cantstoplt021
Senior Member
I'm doing a presentation for my jazz history class that is focusing on the development of jazz drumming. I want to focus on how jazz drumming styles have evolved over time and I'd like to incorporate some playing into it as well as recordings of players. I was planning on starting with early drummers and transitioning to later players (nothing too modern though). Who are some highly influential players I should reference? For example as I understand it Kenny Clarke was one of the first to start using the bass drum as a comping device rather than as a time keeping (four on the floor) device. I was also planning on playing some comping figures from Art of Bop drumming to show how drumming became more triplet based and complex overtime. As you know the book starts off with simple phrases (which I'm guessing corresponds to early drummers) and gradually gets more complex, (later drummers?).
Also curious why jazz is one of the only styles of American music without a backbeat? I guess the hi hat could be one, but It's far different than any other style I can think of.
Also curious why jazz is one of the only styles of American music without a backbeat? I guess the hi hat could be one, but It's far different than any other style I can think of.