Want to learn how to play drums? Whether you’re staring at your first drum kit or are simply looking for some guidance on how to start, we’ve enlisted the help of award-winning British drummer & educator David Ingamells to give you the lowdown on everything from the best drum brands for beginners, to the triple …
Bass drums, cymbals, triangles, timpani, xylophones, glockenspiels; pitched and unpitched; aerophones, and membranophones – the percussion world is vast. Well, it’s true that one doesn’t have to know all the secrets to enjoy the beauty. However, when it comes to bass drums, that’s a different story. They come from a percussion instrument group used more …
Known for redefining the role of the drums and for his incalculable contribution to the classic John Coltrane Quartet, Elvin Jones is one of the most influential jazz drummers of all time. In this article we dive into some of his most famous albums. Elvin Jones was born on September 9, 1927, into a musical …
Whilst Poinciana by Ahmad Jamal may seem, on the surface, to be simply the title track of another great jazz album by the pianist, it’s influence runs much deeper, as we’ll see in this article… Written by Nat Simon and Buddy Bernier in 1936, the song takes its roots from a Cuban folk song entitled …
Women in jazz may have been under-represented in the history books, but things are quite rightly changing. In this article, writer Isabel Marquez highlights a selection of the best female drummers, both from past eras and the modern jazz scene. Of course, the list could go on, so feel free to use the comments section …
Even the most famous blues drummers in history risk being overshadowed by the star soloists of the day. We’ve already covered those iconic blues singers and legendary guitarists in detail, so in this article turns the attention to their lesser-known but equally important bandmates on the drums… Despite the rhythm section being an integral part …
Whether you’re listening to symphony orchestra, pop or jazz music, it’s quite likely that you’ll come across some tuned percussion instruments from time to time. But what exactly are the key differences between the members of the tuned percussion family which features the vibraphone, xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel and more? In this article we’ll take a …
Legendary hard bop drummer Art Blakey may have an extensive discography, but his Jazz Messenger album ‘Moanin’ is regarded by most aficionados as his finest. Join us for a dive into the story behind the legendary jazz album. Art Blakey’s place in the pantheon of the all-time jazz greats has long been established and never disputed. …
American jazz drummer Philly Joe Jones emerged onto the scene in the late 40s bebop era and was an integral part of Miles Davis‘ group for the following years. In this article we take a look at 10 essential Philly Joe Jones albums to have in your discography. American Jazz drummer Joseph Rudolph Jones born …
An early pioneer of bebop, jazz drummer Max Roach along with his frequent collaborators – like Charles Mingus, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk and Coleman Hawkins – helped birth the sound of modern jazz. In this article, we explore the life and career of the great drummer. One of the most influential drummer-percussionists of the twentieth …