Showing posts with label Drummer List. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drummer List. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Tony Williams

Tony Williams wasn't famous when he was recruited to join one of the most inventive and accomplished ensembles in music history. He was seventeen years old. And that ensemble was led by Miles Davis.
Nothing else even needs to be said to explain who Tony Williams was and what his role in the music world meant. But I'll say more anyway. I owe Tony Williams a LOT.
From 1961 up to his far too early death in 1997, Tony Williams performed and recorded with Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Dexter Gordon, John McLaughlin, Jaco Pastorius, Hank Jones, McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter, Stanley Clarke, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Eric Dolphy, Gil Evans, Kenny Dorham, Marcus Miller, Sam Rivers, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Joe Henderson, Mulgrew Miller, Andrew Hill, and Weather Report, and led his own bands, most notably The Tony Williams Lifetime.
His father was a professional saxophonist, which of course played an important part in influencing and bringing up young Tony. After seeing prodigious talent in his eight year old son, Tony's father took him to jazz clubs where he was allowed to sit in. By age eleven, he was enrolled in private lessons at Berklee with the legendary Alan Dawson. By thirteen, he was playing with renowned saxophonist Sam Rivers. At sixteen, he was playing professionally with Jackie McLean. That obviously made an impression on Miles Davis, because only a year later, he was invited to join Miles' second great quintet and make history. That group rewrote jazz history on a daily basis and proved to be one of the most resilient bands in the genre. With Miles Davis, Tony Williams recorded around seventeen albums and reshaped and reconfigured the direction of music in the process.
Tony Williams was the first jazz drummer I got into. I bought Miles Davis' album Seven Steps to Heaven at a Streetside Records that used to exist a few miles from my house. I was just getting into jazz, and already had Kind of Blue and A Love Supreme, but I wanted something a little more modern sounding. I remember buying that album when I was twelve years old while my mom was next door at Wal Mart. I took it up to the counter, paid for it, then took it to one of the listening stations so I could check it out and read the liner notes. I read liner notes religiously. Tony Williams' playing on Joshua and the title track floored me. Blew me away. He could seamlessly changed time signatures in the middle of a tune. He could play a blazing fast tempo with tons of comping and never let the time or the energy start to slip. The dark sound of his ride cymbal was like a wash of music coming at you. I told my drum instructor Rich Hensley that I had I bought that album and said "I want to play like Tony Williams." He laughed and said "So do I." He told me that I would love the album Miles Smiles.
I bought that and heard Footprints. Now, no disrespect to the rest of the quintet on that recording, but you could strip away everything except the drums and be knocked out by that song. You could even strip away everything except the ride cymbal and it's still powerful and impressive. One word: polyrhythms. Learn it.
So I heard Footprints. And Tony Williams' playing had completely changed me. Completely. I was twelve years old and I wanted to be a jazz drummer. It really shaped the way I play. Having no real good knowledge of exactly what he was doing, I learned all of Tony's fills that I could and incorporated them into my playing. I believe that getting into Tony Williams at such a young age is what gave me an energetic and assertive style of playing. When I was in my first semester at Webster University, Paul DeMarinis told me that my playing always had attitude, and I have to credit Tony Williams for that.

On your CD:

1. Maiden Voyage – Herbie Hancock
2. Seven Steps to Heaven – Miles Davis
3. Joshua – Miles Davis
4. Footprints – Miles Davis
5. Freedom Jazz Dance – Miles Davis
6. Black Comedy – Miles Davis
7. Frelon Brun – Miles Davis
8. Agitation – Miles Davis
9. Pee Wee – Miles Davis
10. Marney – Jackie McLean
11. Para Oriente – Trio of Doom

Discography with Miles Davis:

Seven Steps to Heave (1963)
Miles Davis in Europe (1963)
Four & More (1964)
My Funny Valentine (1964)
Miles in Tokyo (1964)
Miles in Berlin (1964)
E.S.P. (1965)
The Complete Live at the Plugged Nickel (1965)
Miles Smiles (1966)
Directions (1967, 1968)
Sorcerer (1967)
Nefertiti (1967)
Water Babies (1967, 1968)
Circle in the Round (1967, 1968)
Miles in the Sky (1968)
The Complete Miles Davis–Gil Evans Studio Recordings – four takes of 'Falling Water' (1968)
Filles de Kilimanjaro (1968)
In a Silent Way (1969)

