Latin Jazz Play-Along *video*

[moogoogaipan]

So I recently got a new webcam for Christmas, and to break it in, I wanted to see how well it would keep up with fast movements. So I did a little Latin jazz playalong, but I liked how the music managed to sync nearly perfectly that I decided to upload it and post it. See what everyone else thinks of my playing.
Note, I've never studied latin jazz in depth.

Also, I know that the bass sounds like it's missing. I didn't multi-track, so there were some clipping issues involved if I were to raise the volume of the bass.

Enjoy!

http://media.putfile.com/Choro-Play-Along

[jazzsnob]

You need to listen to some Willie Bobo. Your right hand is weak and inconsistent at the moment, and even though the bass was inaudible and would make it feel better, it's even more important for your right hand to lay it down. You had some good fill ideas, but a lot of them were just rock fills played very weakly. Don't be afraid to hit some rimshots and play over the bar(of course once you get your right hand together). Listen to some Willie Bobo man, he had an AMAZING right hand with bell patterns and ride playing. "Monterey Concerts" by Cal Tjader is a pretty amazing latin jazz album. Some seriously amazing feels on it.

Sorry for the harsh criticism, but let me think of what else. It's hard to describe, but it was too "smooth," you never went for it, you just kind of meekly played through the piece, even during the climax. Even though you don't hear this often, "dynamics" doesn't just mean soft. This isn't exactly the most exciting piece, but you could have helped that and really brought it up at places, and everything time I thought you would, you didn't and it was pretty dissapointing.

Hey maybe Phil Maturano will check this out and give you some real pointers.

Keep it up!

[moogoogaipan]

. You had some good fill ideas, but a lot of them were just rock fills played very weakly.

!
I'm not a rock drummer, so I don't play rock fills... I wouldn't if I wanted to.

thanks for the watch, good criticism. I'm a soft player, that's my problem. I'm trying to get over that.

[jazzsnob]

Okay, well let's not get get hung up with semantics man. To me, "rock fills" basically means straight combinations of singles and doubles that resolve in predictable ways. The real intense latin guys play fills that don't necessarily have a straight line of singles and doubles, but have some surprising duple and triple syncopations(am I sounding like an idiot?) and you kind of just roll out some singles and doubles and then hit exactly where you think it's going to.



The playing isn't bad at all, I'm nitpicking because it's good enough that saying "work with a metronome" doesn't cut it.

Yeah, you just have to lay into it sometimes man. Good job though.

[foursticks]

Well I thought it was a good job, but I can see what jazzsnob means, jazzsnob do you have any suggestions for how to get out of the habit of doing 'rock fills'? I know you go by LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN, but are there any books or resources out there that might help?

EDIT: Just to add, what I think jazzsnob means, is ways of spicing up your playing and making it more exciting and adding that little more feel and emotion into it...

[moogoogaipan]

, but have some surprising duple and triple syncopations(am I sounding like an idiot?) and you kind of just roll out some singles and doubles and then hit exactly where you think it's going to.




No, I feel ya. I completely understand what you are saying, and I get the same vibe.
I've never studied latin music outside of a hand drumming marching band show. I know the clave patterns, but I'm not fluent in all the various patterns.

Anyway, I'm much appreciative.
Thanks guys!!

[tomgrosset]

That was pretty good, but somewhat foreseeable, and didn't sound very interesting either.

Try and spend a lot of time with just your right hand and hi-hat. Work on your rudiments too. By doing this, you'll be able to play much more fluently and without much effort, and it'll give you more ideas in your playing as well.

Furthermore, you have a tendency to play the same fill idea consistently throughout the song and you would put them randomly everywhere. You need to open up your playing a bit more. Listen to the music and try to understand it, because books and other resources can only help so much.

But man, don't take this the wrong way, you are a good player and you do have potential as Gregg said several months ago.

Just take our advice and really work at it and you'll be gettin' it in no time.

[d.c.drummer]

Your playing was very good. Like every one else i would like to see you open up. There was nothing catogorically "wrong" with your playing.

Latin music is colorful and explosive, meaning it always some rauchiness. Syncopation and odd time is what is all about. I sound like a dummy but what I'm trying to say is think... timbale.

[Drummer Karl]

Well, actually this was cool! i like your feeling and how you play the straight Ride cymbals, pretty exact. There were a few very small timing problems...but overall it sounds very cool, nice timing. Nobody has a perfect timing, so that isn`t real critism for me to you!

Even though you don't hear this often, "dynamics" doesn't just mean soft.

good point man.
For example when playing over the vamp (your solo), play more powerful, try to do a few more accents, play those accents not randomly, take care of the accenting of the piano or bass when playing together. Play them sometimes unisono with the band or repeat some of the melodies on the drums...don`t play ALL accents but support the band with it. I think KCDrummer said this, sometimes the other musicians love it when the drummer supports them with those accents and make up a melody (on snare drum for example)...

Just one point...keep it up buddy, you did your job well.

Karl

[moogoogaipan]

Thanks guys. I'm glad you took the time to explain what you would like to see, rather than just bashing it and not even giving some sort of explanation.

I think It'll just take a little studying of the latin vernacular to open up. When I find myself in unfamiliar territory, it's safer for me to play simply and not take chances cause I'm always afraid of messing with the timing.

[tomgrosset]

Thanks guys. I'm glad you took the time to explain what you would like to see, rather than just bashing it and not even giving some sort of explanation.

I think It'll just take a little studying of the latin vernacular to open up. When I find myself in unfamiliar territory, it's safer for me to play simply and not take chances cause I'm always afraid of messing with the timing.

Don't worry about it, its customary for a musician to feel like they should hold back when they're unfamiliar with the music. It's good you didn't make an effort to over-play.

And yeah, we're not here to bash you. This isn't YouTube or those other drum forums that are lacking in moral restraint.