WELCOME TO FOUR ON THE FOUR: A BLOG ABOUT JAZZ DRUMMING AND ALL THINGS UNRELATED, BROUGHT TO YOU BY JON McCASLIN

Thursday, July 16, 2015

The "Thursday" Morning Paradiddle















I meant to drop this post on Monday morning like I usually do but I've been on and off the road for the better part of two months now and unfortunately my blogging has consequently not been quite as consistent as I like it to be. Anyways, here it is and better late than never I guess! But actually, now that I'm home and almost caught up, I think I'll take a little break from all of this for the next few weeks to recharge my batteries. In the meantime, check this stuff out and we'll see you in a bit...


- An interview with the ever articulate Peter Erskine:

http://bcove.me/n54ak401


- Jason Marsalis is interviewed at Music Inside Out and also shares some insights into several other important Jazz drummers as well:

http://musicinsideout.wwno.org/jason-marsalis/


- An interview and feature with the ever swinging European Jazz drummer Eric Ineke entitled "I Want the Swing to be Alive":

http://jazzineurope.mfmmedia.nl/2015/06/interview-eric-ineke-i-want-the-swing-to-be-alive/


- Here's a few worthwhile and relevant discussions from the Modern Drummer education team archives:

On Learning Jazz:

http://www.moderndrummer.com/site/2013/01/md-education-team-weighs-in-on-learning-jazz/?utm_content=buffer08191&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#_

Traditional Grip?

http://www.moderndrummer.com/site/2012/09/md-education-team-traditional-grip/?utm_content=buffer2150f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#.VacoZBZ0qTb

On Learning Other Instruments:

http://www.moderndrummer.com/site/2015/05/modern-drummer-education-team-weighs-in-on-learning-other-instruments/?utm_content=buffer51e9a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#.VacpSxZ0qTZ


- Clayton Cameron discusses "What are the Mathematics of Jazz?" over at NPR:

http://www.npr.org/2015/03/06/388519359/what-are-the-mathematics-of-jazz


- Australia's Simon Barker is a very unique, creative drummer that I've only recently been introduced to but I really dig his style:



Also check out his work for solo drum set here:

http://simonbarker.bandcamp.com/album/driftwood


- The ever resourceful Drummer's Resource Podcast features a very informative interview with John Riley:

http://www.drummersresource.com/john-riley-the-4-characteristics-of-a-great-player/


- What differentiates human drummers from machines? Fractals. Apparently. (And machines also work for scale haha):

http://mentalfloss.com/us/go/65703


- I recently ran into Montreal's ever swinging Dave Laing during my time at the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival. Check out this fantastic clip of him playing along with a Joe Henderson and Christian McBride track:




- Benny Green has recently been touring with an Art Blakey tribute project. Here's a clip of the band with Carl Allen taking on the role of Buhaina:



And here's a link to a complete concert featuring this band:

http://ia801502.us.archive.org/4/items/BennyGreenSextet2015-05-14MariansJazzRoomBernSwitzerland/BennyGreenSextet2015-05-14MariansJazzRoomBernSwitzerland.mp3?cnt=0


- I've really been fascinated by Max Roach's percussion ensemble M'Boom lately. Here's a concert from 1973 to check out:




- What am I listening to these days?

Curtis Nowosad "Dialectics" - Curtis Nowosad (drums)

Jan Jarczyk "Full Circle" - Jim Doxas (drums)

Jimmy Heath "The Thumper" - Albert "Tootie" Heath (drums)

Kirk MacDonald "The Atlantic Sessions" - Jerry Fuller (drums)

Phil Dwyer "Let Me Tell You About My Day" - Alan Jones (drums)

Keith Copeland "The Irish Connection" - Keith Copeland (drums)


- And today's Last Word goes to Maya Angelou:

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."


Alright, that's all I've got for now. Thanks again for checking in and we'll see each other in a bit. In the meantime, have a great summer!


Sunday, July 5, 2015

Eric Harland with Ben Wendel

A brief post today as I am currently on the road in Saskatchewan and about to spend the next 10 ten days teaching at the Prairielands Jazz Camp, an annual summer Jazz workshop held at the University of Regina.

Last weekend I found myself in Saskatoon performing with a variety of groups at the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival. As I also heard several great groups during my stay including the band Kneebody
(with the great Nate Wood on drums). Trumpeter Patrick Boyle has been raving about these guys for years so I'm glad I finally had the opportunity to hear them play.

I was really impressed with this group and, in particular, tenor saxophonist Ben Wendel. I really dug his original concept, huge sound and the energy he brought to the music.

Ben has a series of duet videos up on youtube.com entitled "The Seasons". Check out this episode featuring a duet with drummer Eric Harland: