When I was a garage rock drummer in the early 60's, I saw Buddy Rich on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. I found a local jazz drummer who had actually filled in on The Tonight Show while Ed Shaughnessy was on vacation and begged him to teach me jazz. He wasn't a teacher, but I finally wore him down. He was like Mr. Miyagi on The Karate Kid with "waxy on, waxy off", with the rudiments. Each week, I was given one rudiment to practice, The following week I was given another. He said if I did not improve each week, the lessons stopped. FINALLY, he showed me how to incorporate the rudiments into the songs and applying accents within them. I never attained his skill level but the rudiments are everything! I am in my 70's and I still practice my rudiments.
I studied with Jeff at the Centrum Festival in Port Townsend, WA back in the late 80s, for two seasons. His teaching really pulled me out of a pretty dismal hole I was in at that time. I was only 19/20 years old at that time, but I still owe a ton to his guidance at such a pivotal time. This video is great and I wish I'd been advanced enough back then to really delve into these concepts. It's great to see that Jeff is still a great educator and a consummate musician. It's a rare combination. Thanks for posting these - brings back a lot of great memories with Jeff and, more importantly, offers a lot of great food for thought.
Early 70's my instructor taught reading, rudiments, snare solos, then drum set. It gives you a great toolbox. A big reason there are so many frustrated match grip single strokers out there.
I came across a CD, Big Band, I read Jeff was the drummer, John Pizzarelli's Dear Mr. Sinatra. Jeff was impressive. I like how Jeff tells you (here) the "hear" what you want to play before playing it - plan ahead. Thanks for your talent!
Joe Morello used single and double paradiddles combined in his solo in Take Five. Rudiments are everything, once you've learned the phrasing with the accents.
When he's playing the ratamacue backwards starting from the kick and floor is there a double on the bass or the floor tom? Trying to figure out the pattern there...
Yes. The regular ratamacue is "LLR" being the ruff (drag) followed by triplet "LRL". Jeff orchestrates it on the kit: the "LLR" (drag) on the snare, followed by the triplet - mounted tom (L), floor tom (R), kick. "Reverse direction" he orchestrates it : the "LLR" (drag) as two kicks and floor tom (R), followed by the triplet - mounted tom (L) snare (RL). Hope this helps.
When I was a garage rock drummer in the early 60's, I saw Buddy Rich on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. I found a local jazz drummer who had actually filled in on The Tonight Show while Ed Shaughnessy was on vacation and begged him to teach me jazz. He wasn't a teacher, but I finally wore him down. He was like Mr. Miyagi on The Karate Kid with "waxy on, waxy off", with the rudiments. Each week, I was given one rudiment to practice, The following week I was given another. He said if I did not improve each week, the lessons stopped. FINALLY, he showed me how to incorporate the rudiments into the songs and applying accents within them. I never attained his skill level but the rudiments are everything! I am in my 70's and I still practice my rudiments.
I studied with Jeff at the Centrum Festival in Port Townsend, WA back in the late 80s, for two seasons. His teaching really pulled me out of a pretty dismal hole I was in at that time. I was only 19/20 years old at that time, but I still owe a ton to his guidance at such a pivotal time. This video is great and I wish I'd been advanced enough back then to really delve into these concepts. It's great to see that Jeff is still a great educator and a consummate musician. It's a rare combination. Thanks for posting these - brings back a lot of great memories with Jeff and, more importantly, offers a lot of great food for thought.
man, this guy might just be the hippest musical drummer this side of the Hudson
This side of the milky-way more like lol
i live right on the edge of the Hudson- the east side....i bet they're alluding to the west side here....
Jeff Hamilton is intelligent as hell! He knows the very core of s drum kit!!
so cool
That brother is all class man. All class.
That is a great video by an amazing jazz drummer.
Thank you Jeff for your musical tips.
Early 70's my instructor taught reading, rudiments, snare solos, then drum set. It gives you a great toolbox. A big reason there are so many frustrated match grip single strokers out there.
Awesome! Great lesson. Thank you.
Great, great, advice re: what you can sing, you can play. It all comes from the inside!
So great to watch and listen to. Thank you.
what a charming fellow!:D
I came across a CD, Big Band, I read Jeff was the drummer, John Pizzarelli's Dear Mr. Sinatra. Jeff was impressive. I like how Jeff tells you (here) the "hear" what you want to play before playing it - plan ahead. Thanks for your talent!
Joe Morello used single and double paradiddles combined in his solo in Take Five. Rudiments are everything, once you've learned the phrasing with the accents.
Brilliant! Thank you so much. A humming I will go… 👏🌹🇦🇺✌️
Great concept, thanks Mr Hamilton-
Jeff is Great Jazz drummer+Bigband he reding sheets great!!! and sands so Great!!! National Recording Artists.long time.
Damn, I haven't listened to the Jeff Hamilton Trio for a while. It's been too long! What was I thinking haha
Fabulous drummer Geoff ♥️
Jeff is the man. He’s driving the bus.
Nice stuff. Thanks Jeff!
Great insight.
Wonderful!
Very informative!
Beautifious!🥁🎶
Yes!
Good stuff.
Anyone know what snare he’s using?
When he's playing the ratamacue backwards starting from the kick and floor is there a double on the bass or the floor tom? Trying to figure out the pattern there...
+tdrum21 They're most definitely double strokes on the bass drum.
Yes. The regular ratamacue is "LLR" being the ruff (drag) followed by triplet "LRL". Jeff orchestrates it on the kit: the "LLR" (drag) on the snare, followed by the triplet - mounted tom (L), floor tom (R), kick. "Reverse direction" he orchestrates it : the "LLR" (drag) as two kicks and floor tom (R), followed by the triplet - mounted tom (L) snare (RL). Hope this helps.
This side of the Hudson
what mic is that
Looks like an AKG C414 of some kind
Ella Fitzgerald could scat-sing all instruments. Jeff can scat-sing all rudiments.