Here are two somewhat lesser-known books I really enjoy:
Peter Retzlaff and Jim Rupp - Turn it Up & Lay it Down: Baby Steps To Giant Steps
STAR RATING:
# # # # #
WORDED RATING:
Fantastic playalongs, clean layout, helpful introductory texts and exercises
TARGET AUDIENCE:
Jazz Drummers from beginner to professional
PUBLISHED BY:
Hudson
DESCRIPTION:
The CD contains 11 increasingly faster songs from 100 bpm (Blues) to above 300 bpm (Giant Steps) played by a small combo. The songs are all 12 bar blues or famous 32 bar standards. Most songs have you playing Fours towards the end, solo ideas are notated. For each song you get a leadsheet with melody and chords but also a short drum sheet and some proposed key figures written out. Before each new tune, some advice is given. The first few pages of the book contain some comping exercises and brush and ride cymbal patterns. This book can be used by players of pretty much all levels because it starts like Art of Bop (comping and fills). If you try to work on the written solos, you can learn some Philly Joe Jones-esque ideas. The first song is already quite challenging on the solo part and there is no click. Also the songs are played in a rather realistic manner - the time of the other musicians is not static, so you really need to listen. There are only drum-less tracks on the CD but no other short-comings. A very well-rounded package!
VIDEOS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ71M2ZHIlY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fEoFNPGIzw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ej3ZbDpeac (unofficial video of the first song by someone on YT, solo differs from the notated one)
https://www.amazon.com/Turn-Up-Lay-...696&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+steps+to+giant+steps
-----------------------
Terry O'Mahoney
STAR RATING:
# # # # #
WORDED RATING:
Also fantastic playalongs and clean layout - takes you through typical Swing/Broken Swing tunes with switches to different Latin styles
TARGET AUDIENCE:
Jazz Drummers from intermediate to professional
PUBLISHED BY:
Hal Leonard
DESCRIPTION:
The book comes with 3 CDs and is divided into 3 chapters. Some grooves are given for the Latin styles but you need to intrepet the charts and mostly come up with your own grooves, fills and kicks.
Chapter 1: playalongs of 16 bars Swing, 16 bars other style (Bossa Nova, 6/8, Songo,...) to practice switching the groove
Chapter 2: longer playalongs of a small combo with lead sheets, e.g. 16 bars melody with Swing, 16 bars piano solo swing, 16 bars piano solo Latin, bass solo...
Chapter 3: big band charts (several pages long) to work on different styles, set-ups and so on - also some solo spots for the drums are provided (sometimes with vamps playing through those parts)
This book is probably not so much for absolute jazz beginners because you need some basic ideas about comping and section/ensemble figures. No exercises on these topics but the CDs also come with drums on the tracks which might help getting started.
VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNM-ooqTGfE
https://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Drummin...800&sr=1-1&keywords=jazz+drumming+transitions