny Clarke today.

First up, a wonderfully melodic drum solo interpretation of Charlie Parker's bebop anthem Now's the Time. I've never heard this one before nor do I know which album it's from. But if I had to guess, perhaps it's an outtake from one of his sessions recorded for Savoy? (*Editors Note: after some internet sleuthing, I think it's from this album recorded with Ernie Wilkins:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Clarke_%26_Ernie_Wilkins)

 

And here's a rare selection and a dazzling display of the drum set featuring Klook, from the LP Spotlight on Percussion, also recorded circa. 1955:

 

And finally, a drum exchange between Kenny Clarke and British jazz drummer Kenny Clare (and in colour!):

 

Four on the Floor *Live* on Instagram IGTV featuring George Marsh

Please join us for the next episode of Four on the Floor *Live* happening next Wednesday, June 22nd at 12pm mountain (2pm eastern/11am pacific), appearing on Instagram Live IGTV @fouronthfloorblog featuring George Marsh, author of the book Inner Drumming.

www.georgemarsh.com

 

At fifteen George Marsh became a professional drummer in Belleville, Illinois. His early experiences included work with Sam Andria, Jimmy Williams, and Barbara Streisand (before she became a super star). He studied percussion with Tom Siwe and Jack McKenzie at Champagne-Urbana, and later played with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Judy Roberts Trio, John Klemmer, William Russo's experimental big band, The Chicago Contemporary Chamber Players and many great Chicago jazz musicians.

Since 1968, he has lived in the San Francisco area where he has performed and recorded with musicians such as: Denny Zeitlin, David Grisman Quintet/Sextet, Jerry Garcia, John Abercrombie, Mose Allison, Smith Dobson, Joe Henderson, Art Lande, Harold Land, Terry Riley, William Allaudin Mathieu, Pauline Oliveros, Kronos Quartet, Mel Martin, etc. If you were around in 1970, perhaps you caught him with Chuck Berry, Loading Zone or The Jerry Hahn Brotherhood at the Fillmore West and East.

I started teaching shortly after I got my first drumset at age 12. There were very few jazz drummers in Belleville and the surrounding area at the time (1953) and I had learned a lot by seeing Gene Krupa, Papa Jo Jones, and Buddy Rich at Jazz At The Philharmonic concerts. I can still feel the excitement when I saw Count Basie with Sonny Payne on drums! A little later when I was in high school I would go to Peacock Alley in St. Louis and see Philly Joe Jones, Max Roach, Art Blakey - all at the young age of 16.

George has written percussion music for such films as Never Cry Wolf and The Black Stallion. He premiered a suite of his pieces for chamber ensemble in the fall of 2002 at the Lincoln Center in New York which featured Rich Fudoli (reeds), David Wessel (interactive electroacoustics), and Mel Graves, bass. And he also performed on this same concert with Timeless Pulse featuring Pauline Oliveros (just intonation accordion), Thomas Buckner (vocals), Jennifer Wilsey (percussion), and David Wessel (interactive electroacoustics).

George has taught drumming and rhythm theory at the University of California at Santa Cruz since 1982 and at Sonoma State University. He also teaches remotley from his private studio in Santa Rosa California. His book, Inner Drumming is a highly praised and unique manual for drummers.

This book is an instruction manual that offers ways to enhance internal awareness while playing with one, two, three and finally all four limbs. The method allows the drummer to de-condition pathways of inappropriate reflexive responses that often appear when body energy is not flowing most efficiently.

When you play the drums you are already experiencing Inner Drumming, if not consciously, then subconsciously. The easiest way to experience this is to play a simple rhythm with two hands. Playing

hand to hand is basic to all drumming and all drummers do it naturally. As you play hand to hand, slow the motions way down while feeling deeply what’s going on inside your body, what’s happening between the strokes. In deep slow-motion, be internally aware of your movement from limb to limb. This increased awareness is what I call Inner Drumming.

Evan's Drum: Keeping the Inuit Drumbeat Alive

Filmed and directed by Ossie Michelin for the National Film Board of Canada, Evan’s Drum is the beautiful story of an adventurous seven-year-old boy from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland. Evan is part of a new generation of Labrador Inuit who are among the first in living memory to grow up with the sounds of drum dancing since birth.

An adventurous young boy and his determined mother share a passion for Inuit drum dancing in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Evan’s Drum is a joyful visit to a family’s loving home, and an uplifting story of cultural pride. After generations of silence, the rhythm of the traditional Inuit drum has returned to Labrador, and seven-year-old Evan is part of the new generation that will keep its heartbeat strong.

Four on the Floor *Live* on Instagram IGTV featuring Dan Weiss

Please join us for the first episode of Four on the Floor *Live* Season Two (!) happening next Tuesday, June 14th at 12pm mountain (2pm eastern), appearing on Instagram Live IGTV @fouronthfloorblog featuring Dan Weiss!

www.danweiss.net

Two-time Shifting Foundation Grantee Dan Weiss has been hailed as one of the top five jazz drummers by The New York Times and his large ensemble recording “Fourteen” made their top ten list of the best records of 2014. Weiss’s innovative drumming and forward thinking compositions have been pushing musical limits for decades.

Weiss's intense study of jazz, classical Indian, contemporary classical, West African, and metal sets a musical platform that creates a sound that transcends conventional style or genre. His compositional trademarks are angular yet emotive melodies; long rhythmic cycles native to many non-western music, complex through-composed drum parts, and melodic shapes drawing directly from the raga system found in Indian classical music.

Weiss has been studying tabla under Samir Chatterjee for twenty five years. He’s performed classical Indian music with the legendary Ashish Khan and Ramesh Misra, and recorded the tabla solo cd, “3dcd” (2007). Weiss also recorded two unprecedented cds, “Teental Drumset Solo” (2005) and “Jhaptal Drumset Solo” (2011) where he performs classical Indian repertoire on drum set.

With his trio, which includes Jacob Sacks and Thomas Morgan, he’s released three records ('Now Yes When’, 'Timshel', and ‘Utica Box’ ) which have been critically acclaimed for their unique approach to song structure and endless creative improvisation. This band has toured Europe, the United States, and Puerto Rico.

Weiss also leads a unique sixteen piece large ensemble that features some of NYC’s most gifted musicians including Miguel Zenon and Jen Shyu. The two albums 'Fourteen' (2014) and 'Sixteen: Drummers Suite' (2016) released on the Pi record label have made numerous critic polls.

His latest project 'Starebaby' blends metallic jazz, prog and post rock that melds deep sophistication with visceral impact. The band has been featured in The New York Times, toured the US and Europe, and played the prestigious North Sea Jazz Festival. Starebaby’s second record called ‘Natural Selection’ was released in 2020.

As a sideman, Weiss has played/toured with Lee Konitz, Chris Potter, Noah Preminger, Kenny Werner, Rudresh Mahanthappa, David Binney, John Zorn, and many others.

Weiss is currently working on a new trio project (new album in 2022) and a duo project with Miles Okazaki (double vinyl release scheduled for late 2021).

In addition to his musical projects, Weiss is a highly sought-after teacher. He’s currently working on an instructional course and book.

Tony Allen: Afro-Beat

And....we're back and sorry for the radio silence Lol. I was out of town, recording with some friends all last week and unfortunately discovered the hard way that Google's Blogger isn't actually compatible with my iPad mini (!)

Anyhow, today's offering is a trio of unique clips featuring the influential style of the great Afro-Beat drumming legend Tony Allen, a drummer that Brian Eno once called "perhaps the greatest drummer ever" and "probably the most important musician of the last 50 years".

I think the following videos are amazing and recently discovered them while studying Tony Allen's drumming style in preparation for last Spring's Decidedly Jazz Danceworks production of Family of Jazz.

Please enjoy.

 

And here's a couple of bonuses:

• A 2007 article, interview and drum lesson with Allen from The Guardian Hit Me With Your Rhythm Shtick 

• And finally an epic percussion duet featuring Tony Allen and Ginger Baker from Fela Kuti's iconic album LIVE! (1978):

Keeping the Drummer Occupied & Standard Tune Learning Sequence

A couple of new books arrived in my mailbox recently and today I'm going to share them with you all.

I think that one of the bright sides of the challenges of the past two years, over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, is that many people had the motivation to invest their time and channel their positive energy into new projects and creative ventures.

Ireland's Conor Guilfoyle and Iowa's James Dreier are two accomplished drummer/authors who did just this and they have both recently self-published two wonderful new drum books that offer a wealth of information and challenging things to practice and think about.

Keeping the Drummer Occupied - by Conor Guilfoyle

I've known Conor for some time now and he is no stranger to writing interesting drum books and sharing his great exercises and compelling concepts via his YouTube channel.

The exercises that Conor has written are concise, practical and offer a variety of concepts and skills that will undoubtedly expand a drummer's vocabulary by using rudiments in creatively different ways.

Keeping the drummer occupied. These 40 studies provide an interesting and challenging way to practice your rudiments. Each study is designed to develop both rhythmic ability and hand technique by utilising familiar stickings in unique ways. Singles, doubles, flams, rolls, and paradiddles are all presented using a combination of unusual rhythmic groupings as well as odd time signature giving you an insight into many of the rhythmic devices found in the contemporary music of today. Also included is a challenging snare drum etude which can be used as a performance or audition piece.

https://conorguilfoyle.com/books

Standard Tune Learning Sequence: A Musical Approach to Improvisation for Jazz Drummers - by James Dreier

James Dreier's new book is a welcome addition to the canon of jazz drumming literature, in which he offers practical approaches to drum improvisation using song form and melody as guiding features.

I was first introduced to Dreier's concepts while researching for my own doctoral research and thesis Melodic Jazz Drumming https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/69408 

Dreier's step-by-step approach to using melody and form as reference points and organizing principles while soloing on the drums was an important influence in my own research.

While books that deal with specific patterns, coordination, technique, etc. are very important I also feel that books and approaches such as Dreier's are very important as well because they teach us to think about How and Why we play the drums, not just about What we are playing on the drums.