VIDEOS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTfBpKzu6XA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o40smfOyIso&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzkZ8Ikr9L4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3FpC6mcb-w&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDu6w66F5dU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NLNaGMyTjI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7FNeMzIm80&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVf9McCjT3s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KMT--JWQwk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxyiNopn08w



LINKS:
http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Tony_Williams.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Williams

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p7832

http://www.jazzhouse.org/gone/lastpost2.php3?edit=920671037

http://www.drum-videos.com/drummers/tony-williams

http://www.cs.cf.ac.uk/Dave/mclaughlin/art/final.html

http://www.freedrumlessons.com/drummers/tony-williams.php



Solo & Transcription from "Moose the Mooche" by Great Jazz Trio
http://www.cymbalholic.com/forums/showthread.php?32100-Tony-Williams-transcription
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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Chris "Daddy" Dave

Chris Dave is dangerous, plain and simple. When he was finally on the cover of Modern Drummer magazine in February 2010, I braved the seven inches of snow St. Louis got that given day and made it to Drum Headquarters to buy it. I put it on the counter and told the dude working that I'm glad Chris Dave is finally getting some of the credit he deserves. He replied that he'd never heard of him and asked who he's played with. I flipped open the magazine to page 46 and showed him.
"Robert Glasper, Kenny Garrett, Mint Condition, Mary J. Blige, Pat Metheny, Toni Braxton, Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Erykah Badu, Kim Burrell, Ron Blake, A Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def...he just recorded with Maxwell and is currently on tour with him."
Chris Dave's resume speaks for itself. Then you actually hear him play. That's when the word "dangerous" will come to mind.
I first heard of Chris Dave after seeing him perform with Mos Def on Letterman in 2009. The way he played completely blew me away, and I spent the next three days scouring the internet for information about him. At that time, he didn't even have a page on DrummerWorld.com, but he did have tons of videos on YouTube. I found every single one and then hit the practice room for the next three days after that.
Chris Dave grew up in Texas. Like many other great drummers, he got his start playing in church when he was only six years old. However, he personally describes his discovery of jazz as the beginning of his education. His music loving father played Miles and Coltrane albums constantly. When it was his mother's turn to choose what was played, it was gospel music. His brother was into funk. With all that music in the house, Chris Dave gained an appreciation and ear for all types of music, and most importantly, learned what it meant for music to groove. The recording that was most influential on him in those early days was Miles Davis' landmark "Footprints." The legendary drummer on that was of course none other than The Tony Williams. After that, Chris spent hours and hours every day simply listening to jazz recordings and digesting what it was that Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, and Philly Joe Jones were doing on the drums.
He studied with Craig Green and Sebastian Whittaker. He mastered every exercise and pattern in the book "4-Way Coordination." He got into J Dilla beats and learned those (as impossible as that may sound. And if that means nothing to you and you're a drummer, set aside some time and look that dude up. J Dilla is one of the greatest and most innovative hip-hop producers that ever lived). He became an expert sight reader. He studied at Howard University. Then he landed the gig with Mint Condition.
Since then, Chris Dave has been around the world and back again, impressing and blessing jazz lovers, hip-hop heads, and soul aficionados with his innovative playing. He has the innate and unmatchable ability to drop ridiculous polyrhythms into any beat. He can be playing in 5, switch to 7 for a few bars, and come right back in on the down beat like it's nobody's business. He can metrically modulate anything and never lose it. He has crazy fast chops and seems like he gets faster every time I hear something new from him. Most recently, he recorded on Maxwell's 2009 platinum selling album "BLACKsummers'night," which won two Grammy Awards including Best R&B album. I haven't even mentioned his set up (currently, it's five snares, a bass drum, 18 inch hi hats, and an assortment of cymbals that changes by the minute). Whether you're a drummer or not, whether you're a musician or not...when Chris Dave plays, you'll listen. It doesn't matter what he's doing. He could be playing the simplest 6/8 ballad groove or soloing over a jazz tune. His playing will make you listen. You might not get it, but he will hold your attention and never let it go. He is dangerously pushing the envelope and changing drumming on a daily basis.


"Humility isn’t just shown in your attitude. It’s also shown in the way you approach the kit. Do you have enough respect for the instrument to really learn it? How much time do you put into learning the history of the drums and how drumming got where it is now? All of that matters."
- Chris Dave

That's absolutely true. You've got to learn the rules if you want to break the rules. And if you ever want to come close to Chris Dave, you've got to master the rules. Now go practice.




