Broken Time Drumming is finished and out now!

[Mighty_Joker]

Hi all,

As some of you may know, I've been working on my second book this year. It is called Broken Time Drumming, and is dedicated to the study of the eponymous style of drumming.

You can buy a physical copy or a digital pdf here: https://www.jonathancurtis.co.uk/shop

Here are some videos demonstrating the material:

Various members of this forum have contributed feedback and critique, which has been greatly appreciated.

I hope those of you that explore this book enjoy it, as I am really proud of how it has turned out.

I'd love to hear the thoughts of those that take a look.

Thanks to those that contributed and leant their support.

Jonathan

 

[Rob Hirons]

Great work! You can see that you’re totally dedicated to sharing the passion.

 

[Jasta 11]

Great playing, that stuff is way over my head but i can appreciate for sure.

 

[toddbishop]

Great, congratulations on finishing the project!

 

[larryace]

Way to go Jonathan.

I don't quite get the broken time part.

The time seemed unbroken to me.

I'm sure I'm missing something.

 

[prokofi5]

This sounds really interesting, but I'm wondering if there was a sample page anywhere I could take a look at. Sorry if I just missed it. Congrats on the release and good luck.

 

[Mighty_Joker]

Way to go Jonathan.

I don't quite get the broken time part.

The time seemed unbroken to me.

I'm sure I'm missing something.

Thanks Larry!

Broken time, in this sense, is a subset of jazz drumming; it’s like a style within a style. John Riley talks about it in Beyond Bop Drumming, and it’s the style I tackle in this book. I believe the origins of the term lie in the fact that the time feel is broken up across multiple limbs without any obstinate. All four limbs, essentially, comp together to create a flowing time feel.

 

[Mighty_Joker]

This sounds really interesting, but I'm wondering if there was a sample page anywhere I could take a look at. Sorry if I just missed it. Congrats on the release and good luck.

There isn’t currently a sample page, but that is a good idea. I’ll look into putting one up to be available, thanks for the idea!

 

[Mighty_Joker]

Great, congratulations on finishing the project!

Thanks Todd. There's a thank you to you in the front of the book, too, for your feedback!

 

[Mighty_Joker]

Great playing, that stuff is way over my head but i can appreciate for sure.

Thanks a lot. It is a tricky style, but it all starts to make a bit more sense with a little persistence. Thanks for the kind words.

 

[Andy]

Huge props on the dedication to task on this, & congratulations on the release of your hard work

 

[GetAgrippa]

I've just watched the first video and Larry asked the question I was going to ask-so thanks to you both for your posits. I'm no jazz aficionado so new to me. It's a busy style with all limbs going and I really like that-but it does really flow and swing too (like crazy)-those slight pauses you do really add to that-it sort of ebbs and flows. Cool stuff and sure peaked my interest. Kudos to your effort and hope for success.

 

[Mighty_Joker]

I've just watched the first video and Larry asked the question I was going to ask-so thanks to you both for your posits. I'm no jazz aficionado so new to me. It's a busy style with all limbs going and I really like that-but it does really flow and swing too (like crazy)-those slight pauses you do really add to that-it sort of ebbs and flows. Cool stuff and sure peaked my interest. Kudos to your effort and hope for success.

Thanks so much for the kind words. First time I read through it, I thought you said "but it doesn't really swing", and I got very worried! Glad you think it swings! Thanks again.

 

[Mighty_Joker]

Huge props on the dedication to task on this, & congratulations on the release of your hard work

Thanks Andy!

 

[GetAgrippa]

Thanks so much for the kind words. First time I read through it, I thought you said "but it doesn't really swing", and I got very worried! Glad you think it swings! Thanks again.

No worries I communicate poorly. I was a research scientist by trade so leaned how to communicate where no one understands me LOL.
No I absolutely think it swings-I love it. I think you can use your ideas in other jazz fusion contexts which makes it hugely applicable and not just a niche thingy as you describe.

 

[Mighty_Joker]

No worries I communicate poorly. I was a research scientist by trade so leaned how to communicate where no one understands me LOL.
No I absolutely think it swings-I love it. I think you can use your ideas in other jazz fusion contexts which makes it hugely applicable and not just a niche thingy as you describe.

Well yes exactly - once the concept clicks, you can apply this material wherever you like. As you say though, it does lend itself well to jazz fusion contexts. I find myself playing material like this in a straight funk context, too, which can work really nicely.

 

[Highway Child]

Ordered today! Looking forward to it.

 

[Mighty_Joker]

Ordered today! Looking forward to it.

Thank you very much! I really hope you enjoy it. Please let me know how you get on with it once you've had a good look.