Jason Marsalis on Odd Meters

Thanks to Jason Marsalis for offering this lesson on playing odd meters and how to explore phrasing patterns with a sense flow, groove and musicality:

Get Your Four on the Floor t-shirt Today!

Hey the classic black Four on the Floor t-shirts are still available however they are going quick!

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/Instagram and I'll set you up.

Don't miss out and order today while supplies last!

Al Harewood!

Thanks to Mike Melito for sharing this rare footage of the great Al Harewood in action with Stan Getz circa. 1963:

Al Harewood is an important drummer who is generally overlooked and every drummer should check him out. 

During my studies at McGill University during the mid 90s Stanley Turrentine's album Up at Mintons was required listening, assigned to all the drummers who were studying with teacher Chris McCann at the time.

When I once asked Harold Mabern about Al Harewood he replied: "This cat was into SWINGING!"

Here's a nice piece on Al Harewood from Ethan Iverson's blog Do the Math on the occasion of Harewood's passing in 2014: https://ethaniverson.com/2014/03/14/rip-al-harewood/

As you can see from the selected discography in Iverson's column, Harewood's deep swing was in high demand.

I spoke with Al Harewood at length over the phone once, for several hours, back the late 90s. I had an assignment for Kevin Dean's Performance Practice class at McGill and I was required to interview a living jazz musician. So I called up the musician's union in New York and asked for Harewood's phone number and gave him a call. He was a bit confused as to why some kid from Montreal was interested in his career (!) however he was very generous with his time and patiently answered my questions at length. I recorded the whole thing on cassette but unfortunately 25+ years and several moves later I fear that they may have been lost.

Anyways, if you're serious about SWINGING then check out Al Harewood!

Four on the Floor *Live* featuring David Stanoch

Please join us for our next episode of Four on the Floor *Live* happening next Wednesday, June 19th at 7pm MST (9pm EST), appearing on Instagram IGTV @fouronthfloorblog featuring David Stanoch.

We'll be talking all about drums, cymbals and whatever else happens to be on our mind...

David Stanoch has drummed professionally since age 12. A student of masters Elliot Fine, Alan Dawson, Max Roach, Jeff Hamilton, Chad Wackerman, Ignacio Berroa, and others, he has built an eclectic musical reputation performing with artists from the worlds of jazz, rock, R&B, Broadway, motion picture and television including the Airmen of Note, Jackson Browne, Hiram Bullock, Charo, George Clinton, Sheryl Crow, Richard Davis, Herb Ellis, Robert Goulet, Colonel Bruce Hampton, Scott Henderson, Freedy Johnston, Shirley Jones, Stanley Jordan, Shari Lewis, Jack McDuff, the Minnesota Orchestra, Keb’ Mo, New Kids On The Block, Bob Newhart, Christine Ohlman, Regis Philbin, Bernard Purdie, Bonnie Raitt, Walfredo de Los Reyes, Don Rickles, Joan Rivers, Danny Seraphine, Doc Severinsen, Ed Shaughnessy, Martin Short, Ben Sidran, Jab’o Starks, Clyde Stubblefield, Timbuk 3, Butch Vig, Fred Wesley, and The Supremes’ Mary Wilson. He is currently musical director for Emmy-winner, Shaun Johnson’s Big Band Experience.

David served on the faculty of McNally Smith College of Music for 27 years and has guest-taught at the Berklee College of Music. He regularly gives clinics and masterclasses around North America including NAMM, PASIC and KoSA events. David is an advisor to the Percussive Arts Society Drumset Committee, and Drumset Editor for the PAS Percussive Notes magazine. David is member of the Modern Drummer, Remo, and Vic Firth Educational Teams and was presented the Legacy in Education Award by the YAMAHA Corporation of America in 2018. In 2020, he was one of four renowned drummers selected by the NAMM Foundation’s Percussion Marketing Council to participate in their 25th Anniversary Lesson With a Master Contest.

David has authored Mastering the Tables of Time (“#1 Edu Book,” Modern Drummer 2009 Readers Poll), co-authored The 2 in 1 Drummer (2014 Modern Drummer & DRUM! Magazine Edu Book Nominee), both available in print from Alfred Music Publishing. Mastering the Tables of Time is also available digitally from Hudson Music and was recently named one of their 10 best selling titles of 2020. David was also “Drumming History and Analysis Consultant” for Jim Berkenstadt’s book, The Beatle Who Vanished~The Unsolved Mystery of Jimmie Nicol, currently being made into a major motion picture. 

