I’ve been listening to some great players and their take on the Brazilian Bossa Nova. Besides the Brazilian drummers, the cats I really like best are the players that keep it swingin’ while playing “straight” 8th notes. Check out Jimmy Cobb with...
Read moreThe Rock Shuffle
Over the years, I’ve played my fair share of shuffle grooves on the drums. Lately, that has included mainly the blues shuffle in its various incarnations. I have also gotten back in touch with the rock shuffle, mainly due to a student wanting to...
Read moreLocking In With the Bass Player
It has been my experience when playing in any musical situation that if the bass player and I can lock in and play well together, then the rest of the group will feel our groove. I’m always listening to the other players, but I’m also aware that...
Read moreNew Orleans Drumming
I have been drawn to the music and drumming from New Orleans for quite a while now. It’s really at the heart of so many things — including being the birthplace of jazz. The various cultures that came together created the one place where it all...
Read moreKeep Learning
I was asked recently who I thought are (or were) the best blues drummers. My list included some of my favorites: Fred Below, Jim Keltner, Steve Gadd, and Al Jackson Jr. Jabo Starks, Stanton Moore and Steve Jordan are there, as well. There are...
Read moreWhat Are The Most Overlooked Aspects of Drumming?
I think that this is a great question, and one that I was asked recently. From my experience, two things come to mind: (1) not enough time is spent on basic hand technique; and (2) not enough time is spent listening to the masters. Some people...
Read morePlay Less
More is Less is a saying that many of us have heard, and it’s been talked about quite a bit through the years. I have to say, I really like the idea of playing less. I love the feeling of establishing a strong groove and trying to keep it there...
Read moreYoung Students
I have a young student who was given the chance recently to sit in with a professional band at a July 4th party. I wasn’t there, but I saw the video. He held down the groove like a pro! The band’s song list consists mainly of classic rock tunes...
Read moreThe Hi-Hat is the Groove
One of my students wanted to learn a Dennis Chambers groove from a short clip on youtube: Fatback Groove Lesson. This is a great groove from his DVD, Dennis Chambers: Master Drummer. Before we got to the end of the clip, I paused it and remarked...
Read moreThe Half-Time Shuffle
I have a fondness for the half-time shuffle and I really like how Bernard “Pretty” Purdie does it (called the Purdie Shuffle). I remember when I first heard Steely Dan’s Aja album and the tune Home At Last — wow! Shortly after that, I checked out...
Read moreKeep Swinging!
I always get a thrill when one or more of my bandmates gives me “that look” while I’m playing. This usually happens when the rhythm section has locked into a nice swingin’ groove and it just feels good! I tend to like the approach of letting it...
Read moreLocking in the hi-hat
I have found recently that I am becoming more aware of the hi-hat and how it “should” sound. I think, in the past, that I’ve tended to not notice if it’s exactly with my “2 & 4” (with my snare drum, e.g.). It seems that the simpler I play...
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