wizard sticks
Senior Member
Hi,
I am not trolling, honest gov. My Dad used to be a professional jazz musician and I have played in big bands. But recently I have wondered: why is jazz so dominant in the drumming world?
It peaked prior to the Beatles explosion that was nearly 60 years ago. Fusion was (sort of) popular for a while in the 70s. There isn't a huge demand for it. It is the least popular selling music in the US.
Some theories:
1) It could be that the best drummers are simply jazz ones, so players get sucked into it.
2) Jazz is considered the "classical music" of the USA. It is taught at the major music schools and places like Berklee have pushed this since the 70s. Berklee is seen as the Gold Standard of drumming technique theory (perhaps correctly - it produced Vinnie and Steve Smith after all).
3) It is simply more interesting than pop/rock/ etc for the drummer. Technique is fun, and it is an opportunity to express this.
4) Even more so, it is very musician-centric, as it can be accused as alienating for the audience with its focus on the technical and melodic complexity.
5) Drummers think they are cool playing it.
Thoughts ............ !
I am not trolling, honest gov. My Dad used to be a professional jazz musician and I have played in big bands. But recently I have wondered: why is jazz so dominant in the drumming world?
It peaked prior to the Beatles explosion that was nearly 60 years ago. Fusion was (sort of) popular for a while in the 70s. There isn't a huge demand for it. It is the least popular selling music in the US.
Some theories:
1) It could be that the best drummers are simply jazz ones, so players get sucked into it.
2) Jazz is considered the "classical music" of the USA. It is taught at the major music schools and places like Berklee have pushed this since the 70s. Berklee is seen as the Gold Standard of drumming technique theory (perhaps correctly - it produced Vinnie and Steve Smith after all).
3) It is simply more interesting than pop/rock/ etc for the drummer. Technique is fun, and it is an opportunity to express this.
4) Even more so, it is very musician-centric, as it can be accused as alienating for the audience with its focus on the technical and melodic complexity.
5) Drummers think they are cool playing it.
Thoughts ............ !