David proudly endorses the premier percussion products made by Yamaha, Paiste, Remo, Vic Firth, Latin Percussion and Prologix.

www.davidstanochschoolofdrumming.com

Fast Tempos!

I've had several insightful conversations lately with Peter Retzlaff and Jacob Wutzke about the art of playing breakneck fast tempos. 

It's a specific thing that's not quite in vogue as it used to be back in the day but still worth considering imo. However, it also requires a specific approach to technique, a concept and a vocabulary that's distinct from playing slower tempos. It's not just a matter of mastering your medium tempo coordination, vocabulary and ideas and then speeding them up! It's also the kind of thing that you need to practice, make a study of and, most importantly, play with other people on a regular basis. That's how Max, Art, Tony, etc. all did it.

Anyways, here's a few videos that I've found to be very helpful in developing an approach to playing fast tempos on the drums:

John Riley

Rick Dior

Ralph Peterson

Ari Hoenig

Joe Farnsworth

Quincy Davis

Ulysses Owens Jr.

Kenny Washington

Carl Allen and Christian McBride

I'm always curious about how other drummers approach playing these tempos.

What are your favourite go-to recordings for ideas and inspiration?

What are the things you like to practice to get your fast tempos together?

Send me your favourite recordings to listen to and I'll share them here!

Four on the Floor *Live* featuring Sherrie Maricle!

 

Please join us for our next episode of Four on the Floor *Live* happening next Wednesday, June 12th at 7pm MST (9pm EST), appearing on Instagram IGTV @fouronthfloorblog featuring Sherrie Maricle.

We'll be talking all about drums, cymbals and whatever else happens to be on our mind...

From the drum set Sherrie leads The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, her quintet FIVE PLAY and co-leads the 3D Jazz Trio. She is also a busy freelance performer, a published composer/arranger and a dedicated educator, clinician, guest conductor and soloist. 

With her bands Sherrie has performed at many of the world’s most acclaimed music venues and festivals, from Lincoln Center to the Kennedy Center and the Hollywood Bowl, to Jazz Festivals in Germany, Switzerland, France, Portugal, Ireland, England, Croatia, Japan, Vietnam, and Israel and beyond. Additionally, Sherrie and DIVA were featured at the 2017 NEA Jazz Master’s Awards Ceremony, the soundtrack for the NBC-Macy’s Fireworks Spectacular; on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood, on TCM’s televised broadcast of the 25th Anniversary of the Kennedy Center and NHK Japan’s New York Jazz. The band also co-stars in the award-winning documentary film The Girls in the Band. 

Sherrie has received several awards and honors which include the 2022 Ronald McDonald House – New York’s Music for Hope award; 2016 Audelco Award for “Best Musical” – Tappin’ Thru Life; 2014 Ovation award for “Best Music Direction” in Tappin Thru Life; the 2009 Mary Lou Williams-Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievement Award, a 2013 State Department grant for FIVE PLAY to tour Vietnam, a tour grant from Arts International, The Kennedy Center Alliance Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Arts, a grant from Meet the Composer, a Doctoral Fellowship from New York University, the New York City Music Educator’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and was twice selected New York University “Music Teacher of the Year.” 

As an educator, Sherrie runs a private drum set and percussion studio. She is also a clinician for Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Aquarian Drumheads and Vic Firth Drumsticks. From coast-tocoast she also serves as a guest conductor, soloist, and adjudicator for collegiate and high school jazz festivals. 15 years ago, Sherrie created, and remains the Music Director for Musical Magic, a hospital outreach program for The Ronald McDonald House – New York. She is currently on the faculty of The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. 

Sherrie graduated from Union-Endicott High School in Endicott, N.Y. in 1981. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Binghamton University in 1985, then moved to New York City to attend New York University, where she completed a Master of Arts in Jazz Performance in 1986 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Jazz Performance/Composition in 2000. 

Sherrie’s recent recordings include The DIVA Jazz Orchestra Swings Broadway (2022), The 3D Jazz Trio 9 to 5 (2022) and FIVE PLAY “LIVE” at The Firehouse Stage (2019) 

Sherrie loves to swing!

www.sherriemaricle.com

Four on the Floor *Live* featuring Jacob Wutzke!

Please join us for our next episode of Four on the Floor *Live* happening this Thursday, June 6th at 12pm MST (2pm EST), appearing on Instagram IGTV @fouronthfloorblog featuring Jacob Wutzke.

