Messing up is not really that bad; it’s the recovery that’s important. – Jeff Watts
Author: Todd Bishop
Billy Higgins’ instrument
Here’s a nice follow up on my recent Billy Higgins solo analysis. I was just surfing around and getting discouraged at how little of value I was coming across, when I stumbled across this 2000 […]
Something stupid
I hope you’re ready for a descent several circles deeper than usual into pure drumming geekdom today, as I’ve been fooling with devising a sticking system for all limbs, and combinations of limbs. I don’t […]
Transcription: Four – the classic intro
Here in chronological order are three very similar intros to the tune Four, recorded by Miles Davis. The one by Philly Joe is the classic beginning of this tune— I don’t know if he was […]
Very occasional quote of the day: Randy Brecker
It’s a reality these days that it is harder to tell guys apart trumpetistically, because we all study out of the same books, and there’s a certain trumpetistic artistry that’s prevalent these days. So it’s […]
Cruise ship pianist!
Here’s something from Timothy McSweeney’s Internet Tendency (usually dedicated to hyper-well-written humor): a straightforward interview with a cruise ship pianist. Good straight info for anyone considering that line of work.
Daily best music in the world: Gil Evans
We can debate the subtleties of the meaning of the word “daily” later- right now just play this loud: That’s Tony Williams on the drums, in one of my new favorite performances of his after […]
Big band figure builder
Here’s another installment of a thing I’ve been doing with several students, using Syncopation lesson 4 to get familiar with the basic moves and reading associated with setting up and kicking big band figures (“cutting” […]
Very occasional quote of the day: Jack on Max
“…and he could play the fastest tempos!” – Jack Dejohnette on Max Roach I thought this one deserved its own post.
Know your tempos: what’s meant by up
In case you were wondering how fast you need to be able to play, here are a bunch of your favorite tracks spanning the break between “medium up”- where it’s still possible to swing- and […]