On your disc:
1. Quiet Dog – Mos Def
2. Bad Habits – Maxwell
3. Cold – Maxwell
4. Pretty Wings
5. Help Somebody – Maxwell
6. Stop the World – Maxwell
7. No Worries – Robert Glasper
8. Yes I’m Country (And That’s OK) – Robert Glasper
9. Think of One – Robert Glasper
10. Delta Bali Blues – Kenny Garrett
11. Happy People – Kenny Garrett
12. Fellowship – Me’Shell Ndegeocello
13. Good Intentions – Me’Shell Ndegeocello
14. Sometimes – Mint Condition
15. Raise Up – Mint Condition

Selected Discography:
BLACKsummers'night - Maxwell
Double Booked - Robert Glasper
Happy People - Kenny Garrett
Simply Said - Kenny Garrett
Standard of Language - Kenny Garrett
Definition of a Band - Mint Condition
Life's Aquarium - Mint Condition
Livin' The Luxury Brown - Mint Condition
From the Mint Factory - Mint Condition
Comfort Woman - Me'Shell Ndegeocello
The Spirit Music Jamia - Me'Shell Ndegeocello
Ali Shaheed Muhammad- Shaheedullah and Stereotypes
Mary - Mary J. Blige
Sonic Tonic - Ron Blake
Try Me Again - Kim Burrell


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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Stanton Moore



Stanton Moore is the sound of New Orleans. Having been born and raised in the area, as well as having studied with the immortal Johnny Vidacovich, Stanton Moore embodies the rich textural sound of New Orleans funk/jazz drumming. From his innovative drum configuration (utilizing two bass drums and a pandeiro) to his well known altered-fulcrum technique, Stanton Moore is without a doubt a current innovator in the world of drumming. Although his sound can be described as loose and sloppy, he can still play a very driving tune with the best of them while maintaining his relaxed sound. Over the past two decades, he has brought that signature sound to groups and artists such as Galactic, Garage a Trois, Will Bernard, Bonerama, and Robert Walter. He stays very involved in education, constantly teaching private lessons in New Orleans and on the road. He was a contributing writer for Drum! magazine and is currently a regular writer for Modern Drummer, which featured him on their April 2004 cover. In 2005, he launched a signature line of cymbals with Bosphorus Cymbals and a signature drum stick with the Vic Firth stick company. Since Hurricane Katrina, Moore (despite his own personal losses in the tragedy) has helped start and participates in the Tipitina's Foundation workshop for students, providing young people an opportunity to learn, play and perform with professional musicians. Just last year, he unveiled a 4.5” by 14” signature titanium snare drum that embodies his classic sound. Stanton Moore’s unique sound is hypnotic. Every time I introduce his playing to a student, they are hooked from the first beat. Can’t blame them.


What's on your CD:

1. Poison Pushy – Stanton Moore
2. Licorice – Stanton Moore
3. Sprung Monkey – Stanton Moore
4. I’ll Fly Away – Stanton Moore
5. When the Levee Breaks – Stanton Moore
6. Just a Closer Walk With Thee – Stanton Moore
7. Chilcock – Stanton Moore
8. Wissions (of Vu) – Stanton Moore Trio
9. Villified – Galactic
10. Think Back – Galactic
11. Tuff Love – Galactic
12. Magpie – Will Bernard
13. Dory’s Day Out – Garage a Trois
14. Fight! Smash! Win! – Street Sweeper Social Club


Stanton Moore's selected discography:

All Kooked Out – Stanton Moore
Flyin’ the Koop – Stanton Moore
III – Stanton Moore
Emphasis (On Parenthesis) – Stanton Moore
We Love ‘Em Tonight: Live at Tipitina’s – Galactic
Vintage Reserve – Galactic
Ruckus – Galactic
From the Corner to the Block – Galactic
Mysteryfunk – Garage a Trois
Emphasizer – Garage a Trois
Power Patriot – Garage a Trois
Blue Plate Special – Will Bernard




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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Billy Martin



