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 moreDrumming Influences
Over the years, I have been influenced by many different musicians. The first drummer that I really noticed was Ringo Starr with The Beatles. A bit later, I listened to Bobby Colomby with Blood, Sweat & Tears and also (in the same vein)...
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 moreCommunication and Listening
When hearing music being played – whether I’m a listener in the audience or a participant on the band stand – I really enjoy the interplay that can happen between the musicians. Most often, this is experienced in a “jazz” setting where...
Read moreJazz Song Forms: AABA
In many jazz tunes, there is a common form that occurs: 32 bars in the form of AABA. Each section is typically 8 bars in length, thus giving the total of 32 bars. The “A” sections form the main melody with the harmony generally leading back to...
Read moreHaving Some Fun
I had the pleasure of playing a jazz trio gig last night – piano, upright bass and me (drums). There’s a fun thing that can happen when playing music, and that’s when the players show up and just have some fun! We tried a few new tunes (for us)...
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