Second Greatest Drummer in the World

You've still got to give the greatest accolades to Animal on the Muppet Show. That aside, this guy is pretty spectacular with the emphasis on the spectacle part of the word. When you get married you might consider hiring this band for the gig.

I've got rhythm, I've got youtube, I've got Gershwin, who could ask for anything more?

So this is George Gershwin in 1933, despite the date on the clip. I'm hoping you've heard his name before. He is one of America's greatest composers. Some of his masterpieces are "Rhapsody in Blue", "Porgy and Bess", and "I've Got Rhythm", which is shown here. In jazz, the most common tune to solo on is a 12 bar blues, the second most common tune is Rhythm Changes.

Rhythm Changes are the chord changes to "I've Got Rhythm". So you see it's all pretty simple. The primary chord sequence for the A section of Rhythm Changes is I - VI - II - V. You will see that little pattern all over the place in jazz, so should try and become familiar with the sound of that. The bridge is moves around the circle of fifths and then goes back to the pattern. So in the key of C the bridge would be E7 to A7 to D7 to G7 and back to C. There are a a myriad of songs written over these changes, and "I've Got Rhythm" is a good one to start with. This is a good head to memorize and try in different keys.

Pucker up!

This is for all the whistlers of the world. CLICK HERE, you won't be disappointed. By the way, it turns out you all own a "Pucculo."

You could virtually be sitting on a throne right now!

You, your throne, some drummers you never heard of, a nice kit and a pair of sticks. Sounds like vacation, eh? Click on THIS LINK, and have some fun. Select your kit, then click on "Key Settings" and rock out with your keyboard out. p.s. Elvin Jones is just about every jazz drummer's favorite drummer. He is best known for his work with Coltrane. Steve Gadd is the ultimate studio/session player, and perhaps the most recorded drummer in history. I really dig the groove on "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover", see the transcription HERE. Stewart Copeland and Sting lost that lovin feeling, which is a shame. Can't we all just get along...like Elvis and Nixon , Owen and Mzee or these three? (great drumming with great mullets on the last one)

Don't quote me...

Here are a few interesting quotes by famous jazz musicians and some guy named Einstein. Some funny, some intriguing, and some to make you think or reflect on your own experiences...

Only play what you hear. If you don't hear anything, don't play anything.
~ Chick Corea

Jazz isn't dead, it just smells funny.
~ Frank Zappa

The history of a people are found in its songs.
~ George Jellinek

I start in the middle of a sentence and move both directions at once.
~ John Coltrane

I was unfashionable before anyone knew who I was.
~ Paul Desmond

Talking about music is like dancing about architecture.
~ Thelonious Monk

Imitate, assimilate, and innovate.
~ Clark Terry

Hipness is not a state of mind. It's a fact of life. You don't decide you're hip… It just happens that way.
~ Cannonball Adderley

It occurred to me by intuition, and music was the driving force behind that intuition. My discovery was the result of musical perception. (When asked about the theory of relativity)
~ Albert Einstein

Improvisation is the ability to talk to oneself.
~ Cecil Taylor

...don't think of yourself as a jazz musician. Think of yourself as a human being who plays music.
~ Charlie Haden

Spiraling out of here

Steve Coleman is a NYC based alto saxophonist and the founder/leader of a method of improvisation known as M-Base. M-base is an acronym for "Macro - Basic Array of Structured Extemporizations." The wording is a perhaps a little heavy, and can make your eyes water if you stare at it long enough. Simply put, it's a way to express musical experiences through improvisation and rhythm.

I've included THIS LINK to show you that there are more ways to improvise than knowing chords, scales and patterns. In it Steve describes how to play with a Symmetrical Movement Concept. It's a pretty deep read, but makes sense. If you get good at this, you'll be one of about 5 people on earth who know how to play like that. Steve posts most of his music online for free distribution. You definitely should check it out. HERE is a good example of his playing, it's about as dark and funky as saxophone playing gets. Give it about 15 seconds, to go from solo to band. This album changed the way I make music. Always, always, always be receptive to new ideas!