It’s clear that musical diversity runs through Billy Martin’s veins. This percussionist plays with such a unique style that it’s a shame he’s not more well known in the music world. Billy played in pop bands through high school while expanding his musical endeavors by studying percussion with Paul Price (who performed percussion compositions for John Cage) and taking off-campus classes on samba and Brazilian music. That influence is incredibly evident in his playing with his primary band Medeski, Martin, and Wood. He often incorporates ethnic percussion instruments and found objects into his drumset playing. Yet even more so, he mixes in breakbeats and DJ infused beats with his Afro-cuban and jazz style. The jazz influence, according to Billy Martin, specifically comes from Max Roach. He has claimed that his two biggest influences are Max Roach and Zigaboo Modeliste (drummer for the funk band The Meters). He also sometimes goes by the moniker Illy B. The most notable releases as Illy B include the Illy B Eats series of breakbeat records. Along with his percussion work, Billy Martin is a visual artist, dealing mainly with pastel drawings and paintings. His work has been displayed in several galleries and is also on the packaging of many MMW albums. Billy Martin recently established his own label called Amulet, which specializes in avant-garde percussion releases. Billy Martin truly creates his own fusion of sounds. From jazz to funk to breakbeat, his playing and his style are so electric. I personally played so much like him early on (which is far from being a bad thing) that I had to completely quit listening to MMW in order to avoid becoming a clone. Finding your own voice is a very difficult thing. Billy Martin certainly found his.

ARTISTS - Medeski, Martin, & Wood, MSMW, John Scofield, DJ Logic, John Zorn, Bob Moses

What's on your disc:
1. Little Walter Rides Again – MSMW
2. Miles Behind – MSMW
3. Tequila and Chocolate – MSMW
4. Beeah – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
5. United – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
6. I Wanna Ride You – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
7. Nocturnal Transmission – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
8. Smoke – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
9. Lifeblood – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
10. It’s a Jungle in Here – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
11. Sugar Craft – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
12. Hottentot – John Scofield


MMW Discography:
Notes From the Underground
It's a Jungle in Here
Friday Afternoon in the Universe
Shack-man
Farmer's Reserve
Combustication
Last Chance to Dance Trance (Perhaps)
Tonic
The Dropper
Uninvisible
End of the World Party (Just in Case)
Let's Go Everywhere
Radiolarians 1
Radiolarians 2



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Thursday, December 10, 2009

Jack DeJohnette


Jack DeJohnette was and is revolutionary. He’s legendary. He’s one of the greatest innovators on the drumset. A bass player friend of mine calls him the “groove master of the planet.”
He hooked up with Miles Davis in 1969 and changed the world of music. He was the rhythmic dictator behind one of the most controversial records of all time – Bitches Brew. That record birthed the genre known as fusion and changed the face of jazz, funk, and rock all at the same time. Jack D’s red meat grooves take each song from one level to the next, adding intensity and musicality that makes you question everything you thought you knew about how to back a soloist and carry a beat. He took that trademark with him to other big names that he recorded with in the years to come – Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, John Scofield…
Jack DeJohnette is well known as one of the high-priests of drumming. He’s never too loud. He’s never too busy. He’s never boring. He’s never repetitive.
His grooves are untouchable. They’re raw and they just sound and feel good. His solos are inspired and inspiring, and never repetitive. He never relies on licks or plays the same thing from one solo to the next. He has out of this world proficiency on his instrument, but unlike most drummers, he never makes his playing on technicality.
And while he can do alllll that, he can still color a ballad with all the sensitivity you would expect from a master.
And if that’s not enough, he can play a wide variety of percussion instruments and piano. While he can swing over a standard and play the pocket on a funk jam, he certainly can and certainly knows when to change his focus for the different musical styles from around the world.
At the risk of sounding cliché, Jack DeJohnette's grooves on Freddie Hubbard's "Straight Life" totally and absolutely changed my life. I was so blessed to get to recently experience his playing in a live setting. For my ramblings on that schooling: http://nosbig.livejournal.com/137934.html
Go buy “Straight Life” by Freddie Hubbard, “Bitches Brew” by Miles Davis, and “Saudades” by Trio Beyond and get educated. Get to know The Legend, Jack DeJohnette. There is nobody else like him. I could go on and on and on about this hero of mine, but I’ll let him testify with his playing.