We'll be talking all about drums, cymbals and whatever else happens to be on our mind...

Jacob Wutzke is a Montréal based drummer, bandleader, author, composer and music educator. Noted for his exceptional technique, creativity and ability to listen and improvise in the moment, he is an in-demand musician as a sideman and as a leader in the jazz and creative music scenes.

A staple of the Canadian music scene, he has performed and recorded with Caity Gyorgy (2x JUNO Award Winner), Ira Coleman, Jocelyn Gould, Bryn Roberts, Pat LaBarbera, Sam Kirmayer and more. He has also self-published several drum method books to develop technique and phrasing that have become essential practice tools for drummers around the world.

A part of the 2019 Graduating Class of Humber College's Bachelor of Music program, as well as the 2022 Graduating Class of McGill University's Jazz Performance Master's Degree, Jacob is well-established in his local music scenes, as well as across Canada and the USA where he has been seen performing coast to coast at premiere venues, clubs and jazz festivals. He is also a committed music educator and author, teaching private lessons to students worldwide and giving workshops, lessons & masterclasses at high schools and universities in his travels. He teaches students of all levels and levels of experience, many of whom have gone on to enrol in music degrees around the world, and lead successful professional careers.

Jacob has released 2 albums as a leader — a full length LP entitled “Show Yourself” (February 2023) as well as a duo album with saxophonist Lucas Dubovik entitled “Take it in Stride” (April 2024).

Jacob proudly endorses Evans Drumheads, ProMark Sticks, Pergamon Cymbals, Protection Racket cases, and Cympad felts.

www.jacobwutzke.com 

Cozy Cole: "L'Aventure du Jazz"

Thanks to Andrew Dickeson for sharing this fantastic footage of the great Cozy Cole in action, from a French jazz documentary.

Q plays in 2

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.

Four on the Floor *Live* featuring Timothy Roberts

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!

www.reveriedrums.com

The Monday Morning Paradiddle - May 2024

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:

• Archie Shepp and Philly Joe Jones

• For Tootie Heath and Further Tootie

• Swing to Bop: Kenny Clarke at Minton's

2. An article and interview with Billy Hart from KNKX Public Radio

3. Al Foster warms up in the studio before a recording session:

 

4. Alma Tree, a fantastic percussion trio featuring Bob Moses on drums:

 

5. John DeChristopher's Live from my Drum Room featuring Adam Nussbaum:

 

6. Aldo Mazza's Shaping Your Journey podcast featuring Jeff Hamilton:

7. The 80/20 Drummer interviews Quincy Davis...

 

...and Ed Soph: 

 

8. Jeff Ballard from a trio hit with the Fly Trio, with Mark Turner and Larry Grenadier:

 

9. And as always...Joe Farnsworth RIPS! 

 

10. Samo Salamon interviews Danish jazz drummer Anders Mogensen:

 

11. Mark Guiliana featured on Go Encore: 

 

12. As always, Quincy Davis shares the goods with us through his ongoing YouTube series Q-Tips:

 

13. Ken Micallef offers these two wonderful pieces featuring Tony Williams...

...and the great jazz drummers:

 

14. Lewis Nash with Sean Jones, paying homage to the Max Roach/Clark Terry drum and trumpet duet "Brushes and Brass":

 

15. Speaking of brush playing, check out these fantastic sweeps from Martin France:

16. Andrew Cyrille plays his solo drum composition "Laurent":

 

17. A wonderful feature on the drumming of the late afro-beat Master drummer Tony Allen:

 

18. Max Roach's "Drum Conversation" 

 

19. What am I listening to these days?

Fred Anderson and Steve McCall "Vintage Duets" - Steve McCall (drums)

Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana "Taming the Dragon" - Mark Guiliana (drums)

Steve Nelson "A Common Language" - Eric Ineke (drums)

Redman/Mehldau/McBride/Blade "Round Again"- Brian Blade (drums)

Elvin Jones/Jimmy Garrison "Illumination" - Elvin Jones (drums)

Phil Nimmons "The Atlantic Suite" - Stan Perry (drums)

Max Roach and Clifford Brown "Live at the Beehive" - Max Roach (drums)

20. And today's Final Word goes to Ernest Hemingway thanks to Canadian pianist David Restivo, via the Facebook.

"We are all apprentices in a craft where no one becomes a Master"

- Ernest Hemingway

Four on the Floor *Live* featuring Chad Anderson!

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...

Geoff Clapp TEARS IT UP!

