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

Monday, September 26, 2016

Ulysses Owens Jr.



Some interesting masterclass footage today from Ulysses Owens Jr., a drummer who's recent work with Christian McBride's piano trio I've enjoyed quite a bit:









And thanks to the kind people over at the Zildjian cymbal company, here's Owens demonstrating a very nice collection of his Kerope cymbals:





Monday, September 19, 2016

Dom Moio Lessons

Today's post features several short but very practical and informative mini-lessons from Arizona drummer Dom Moio. I took a few lessons from Dom back in 2004 while visiting my brother who was, at the time, studying his Master's at ASU.

Dom's demonstrates these Latin grooves in a very clear and concise way and I hope he offers more in the future:










Monday, September 12, 2016

Mr. A.T.

 

Special thanks to Chad Anderson who passed along this very important interview with the great Art Taylor from 1994 (as part of the New York Public Library's Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project).

As per usual, when the Master's speak...we listen.



*Edit*

And to remind us all of what a supreme & badass monster swinger that Art Taylor was, here's some great concert footage from 1958 with Zoot Sims, Walter Davis and Doug Watkins:

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Tyshawn
















Welcome back and I hope you all had a wonderful Labour Day long weekend.

Today's post features some excellent drumming and commentary from Tyshawn Sorey, a very unique drummer/composer/multi-instrumentalist/scholar who is quickly being recognized as a modern Master. Thanks to the kind people over at the Memphis Drum Shop for putting together and sharing these.










Thursday, September 1, 2016

Tony Williams Drum Clinic 1987

























And…we're back.

These two clips of Tony Williams from a 1987 drum workshop in Austria have been making the rounds this summer. What an incredible opportunity to see a Master up close like this.

In the first footage we see Mr. Williams "warming up":



Notice the extensive use of single strokes, doubles and various paradiddles, switching effortlessly and executed at a very high dynamic level and stick height. A "warm up" indeed!

And here's the following drum solo performed for his class:



I saw Tony perform a very similar type of clinic like this in San Antonio at an IAJE conference in 1993. This video, I think, is a great demonstration of Tony Williams' style during the 80s and 90s. Interestingly enough, drummer/vibraphonist Jason Marsalis also attended that same clinic and, while we were playing some gigs together last year, it was interesting for the two of us to compare notes on what we remembered and took away from the experience.

Somebody also sent me an audio recording of this clinic and once I have the opportunity to listen to that I'll provide the highlights later.

*Edit* Thanks to Camil Belisle, here's the audio recording I mentioned!