ARTISTS - Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarret, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Michael Brecker, Bill Evans, Jackie McLean

On the CD:
1. Red Clay – Freddie Hubbard
2. Seven Steps to Heaven – Trio Beyond
3. Saudades – Trio Beyond
4. Egad – Christian McBride
5. Cobilla – Jack DeJohnette
6. The Thief – Herbie Hancock
7. So Sue Me – John Scofield
8. Black Satin – Miles Davis
9. Spanish Key (live) – Miles Davis
10. John McLaughlin – Miles Davis
11. Picture 3 – Jack DeJohnette

For more grooves and solos that will send you to the chiropractor:
Straight Life – Freddie Hubbard
Saudades – Trio Beyond
Bitches Brew – Miles Davis
Live at the Fillmore East – Miles Davis
On the Corner – Miles Davis
A Tribute to Jack Johnson – Miles Davis
Live-Evil – Miles Davis
Big Fun – Miles Davis
Standards Live – Keith Jarrett Trio
Bye Bye Blackbird – Keith Jarrett Trio
Number Two Express – Christian McBride
The New Standard – Herbie Hancock
Demon’s Dream – Jackie McLean
Jacknife – Jackie McLean
Dream Weaver – Charles Lloyd
Pictures – Jack DeJohnette




me and my favorite drummer of all time

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Thursday, November 5, 2009

Stewart Copeland



Pop drummers are rarely known by name, and are even more rarely known as innovators (and for good reason – most of them are mediocre at best). Stewart Copeland is a pop drummer. He’s also very well known and definitely innovative. What makes him innovative? He claims that his creativity comes from his early exposure to reggae and Arabic music. He’s a pop drummer, and all of his influence comes from every place in the world other than America. What are his defining characteristics? The way he uses his 12-inch hi hats couldn’t be further from the norm. How about his use of the bell? His four on the floor or three accented bass drum? His lightning fast fills? There are so many things that stand out about Copeland’s drumming that could have easily been lost amongst all the other rock and pop drummers throughout the last few decades of the 1900s. When he met up with Sting and Andy Summers, his style of drumming was the backbone of the obviously reggae-infused pop songs that made The Police.
As it is with any great drummer, Stewart Copeland’s drumming can be a PERSON. Take the song “Message in a Bottle.” Every element of the music stands out, particularly the drums. The Police were a result of three great musicians perfectly combining all of their influences and creating truly new music. There are only so many occurrences of new music being created, especially in the later part of the 20th Century. The Police most definitely did it, and they couldn’t have even come close to doing it without Stewart Copeland’s rock-solid, gorilla style of drumming. Any great drummer’s playing is so recognizable and so unique that it becomes a person in itself; except for Stewart Copeland….his style is a dinosaur.

ARTISTS - The Police, Sting, Oysterhead, Curved Air, Animal Logic

On the cd:
1. Roxanne – The Police
2. Message In A Bottle – The Police
3. Every Breath You Take – The Police
4. Don’t Stand So Close To Me – The Police
5. Murder By Numbers – The Police
6. Driven To Tears – The Police
7. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police
8. Reggatta De Blanc – The Police
9. Oz Is Ever Floating – Oysterhead
10. Owner Of The World – Oysterhead
11. Rose Colored Glasses – Animal Logic
12. Talking Is Good – Animal Logic

Albums by The Police:
Outlandos d’Amour
Reggatta de Blanc
Zenyatta Mondatta
Ghost in the Machine
Synchronicity

Stewart Copeland as a composer:
Rumble Fish
Rhythmatist
Orchestralli

VIDEOS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwpuhh0HY44&feature=fvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlBFtQGF7oI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVyg8oOH7Pk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l80-fpDn5es

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thqo77ZFTCQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXOrqGTOsik


LINKS:
http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Stewart_Copeland.html

http://www.stewartcopeland.net/

http://www.infinitedensity.net/music/copeland/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart_Copeland




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Friday, September 11, 2009

Terreon Gully


Although Terreon Gully plays jazz with Stefon Harris and Christian McBride, to call him simply a jazz drummer would be as diminishing as to call Albert Pujols a good hitter. Terreon Gully is an amazing all-around drummer. He can lay it down for R&B and pop as well as he can rip it on straight-ahead. He can do more than just hold his own in Afro-Cuban, fusion, and gospel too. There's no box to put him in. After growing up in St. Louis, Terreon attended the University of Houston where he studied percussion and got his Performance degree. Terreon's playing is full of creativity and attitude. His solos as well as his time playing show his incredible chops and solid pulse. Although he keeps very busy with touring, recording, producing, writing, and arranging, Terreon has been Professor of Drumset and Jazz History at the University of Manitoba in Canada since 2008. Those Canadians are lucky to have him.