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:

https://www.practicingdrummer.com/podcast-e7-geoff-clapp/

Kendrick Scott Trading

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:

Four on the Floor t-shirts!

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!

The Breakdown: Johnathan Blake

Check out this fantastic drum lesson on Swinging with Johnathan Blake!

15 Years of Four on the Floor!

 

Well, as they say, "Time flies when you're having fun..."

I was contemplating what to write and share today and then realized that I've reached a bit of a milestone here: April 2024 represents the 15th anniversary of my blog Four on the Floor.

 

(no...not that Milestone(s) but you should still listen to that album anyways!)

It's hard to believe that I started this project way back in the Spring of 2009. I was still living in Toronto at the time, preparing to write my candidacy exam for my doctoral studies at the University of Toronto and also packing boxes for an upcoming move to Calgary, Alberta where I still live and work today.

I was inspired by what my friend Chad Anderson had done with his iconic web forum Cymbalholics and was also really digging the regular blog offerings by other on-line jazz citizens such as Darcy James Argue, Ethan Iverson, Ronan Guilfoyle and Peter Hum. Recognizing that I needed some kind of regular web presence to get my name out there (keep in mind that I didn't have a proper website at the time and Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, social media, etc. were still non-existent and non entities in my day-to-day life...ah the good old days!) I spontaneously created a blogger account one April morning as I was drinking my espresso and contemplating ways that I could put off reading some chapters for my upcoming exam...and Four on the Floor was born!

Anyways, a lot as happened career-wise since my first blog post and I had no idea at the time that what I would share and happen to find interesting in the wide world of jazz drumming would be so well received around the world. When I share something it's because I dig it and I hope you will too!

I would like to thank Chad Anderson, John Riley and Adam Nussbaum in particular for their ongoing encouragement to keep this thing going.

Thanks to all of you out there for all your continued support, good vibes and to all of you who regularly read what I have to share.

Sincerely,

Jon McCaslin

btw - okay here's some real jazz drumming content to check out today featuring Art Taylor with Johnny Griffin (or as Joe Farnsworth would say: "RIP!")

"The guys get shirts..." 

- Paul Anka

Well you don't have to be a guy and you certainly don't need Paul Anka's permission to celebrate the 15th anniversary of my blog in style by wearing the classic black Four on the Floor t-shirt.

The classic black Four on the Floor t-shirts are now back in stock and once again available for a limited time only!

These shirts are available in small, medium, large x-large and xxl sizes and are lightweight premium fitted 100% cotton tees. 

Logo design by Chad Anderson and quality t-shirts printed by Primal Screen (Calgary, AB)

The shirts are $30 each (+shipping)

If you are interested in purchasing one, please drop me a line asap at fouronthefloorblog@gmail.com or you can reach me through Facebook/Twitter/Instagram and I'll set you up right away.

The last few times these went pretty quickly so don't delay and order one today while supplies last!

John Riley and Adam Nussbaum wear their Four on the Floor t-shirts and so can you!

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This is Rhythm: A MacEwan Drum Symposium

A trio of talented MacEwan drum students have organized the first ever MacEwan Drum Symposium!

I am super excited to present a masterclass on drum set creativity for the upcoming This is Rhythm drum and rhythm symposium at Grant MacEwan University (Edmonton, AB) on Sunday, April 28th at 230pm, joining some great drummers including Efa Etorama Jr., Robert Kpongo, Dave Laing, Daniel Akira Stadnicki, Mark Segger and more!

This two-day series of presentations and performances will bring together some of Edmonton’s finest drummers and percussionists representing a variety of styles.

The event is completely FREE to attend and will also feature numerous giveaways.

One of the organizing students, Tony Flanagan, had this to say: “This is project is something myself, Braeden Detert and Jonas Hazelaar have been working on throughout the year, and has taught us a ton about the grant application process and event management. I think we’ve put everything in place for a great two days, with a lot of engaging presenters on a variety of topics. I hope to see everyone there!”

Lenny White: I am Painting with Notes

A wonderful interview with the great Lenny White and a couple short clips of the Master in action, demonstrating some very serious and very hip independence solo ideas!

Collective Thoughts from Ed Soph and Adam Nussbaum

A follow-up to my blog post from last month featuring Ed Soph's wisdom Fifty Years of Random Thoughts About Practicing, Playing and Improvising on the Drum Set here's a panel discussion featuring Ed Soph and Adam Nussbaum, hosted by Michael Vosbein of Drummer Nation.

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