Category: Drummers

Journal #2 – Jack DeJohnette

We’ve all been thinking a lot about Jack DeJohnette this week. Such a huge loss.

I don’t have any personal stories to share, but I’m grateful I got to see him live in 2017. While searching for the exact date of that gig, I discovered that someone uploaded a bootleg recording of it. I look forward to checking it out as soon as I post this.

I’ve been listening to Jack for as long as I can remember, and alongside the Keith Jarrett Standards albums, this Dave Holland Trio recording is one of my favorites. It’s one I keep coming back to.

This date from Slugs’ is a recent release and an absolute must-listen if you haven’t checked it out yet.

During my interview with Steve Smith, he mentioned a series of videos he did with Jack to celebrate Sonor’s 150th anniversary. Part 1 recently came out, and I’m very much looking forward to parts two and three.

Musical Expression on the Drum Set

Here’s an archive I found of Jack’s 1992 instructional video, Musical Expression on the Drum Set.

His book, The Art of Modern Jazz Drumming, is also worth getting—it’s full of wonderful concepts and exercises.

Finally, here are a couple of recordings I’ve found myself returning to the past few days:

RIP

New Clarence Penn Course

I signed up for JP Bouvet’s online platform last year during a holiday sale and am glad that I did. His courses are fun to work through and there are also a handful of guest courses, including one from John Riley.

Last week, Clarence Penn released a course on JP’s platform, and it’s excellent. I’ve been a fan for a while and always enjoy his Instagram posts, so having a more in-depth set of videos is great.

The platform isn’t cheap, but I just found a referral link on my account that will get you $30 off when you sign up. Plus, I think you still get a 7-day free trial, which is plenty of time to check it out.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s inside the course page:

Concepts:

  1. “The Secret Drummer” – Borrowing From Piano Players
  2. Billy Higgins Comping Examples
  3. CAPTAP With Max Roach’s “For Big Sid”
  4. Elvin Jones’ 6/4 Intro in “Contemplation”

Interview topics:

  1. Supporting other musicians
  2. Iterating, curiosity, and risks
  3. Gig mantras, transformative practice
  4. Teaching philosophy

Highly recommended!

Billy Hart Autobiography

Oceans of time - the musical autobiography of Billy Hart as told to Ethan Iverson

I’ve only seen Billy Hart play live once—when he was with The Cookers at the Dakota in Minneapolis—but it left a big impression. The music was incredible, and after the show he was so down-to-earth and humble, despite playing at such a high level. He’s endlessly inspiring.

I’m really excited about his new autobiography. With Ethan Iverson involved, I have no doubt it’ll be wonderful. My copy’s on the way, and I can’t wait to dig into it.

You can order the book here.

Here’s the book summary from Amazon:

Few drummers have traversed more stylistic terrain or logged more miles behind the world’s greatest jazz musicians than Billy Hart. From Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock to McCoy Tyner and Wes Montgomery, Hart has been the rhythmic heartbeat behind jazz legends for over five decades.

Now, in Oceans of Time: The Musical Autobiography of Billy Hart, the NEA Jazz Master opens up about his extraordinary life in music, in collaboration with pianist, critic, and longtime bandmate Ethan Iverson.

What makes this memoir unique?
You’ll discover rare insight into the inner life of a drummer who has shaped the sound of modern jazz, spanning:

  • His early years in D.C.’s fertile postwar jazz scene
  • Historic gigs with Shirley Horn, Jimmy Smith, Stan Getz, and Wes Montgomery
  • Legendary sessions with Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and McCoy Tyner
  • His evolution as a bandleader and educator

Inside, you’ll find: Rich storytelling that reveals Hart’s reflections on race, rhythm, mentorship, and meaning—alongside deep discussions of “the D.C. beat,” the elusive quality of swing, and what it means to live a musical life. Oceans of Time offers musicians and aficionados rare insight into the inner life of a drummer who has shaped the sound of modern jazz.

Appendices include tributes from fellow drummers, discographical highlights, and a detailed look at Hart’s signature drum setup.

As Iverson writes in the preface, “Billy Hart connects the glory years of jazz to the latest contemporary concerns.” This book is the ultimate insider’s guide to jazz drumming from a master who bridges jazz’s past, present, and future.

“Want to know what jazz is really about? Listen to Billy Hart.”—Mark Stryker, The Detroit Free Press

Finally, here’s an absolutely wonderful interview from Pablo Held with Billy Hart.