Archive for the ‘Jazz’ Category
When I put out a call for loop requests the other week, I received an outpouring of emails asking for every type of genre and beat you could imagine. Everything from tangos, odd meter math rock, slow bossa novas, death metal (I don't own a double bass pedal and my trenchcoat is at the dry cleaner) and merrengue. Quite a spectrum. And while I've kept all of these responses on file for future sessions, it was one particular request that immediately caught my ear and sent me running to the studi...
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Loop #131
Another taste of the new Gretsch kit. If this loop was on the menu at Taco Bell, it would be topped off with a generous amount of sour cream.
[caption id="attachment_5875" align="aligncenter" width="239" caption="Coltrane and the infamous 'taco session'"][/caption]
[audio:271_ElvinBlakey.mp3]
Get the .wav file here.
Get the .rx2 file here.
Get the .aiff file here.
271 BPM...
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As I mentioned in my previous post, I was fortunate enough to finally become the owner my dream jazz kit, a Gretsch USA Custom. After breaking open my piggy bank and selling 63% of my bone marrow, I finally had the sufficient funds to make the trek up to the wonderful Drum Center of Portsmouth and pick her up.
And why are these drums so great? Well, it's all about the way they SOUND. They have a certain characteristic and tone that only Gretsch drums seem to possess. It's that warm, round...
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I just realized I've posted 116 different loops on this site but not a single one has been a shuffle. What the hell is wrong with me? Some of my favorite songs are shuffles. Pride And Joy, Sweet Home Chicago, Moanin'.... I could go on and on. From jazz, to blues to rock, the shuffle is one of the few grooves that can find a home in almost any genre (except for Viking metal or perhaps Psychobilly).
Loop #117
Today's loop is a straight ahead jazz/blues shuffle ala Art Blakey. With a "fo...
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While perusing the homepage of this site earlier today, making sure everything was in order, something jumped out at me: A major gap in my tempo categories! How did this happen? How have I not recorded anything between 260-300 BPM?? That's prime wanking territory. I've spent years perfecting paradiddles and triple flama-ratama-dingdongs in the this range, yet I somehow neglected to record anything for this blog. I immediately went up to my studio, set the click track to 285 BPM and got to ...
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While I'm not a big fan of packing up everything you own, moving it into a new place and then unpacking again, it does tend have its little rewards. Like rediscovering items you forgot you even possessed. In this case, that item is Joe Henderson's incredible 1979 album, "Relaxin' at Camarillo". I had purchased this record back in high school while going through my "must own everything Tony Williams ever played on" phase and somehow managed to lose track of it after 10 years of continuous movi...
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Loop #91
I just realized that all of the straight ahead jazz loops that I've posted have been in 4/4. Sure, I've done some 6/8 Bembe variations, but those were more in the Afro Cuban realm. Today's loop is an outtake from a full session of 3/4 grooves I just recorded for Volume IV.
If you're looking for some extra waltz-based inspiration, just take a look at this list of contemporary compositions. I'm going to sleep a lot better tonight knowing that Joe Satriani's "Always With Me, Alw...
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Loop #82
Well, not totally backwards... but I did displace the traditional bembe bell pattern by two eighth note triplets. Does this really matter? Nope. I think the Afro-Cuban police will let it slide.
It's one of those grooves that can be felt in 3, 4 or 6/8. Throw this under your next arrangement of "Afro Blue" or "My Favorite Things" and let the 20 minute modal improvisation begin. If this groove has you foaming at the mouthpiece for more, you can get the complete set of fills a...
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Apparently I drank something over the 4th of July weekend that inspired me to play nothing but jazz grooves from the late 50's. Every time I sit down at the kit, all I want to do is put on my trashy, old ride cymbal and pretend I'm Elvin Jones or Art Blakey. Who knew Colt 45 would have that effect?
Speaking of Art Blakey, today I wanted to talk about one of the grooves he's best known for: The mambo. I first learned how to play this groove after hearing Art lay it down on his 1957 classic,...
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As you might recall, I previously blogged about Art Taylor and his masterful uptempo timekeeping. Tonight, I'd like to focus on another aspect of his legendary drumming: playing over vamps.
[caption id="attachment_3406" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Art Taylor"][/caption]
For those of you who are new to this term (my wife just asked why I was writing about vampires), here's a quick definition: A vamp is a repeating musical figure or accompaniment. A vamp may consist of a single...
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