I first heard a flat ride cymbal many years ago while listening to a Chick Corea album entitled Return to Forever. The great Brazilian percussionist, Airto Moreira, played drum set on this recording. His feel and groove on the drum set still...
Read moreOpen-Handed Drumming
Most right-handed drum set players have been taught to play the snare drum with their left hand while crossing their right arm over their left arm to play their hi-hat. This works quite well and I play like this — most of the time. For a...
Read moreEnergy and Volume
I just heard the Jim Hall Quartet last night – wow! There was an amazing amount of energy and yet the group practically played at a whisper. I was only three tables from the stage, and at times I had to almost strain to hear the guitar (Jim...
Read moreElvin
Happy Birthday to Elvin Jones! I remember a moment upon hearing Elvin Jones on John Coltrane’s “Transition” when I was in college. My roommate had just put on the record (yes, the LP), and I started to listen, really listen. Well, I ended up...
Read moreFollow-up to Compliments and Ego
In the last paragraph of my prior post I mentioned that… “I am usually the best person to listen to when it comes time to access my skills as a musician and, more specifically, as a drummer.” Let me augment that by saying that a good teacher can...
Read moreOther drummers
After hearing a group with a drummer who is on fire, there have been times when I have felt like selling my gear! In the past, I tended to focus on the things that that drummer could do that I couldn’t do. I would come away from that performance...
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