ARTISTS - Stefon Harris, Christian McBride, Geoffrey Keezer, Joe Locke, Javon Jackson, Russell Gunn, David Sanborn, Common, Charlie Hunter, Joshua Redman.


What's on the CD:
1. Nothing Personal – Stefon Harris
2. [Untitled] – Stefon Harris
3. The Lost Ones – Stefon Harris
4. King Tut’s Strut – Stefon Harris
5. Technicolor Nightmare – Christian McBride
6. Boogie Woogie Waltz – Christian McBride
7. Say Something – Christian McBride
8. Out Jam / Give It Up or Turnit Loose – Christian McBride
9. In This Corner – Javon Jackson

Great albums with Terreon:
African Tarantella - Stefon Harris
Evolution - Stefon Harris
Grand Unification Theory - Stefon Harris
Live at Tonic - Christian McBride Band
Vertical Vision - Christian McBride Band
Live in Seattle - The Joe Locke/Geoffrey Keezer Group
Have You Heard - Javon Jackson
Smoking Gunn - Russell Gunn

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Adam Deitch


When Adam Deitch is the drummer on any given project or record, you know what you're going to get: solid time, funky driving beats, creative fills, and just a great sound from the drums. The drums are always in the forefront of any song Adam plays on, though he's never a distraction from the rest of the music. Having attended Berklee, his playing is heavily rooted in funk and r&b with a jazz mentality. He's the drummer for Lettuce and The John Scofield Band, and has also played with Average White Band, Ledisi, Raphael Saadiq, Eric Krasno, and many more. Adam's playing is very active and conversational. His breakbeats are unbelieveable. He has also produced for many hip-hop artists, such as Talib Kweli, Jurassic 5, 50 Cent, and Snoop Dogg. Currently, Adam has put out recent records with Lettuce and Ledisi and is performing with the Eric Krasno (guitarist for Soulive) led band Chapter 2 as well as his own band called Break Science. He is also on the associate faculty at the New School in New York City.

ARTISTS - Lettuce, The John Scofield Band, Ledisi, Average White Band, John Medeski, Talib Kweli, Raphael Saadiq, Eric Krasno, Anthony Hamilton, Big Daddy Kane, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Lauryn Hill.

Here's what's on the CD:
1. Thikhatali – John Scofield Band
2. Uberjam – John Scofield Band
3. Watch Out For Po-Po – John Scofield Band
4. Freakin’ Disco – John Scofield Band
5. Every Night Is Ladies Night – John Scofield Band
6. Acidhead – John Scofield Band
7. Ideofunk – John Scofield Band
8. Jungle Fiction – John Scofield Band
9. Express Yourself – Lettuce
10. Outta Here – Lettuce
11. Soon the New Day - Talib Kweli feat. Norah Jones
12.Knockin’ – Ledisi
13. Say No – Ledisi

Albums to check out for Adam's drumming and production:
Uberjam - John Scofield Band
Up All Night - John Scofield Band
Rage! - Lettuce
Outta Here - Lettuce
Live at Blue Note Tokyo - Lettuce
Eardrum - Talib Kweli
Turn Me Loose - Ledisi

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Philly Joe Jones




Early on, Philly Joe Jones took alot of influence from Max Roach and Art Blakey, both of whom were still coming into their own in the 40s. But by the 1950s, Philly Joe was establishing himself as a distiguishable drummer. His biggest claim to fame was being part of Miles Davis' first great quintet with John Coltrane, Red Garland (piano) and Paul Chambers (bass). He was also practically the house drummer for the Blue Note and Prestige record labels. Philly Joe played very unapologetically and with alot of fire and humor, and his solos are what set him apart from other jazz drummers. His precision and energy in his solos are complemented by his clever mimicking of the other soloists and the melodies. Philly Joe and Max Roach were two of the most preferred drummers by band leaders during the 50s. Philly Joe went to London in the early 60s to teach and made a huge impact there, but when he came back to the US, he had a difficult time getting back to the forefront of the scene. Other drummers like Tony Williams and Elvin Jones were coming up and making their own impression. But Philly Joe's solos stood out from the rest and he no doubt gets the credit he deserves.


