Hey guys!
Not only am I'm trying to play some jazz recently and some other styles, but I'd also like to learn a little bit about blues.
Can you advise me which records should check out to get a better understanding on this musical style and its drumming?
Thanks guys!
I currently tour with various blues artists resident in Europe - Jimmy Thomas (from Ike Turners Kings of Rhythm), Michael Roach (Country Blues master from DC), Johnny Mars (Harmonica Maestro), Angela Brown & Deitra Farr (Chicago Divas!) amongst others ... all of these guys want one thing - groove!!
There are hundreds of great blues records out there but you should really understand where it all came from - go to the source & learn the subtlties of what makes a great shuffle with a quality backbeat!
I learnt a lot listening to the real early Chicago stuff - Fred Below was the master at Chess Records playing on countless records with Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Otish Rush & Elmore James. An amazing rhythm section with Fred Below, Willie Dixon on Bass & Chuck Berry on guitar! Check out any quality Chess Records compilation for his stuff.
Jabo Starks played with Bobby 'Blue' Bland before joining James Brown - I would recommend "Two Steps From the Blues". I Pity the Fool rocks!
Sonny Freeman played with BB King in the 50's - check out Live At The Regal for some great feels (he was the master of the 'Flat Tyre' shuffle!)
For an idea of where it all started, have a listen to Earl Palmer playing with Fats Domino or Little Richard. He also plays on BB King's recent(ish) tribute to Louis Jordan - an excellent example of playing Jump Blues with brushes.
Check out some early Freddie King too - 'Tore Down' swings hard and the feel shifts in 'Hideaway' are cool - from the shuffle to the straight 8ths, back to the shuffle ..
Big Jay McNeely always had a good band, as did Lee Allen, King Curtis, Buddy Guy ... also listen to the earliest solo blues artists to figure where the vibe came from - Robert Johnson, Johnny Shines, Son House ...
One thing the drummers all have in common is a laid back approach with a real sense of authority to the backbeat. Create tension by pushing a slow 12/8 or really lay back on an up-tempo open ride shuffle. The Texas stuff really kicks, and the Chicago stuff is solid as a rock ... there are loads of things worth checking out really but it's worth going back to the source and really understanding where it all came from man!
Have fun!