Good jazz books

[Thaard]

Originally Posted by Wavelength

While it's good and entertaining to refresh your ears with new music, you should also consider listening to a single album for an extended time period, say, a week. Getting really intimate with a few tunes will, in my opinion, benefit you more than listening to a whole bunch of different material. As you get familiar with the performances, you start picking up new details and nuances you previously didnt'n know existed, thus giving you more enjoyment and appreciation for the music.

It's the same as with practicing: you can't work on something just for a day and expect lasting results.

I have some records which I listen to again and again. Jeff Tain Watts "Bar Talk" for example. and some of the Dave Kikoski stuff. I just find jazz drummers that I like and search up spotify for their discographies.

[Anthony Amodeo]

Originally Posted by Wavelength

While it's good and entertaining to refresh your ears with new music, you should also consider listening to a single album for an extended time period, say, a week. Getting really intimate with a few tunes will, in my opinion, benefit you more than listening to a whole bunch of different material. As you get familiar with the performances, you start picking up new details and nuances you previously didnt'n know existed, thus giving you more enjoyment and appreciation for the music.

It's the same as with practicing: you can't work on something just for a day and expect lasting results.

I agree

when I first fell in love with jazz I would listen to the same record every day for a month or more......just couldn't stop listening to certain tunes.

I still do that

right now Art Blakey - A Night At Birdland Vol. 1 has been on my turntable for at least a week ....just can't take it off

[Thaard]

So, jazz drummers I'm studying/watching now: John Riley(obviously), Bill Stewart, Alan Dawson, Ari Hoenig and Jeff "Tain" Watts. Any more drummers I should pay close attention to?

[dmacc]

Originally Posted by Thaard

So, jazz drummers I'm studying/watching now: John Riley(obviously), Bill Stewart, Alan Dawson, Ari Hoenig and Jeff "Tain" Watts. Any more drummers I should pay close attention to?

These are great players you list!

Be sure to check out the John Riley recommendations as well listed in his books.

Not sure who you've been but there are so many it's crazy. It's a life long process but without no exceptions these should and must be on your list if you haven't already:

- Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers. This was considered the Hard Bop Academy. Almost all the monsters came from here.
- Philly Joe Jones
- Elvin Jones
- Billy Higgns
- Roy Haynes
- Tony Williams
- Max Roach

There's years of potential listening wrapped up with each of these masters.

Other names: Al Foster, Jack DeJohnette, Charlie Persip, Winard Harper, Herlin Rliey, Harold Jones, Jeff Hamilton...............

[BillBachman]

Everything from John Riley is absolutely great!

[toddbishop]

Originally Posted by Thaard

So, jazz drummers I'm studying/watching now: John Riley(obviously), Bill Stewart, Alan Dawson, Ari Hoenig and Jeff "Tain" Watts. Any more drummers I should pay close attention to?

Ben Riley, Billy Higgins, Frankie Dunlop, Vernel Fournier, Dannie Richmond, and all of the obvious people, of course.

[Thaard]

I quick update: I've decided to start learning trad grip, because it feels better and is more dynamic. My teacher noted that my left hand comping sounded a bit "sterile" and "clinical" when i was playing/comping with american/french grip(especially when I was playing from notation). I will probably only use the trad when playing jazz and jazzy-type stuff and use french when I need something more loud/explosive.

[Anthony Amodeo]

Originally Posted by Thaard

I quick update: I've decided to start learning trad grip, because it feels better and is more dynamic. My teacher noted that my left hand comping sounded a bit "sterile" and "clinical" when i was playing/comping with american/french grip(especially when I was playing from notation). I will probably only use the trad when playing jazz and jazzy-type stuff and use french when I need something more loud/explosive.

I think that is great Thaard

I know you are an advanced player and have a good jazz teacher so I am confident that you will develop this properly and affectively

if I have one bit of advice it would be to be sure you develop that thumb and being able to control the stick with it ....even without using any wrist motion

I have found in my years of playing trad grip that this has helped me greatly...... especially with soft strokes used in comping , particularly at up tempos

[8Mile]

Originally Posted by Thaard

I quick update: I've decided to start learning trad grip, because it feels better and is more dynamic. My teacher noted that my left hand comping sounded a bit "sterile" and "clinical" when i was playing/comping with american/french grip(especially when I was playing from notation). I will probably only use the trad when playing jazz and jazzy-type stuff and use french when I need something more loud/explosive.

I am the last person to tell anyone what grip to use, but I think this is a worthwhile endeavor. Jazz comping really presents a unique challenge to the left hand that I find trad grip is perfectly suited for. YMMV. Good luck and keep us posted.

[Thaard]

thanks for the feedback guys. Yeah, I'm watching jojo mayers dvd atm and practicing the thumb and index+middle finger. I'll hopefully get to record some jazz playalongs soon

[rstix]

Tom Morgan's Jazz Drummer's Reading Workbook

[Thaard]

Just gonna bump this with this: http://drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106868

I recorded some drums to 4 of the art of bop tracks.