ARTISTS - Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard, Dexter Gordon, Thelonious Monk, Red Garland, Hank Mobley, Bill Evans

What's on the CD:
1. Milestones – Miles Davis
2. Billy Boy – Miles Davis
3. Dear Old Stockholm – Miles Davis
4. Two Bass Hit – Miles Davis
5. ‘Round Midnight – Miles Davis
6. Surrey With the Fringe on Top – Sonny Rollins
7. When Your Lover Has Gone – Sonny Rollins
8. The Changing Scene – Freddie Hubbard
9. Smile – Dexter Gordon
10. Moment’s Notice – John Coltrane

Albums with Philly Joe Jones:
Workin' With the Miles Davis Quintet - Miles Davis
Relaxin' With the Miles Davis Quintet - Miles Davis
Someday My Prince Will Come - Miles Davis
Blue Train - John Coltrane
Tenor Madness - Sonny Rollins
Keystones! - Red Garland
Another Workout - Hank Mobley


VIDEOS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIPIc3bkYoc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSvehgKsFTM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLiqKTSDEtQ

http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/phillyjojones78.html


LINKS:
http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Philly_Joe_Jones.html

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=8188

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philly_Joe_Jones

http://hardbop.tripod.com/philly.html

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Benny Benjamin



Honestly, it's tough to write anything about William "Benny" Benjamin without a small degree of frustration and even sadness. His career was brief, underappreciated, unknown, and massively influential. Playing in Big Bands and heavily influenced by jazz and afro-cuban drummers, he had a very unique and identifiable style of playing and flawless time. Benny was basically a jazz drummer who became a pop musician in the 60s. He was the first-call of three drummers for The Funk Brothers, Motown's impeccable studio band. Benny played on huge hits for The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, The Supremes, The Miracles, and Gladys Knight & The Pips. And yet, his name is mostly unknown. Ask somebody to sing the words to "My Girl" or "Do You Love Me" and they can probably do it (at least hopefully). Ask them who is playing the music on that song and they haven't got a clue. Even the internet is relatively bare of information on him. The picture above is one of the very few known photographs of him. Video footage is practically non-existent, except for the documentary film Standing in the Shadows of Motown, which I highly recommend. The Funk Brothers recorded more #1 hits in less than two decades than The Beatles, Elvis, The Beach Boys, and The Rolling Stones combined. Benny Benjamin was playing the drums on at least a third of those recordings up until his tragic death in 1969.


When I have kids somebody, I have always planned to name my first born son Benjamin. That's the least I can do for the man that got me playing drums when I was 11 years old.


ARTISTS - The Funk Brothers (Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, The Miracles, Barrett Strong, The Contours, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Miracles, The Four Tops)


Here's what's on the CD:

1. Ain’t Too Proud to Beg – The Temptations
2. Get Ready – The Temptations
3. I Can’t Get Next To You – The Temptations
4. My Girl – The Temptations
5. For Once in My Life – Stevie Wonder
6. Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder
7. I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Gladys Knight & The Pips
8. Money (That’s What I Want) – Barrett Strong
9. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell


In some cases it's arguable whether it was Benny Benjamin, Pistol Allen, or Uriel Jones that played drums on any given song. Music credits were given to simply "The Funk Brothers." But most of the #1s are reported to have Benny Benjamin on them since Berry Gordy insisted on having Benny play for any session he was present at.

Watch the documentary on The Funk Brothers called Standing in the Shadows of Motown.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSkB15Fw38M


LINKS:
http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/benny-benjamin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Benjamin


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Max Roach


Max Roach is probably in the top 5 list of most influential drummers of all time. He is without a doubt one of the most important drummers in history. He was a pioneer in the birth of bebop and cool jazz. He played with huge names that even people outside of jazz have heard -- Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, and Duke Ellington. His biggest innovation came in the 40s when he switched his timekeeping from the thumping bass drum to the driving ride cymbal, which is of course standard jazz drumming today. This created a more flexible style and rhythmic feel for soloists to play over. Other than that, Max was one of the greatest soloists and his contributions to drummers' solo repertoire is massive. He also has a lengthy discography as a bandleader and formed the percussion group M'Boom in 1970 (with whom he made four records). If there was ever a true artist on the drumset, it was Max Roach. He died recently, in August 2007.

