So many drummers with a rock background seem to have a "look at me" attitude and try to be in the spotlight. The best drummers (particularly jazz drummers) are true team players who want the balance of the band, large or small, to sound perfect and musical. At 1:00, you show how much more the drums blend into the music instead of trying to overpower it. This is what truly distinguishes jazz from rock.
Excellent advice! I started out in rock in the 1960's. Then I discovered jazz. I found a professional jazz drummer who played in small acoustic trios and large swing bands. His first words were, "Keep the time steady and keep the volume low." My first jazz gig was with a violin, piano and upright acoustic bass in a dinner club. I was hired within five minutes of my audition. My hard work at playing less instead of more had literally paid off. This video is a great example of "Less is more." I quiet drummer can still be great. Check out Jeff Hamilton, Joe Morello (Take 5) and Jerry Granelli (Charlie Brown's Christmas). Louder is not better. Focus on the correct areas, as explained at the beginning of this video. Also, explore the wonderful world of brushes!
Some great points made/reminders given about Jazz vs Pop dynamics. All important. Problem is, you’re so good you’re demo’s of What Not To Do I’d blow myself away with 🤣
F sake, this is great. I am a jazz pianist and i know only a couple of jazz drummers that don’t drown out the piano. most just smack the shit out the drums. it’s frustrating. like back in the day no amps and presumably audiences could still hear duke or whoever. anyway goid video
My first job as a teenager back in the 60's - after intensive jazz lessons from a professional drummer - was with a piano, violin and acoustic bass fiddle in a dinner club at a 5-star resort. (No pressure there!) When I auditioned, the leader/violinist said, "I can hear myself, you keep perfect time, you're hired." The drummer should PLAY the instrument and be a part of the whole unit. Out of all the gigs I've played, I still prefer the small venue at low volume.
I gonna say this is a fancy jazz drum channel, but it has been 3 years since you upload the last video, what a shame. Hope you can continue making video for jazz drummers, best wishes to you.
Hey great information! My teacher always said to never play the 1 in jazz. Play 1+ or the 4+ instead otherwise you sound too stiff and the music doesn't keep that momentum. Opposite to funk and Rock.
Even in a big band playing swing, you have let the ride cymbal sing. It's still jazz. Check out Count Basie or Duke Ellington or Louis Armstrong. Also check out his video on "Playing Jazz Big Band Figures".
Likewise. I got together with some old friends just for fun. They didn't graduate to jazz or light rock and still cranked up the volume on everything and then complained that they couldn't hear me. I didn't say anything. I just didn't do a repeat performance. Nice guys and I didn't want to hurt their feelings. They were still in the 60's in their minds.
i like your recommendations but what about Art Blakey or Elvin Jones? both are everything you say that is not good for jazz, but they are very musical while comping a lot, using backbeat, crashing and loud bass & snare
I don't want to speak for this guy but I think ultimately the reason they can do those things and we can't is because...well, we aren't them, and we aren't playing with John Coltrane! A lot of rules can be broken on certain levels of playing... the album Four and More rushes a lot but that isn't a license for us to rush just because Tony did! He was Tony!
They certainly dont use too much of a backbeat, their crashing is in the context of comping accents (not a rock crash at the end of a fill) and the "loud" bass and snare arent every note- if you listen more closely, theres lots of quiet bass and snare notes with louder ones popping out for accents. They align with all of the guidelines this video has laid out. Most importantly, its the origin and evolution of their playing. They dont sound like rock drummers because thats not the lineage they come from.
So many drummers with a rock background seem to have a "look at me" attitude and try to be in the spotlight. The best drummers (particularly jazz drummers) are true team players who want the balance of the band, large or small, to sound perfect and musical. At 1:00, you show how much more the drums blend into the music instead of trying to overpower it. This is what truly distinguishes jazz from rock.
Excellent advice! I started out in rock in the 1960's. Then I discovered jazz. I found a professional jazz drummer who played in small acoustic trios and large swing bands. His first words were, "Keep the time steady and keep the volume low." My first jazz gig was with a violin, piano and upright acoustic bass in a dinner club. I was hired within five minutes of my audition. My hard work at playing less instead of more had literally paid off.
This video is a great example of "Less is more." I quiet drummer can still be great. Check out Jeff Hamilton, Joe Morello (Take 5) and Jerry Granelli (Charlie Brown's Christmas). Louder is not better.
Focus on the correct areas, as explained at the beginning of this video. Also, explore the wonderful world of brushes!
Some great points made/reminders given about Jazz vs Pop dynamics. All important. Problem is, you’re so good you’re demo’s of What Not To Do I’d blow myself away with 🤣
F sake, this is great. I am a jazz pianist and i know only a couple of jazz drummers that don’t drown out the piano. most just smack the shit out the drums. it’s frustrating. like back in the day no amps and presumably audiences could still hear duke or whoever. anyway goid video
My first job as a teenager back in the 60's - after intensive jazz lessons from a professional drummer - was with a piano, violin and acoustic bass fiddle in a dinner club at a 5-star resort. (No pressure there!) When I auditioned, the leader/violinist said, "I can hear myself, you keep perfect time, you're hired."
The drummer should PLAY the instrument and be a part of the whole unit. Out of all the gigs I've played, I still prefer the small venue at low volume.
I'll keep this in mind as an up and comer.
I gonna say this is a fancy jazz drum channel, but it has been 3 years since you upload the last video, what a shame. Hope you can continue making video for jazz drummers, best wishes to you.
Man. Theres sooo many drummers I know who need to see this video. This needs way more views.
You are very good teacher. Very essential musical needs
Thanks fot the kind words!
Hey great information! My teacher always said to never play the 1 in jazz. Play 1+ or the 4+ instead otherwise you sound too stiff and the music doesn't keep that momentum. Opposite to funk and Rock.
What cymbals are you using?
Perfekt! Thanks a lot!
He's good 👍
This was awesome
I could see the louder comping working in a big band.
Even in a big band playing swing, you have let the ride cymbal sing. It's still jazz. Check out Count Basie or Duke Ellington or Louis Armstrong. Also check out his video on "Playing Jazz Big Band Figures".
Basic and sooooo good
I have the inverse problem for number 5: I’ve spent so much time playing jazz that I don’t crash enough when I’m playing rock
Likewise. I got together with some old friends just for fun. They didn't graduate to jazz or light rock and still cranked up the volume on everything and then complained that they couldn't hear me. I didn't say anything. I just didn't do a repeat performance. Nice guys and I didn't want to hurt their feelings. They were still in the 60's in their minds.
Thank you very much for these ideas. 🙏
great lessons dude
Thanks for the lessons well done!
What's wrong with me? I prefer the opposite options in the section with dynamics
i like your recommendations but what about Art Blakey or Elvin Jones? both are everything you say that is not good for jazz, but they are very musical while comping a lot, using backbeat, crashing and loud bass & snare
I don't want to speak for this guy but I think ultimately the reason they can do those things and we can't is because...well, we aren't them, and we aren't playing with John Coltrane! A lot of rules can be broken on certain levels of playing... the album Four and More rushes a lot but that isn't a license for us to rush just because Tony did! He was Tony!
They certainly dont use too much of a backbeat, their crashing is in the context of comping accents (not a rock crash at the end of a fill) and the "loud" bass and snare arent every note- if you listen more closely, theres lots of quiet bass and snare notes with louder ones popping out for accents. They align with all of the guidelines this video has laid out. Most importantly, its the origin and evolution of their playing. They dont sound like rock drummers because thats not the lineage they come from.
You could have made this video a lot easier by just showing a clip of Greyson Nekrutman. 😁
🧢