My book, Standard Tune Learning Sequence, A Musical Approach to Improvisation for Jazz Drummers, is a method book designed to provide jazz drummers with a sequential, organized set of exercises (the STLS sheet), utilizing the act of singing, to learn jazz standards and improvise over them. The book also contains a dozen unique improvisational strategies (along with tune lists, recommended resources etc.), to provide drummers directed and focused ways to utilize the musical elements of any jazz standard for improvisation. It is all designed to provide a more musical foundation for jazz drumming.

There is also a dedicated YouTube channel that provides instruction and examples for all the material provided in the book.

The book is available on Amazon.

"This book is excellent way for even a beginning drummer to start incorporating song form into their daily practice routine in an organized and creative way."

- Joe LaBarbera

The Monday Morning Paradiddle - May 2022

Welcome back to another action packed edition of the Monday Morning Paradiddle, my somewhat regular monthly jazz drumming variety column (sorry, I was too busy to get anything together last month...) Anyways, thank you to all of you who've e.mailed me and I appreciate your feedback and contributions. 

This column represents a collection of the somewhat random but significant jazz drumming-related pieces (recent and otherwise) that I find inspiring and feel the need to share with the world.

Thanks again for all your support and please don't forget to subscribe to my mailing list on the right hand side of the page. Don't miss out, sign up today and get Four on the Floor sent directly to your inbox!

So, and without any further ado, here is the Spring edition of the Monday Morning Paradiddle. Please enjoy!

1) Joe Zawinul: The Somewhat Long Lost Interview about Drummers and Weather Report by David Aldridge

2) Phase Dancing: The Art of Drumming in the Pat Metheny Group featuring Danny Gottlieb, Paul Wertico and Antonio Sanchez

3) An interview with Andrew Cyrille in advance of his duo performance with tenor saxophonist Billy Harper

4) Clifford Allen interviews Clifford Barbaro

5) Ken Micallef, writing for Stereophile Magazine, wrote a wonderful survey on the evolution of jazz drumming From Congo Square to Times Square: A Short History of Drums in Jazz

6) Victoria's Kelby MacNayr featured in YAM Magazine The Beat Goes on for Drummer Kelby MacNayr 

7) A short drum solo from Jeff Ballard:

 

8) Curtis Nowosad interviewed by Darrian Douglas for The Working Artist Project podcast:

  

 9) Steve Maxwell Jr. interviews Matt Wilson:

 

10) A fantastic duo set from Francisco Mela and George Garzone:

11) Quincy Davis continues with his always excellent Q Tips YouTube series with these formidable episodes:

 

...and this feature from the Avedis Zildjian Cymbal Company:

12) And also from Zildjian, here's John Riley with another episode from his Art of Bop Drumming series:

 

13) Sara Hagan Backstage interviews Paul Francis, Master cymbal craftsman:

 

14) Jochen Rueckert interviewed by Pablo Held:

 

15) Joe Farnsworth offers these two important lessons from the Greats:

 

16) The prolific Dr. Jazz Talks, Samo Salamon interviews these Master drummers of our time including:

Jeff Williams

 

Kenny Washington

 

Billy Drummond

 

Bill Stewart 

 

17) The Drum Candy Podcast and Thomas Wendt give us 10 Reasons to Love Roy Haynes:

 

18) Mind Free Drumming from Ra Kalam Bob Moses and Jabali Billy Hart:

 

...and more great wisdom here from Ra Kalam:

 

19) Marcus Gilmore and Savion Glover in a fantastic tap and drum duet:

 

20) Thanks to Ed Soph who shared this incredible footage of Sonny Rollins with Albert "Tootie" Heath on drums:

 

21) What am I listening to these days?

Freddie Hubbard "Red Clay" - Lenny White (drums)

Allison Miller & Jane Ira Bloom "Tuesday Sessions" - Allison Miller (drums)

Fela Kuti "Live!" - Tony Allen & Ginger Baker (drums)

Max Roach "Long As You're Living" - Max Roach (drums)

Kenny Wheeler "Music for Large and Small Ensembles" - Peter Erskine (drums)

Terry Gibbs "The Terry Gibbs Dream Band" - Mel Lewis (drums)

Don Cherry & Ed Blackwell "Live in Philadelphia 1978" - Edward Blackwell (drums)

Steve Hirsh "So Now - Drumset Orchestra" - Steve Hirsh (drums and cymbals)


22) And today's Final Word goes to the Copasetics, “a social, friendly benevolent club” of musical and tap dance artists dedicated to preserving the memory and spirit of Master tap dancer and entertainer Bill Bojangles Robinson:

The "Copasetics Song" written by Honi Coles and Paul Branker

When you feel blue,

the best thing to do

is tell yourself to forget it.

Laugh your cares away

Tomorrow's another day

And Everything will be Copasetic.


Never look down

Chin up and don't frown.

Don't let life get pathetic.

Life's a funny thing

It's really great when you sing,

And Everything will be Copasetic.


Greet your fellow man

With a wide open hand,

Make your neighbor's burden lighter.

A friendly hello everywhere that you go

Is bound to make your day much brighter.


When you feel sad

Pretend that you're glad

Smile and you won't regret it.

Show a happy face

To the whole human race,

And Everything will be Copasetic.