ARTISTS - Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, Duke Ellington, Clark Terry, Coleman Hawkins, Bud Powell, Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz, J.J. Johnson, Thad Jones


What's on the CD:
1. What Is This Thing Called Love? – Clifford Brown & Max Roach
2. Sandu – Clifford Brown & Max Roach
3. Jordu – Clifford Brown & Max Roach
4. Joy Spring – Clifford Brown & Max Roach
5. Delilah – Clifford Brown & Max Roach
6. Tender Warriors – Max Roach
7. Money Jungle – Duke Ellington
8. Dr. Free-Zee – Max Roach Quintet
9. Humph – Thelonious Monk
10. Wee – Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, & Max Roach

Here's some albums to check out that show Max's genius and significance:
Brilliant Corners - Thelonious Monk
Birth of the Cool - Miles Davis
The Amazing Bud Powell - Bud Powell
Diz and Getz - Dizzy Gillespie & Stan Getz
Bird on 52nd Street - Charlie Parker

Records as a bandleader:
Jazz in 3/4 Time
Max Roach Plus 4
Rich vs. Roach (with Buddy Rich)
Again!
We Insist! - Freedom Now
Percussion Bitter Sweet
It's Time

VIDEOS:






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Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson



Questlove is one the greatest drummers today and a legend in the making. He has an uncanny and unique way of combining the new and the old, and is able to play the simplest 4 beat and the most complex break beat. Clearly influenced by classic jazz drummers such like Elvin, Philly Joe, Tony, and Max, it's obvious that he also takes alot of influence from R&B drummers like Clyde, Jabo, and Benny Benjamin. His feel is almost unmatchable. The grooves and beats that he lays down are second to none, and are so flawless and so solid that most people think they're listening to a programmed beat - a machine, a computer. That says it all. When a musician is so perfect in his playing and his sound that he can fool a listener in to questioning if he's human, that's a testament like nothing else. Something worth mentioning is Questlove's knowledge of a drum's sound. The quality of the tuning and sound coming from his drums gives him a distinct sound for each song, album, artist, and style. Not to diminish his masterful playing, but part of what gives him his own sound is his choice of drums and the quality of his tuning. Aside from drumming, he's a great producer and bandleader whose skills include singing, rapping, and some piano and bass. Questlove is the perfect example of everything an amazing drummer can and should be -- an outstanding musician.


"Whatever the average drummer is doing, I'm trying to do the exact opposite." - Questlove


ARTISTS - The Roots, Al Green, Erykah Badu, The Philadelphia Experiment, Erykah Badu, Common, Joshua Redman, Pharrell

Here's what's on the CD:

1. Put It In Your Pocket – Joshua Redman Elastic Band
2. Philadelphia Experiment – The Philadelphia Experiment
3. Ain’t It The Truth – The Philadelphia Experiment
4. Call For All Demons – The Philadelphia Experiment
5. The Seed (2.0) – The Roots
6. You Got Me – The Roots
7. Here I Come – The Roots
8. The Next Movement – The Roots
9. Mellow My Man – The Roots
10. Doin’ It Again – The Roots
11. Booty – Erykah Badu
12. Window Seat – Erykah Badu
13. The Light - Common
14. Definition – Black Star
15. Lay It Down – Al Green
16. You’ve Got the Love I Need – Al Green

Here's some other songs to check out that are good examples of Questo's versatility:
"Untitled (How Does It Feel)" - D'Angelo
"Playa Playa" - D'Angelo
"Chicken Grease" - D'Angelo
"Break You Off" - The Roots
"Rising Up" - The Roots
"Do You Want More?!!!??!" - The Roots
"What They Do" - The Roots
"Lle Lfe" - The Philadelphia Experiment
"Trouble Man Theme" - The Philadelphia Experiment
"No One Like You" - Al Green



VIDEOS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D671znPDOCU&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EOBI-SpdTA&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIVzt_vGyr8&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_6p6fbdxF4&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZh9Ngjg71E

http://www.okayplayer.com/news/Video-The-Roots-Public-Enemy-Bring-The-Noise-Live-on-Late-Night-with-Jimmy-Fallon.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgMiGqA6xtA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgMiGqA6xtA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s11XaUKsMU8



LINKS:
http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Ahmir_Thompson.html

http://www.myspace.com/questlove

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Questlove


Questlove's Advice for Bands = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85tyZNiSyTk&feature=channel_page

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