Careful what you wish for. Feedback on my last “mini” lesson was unequivocal: people want shorter lessons if I’m not doing a collaboration or interview.
Not one to ignore good advice, I give you another “shortie”. Jazz ballads are probably the scariest single thing you can do as a drummer. Vast, wide-open spaces, plenty of room to rush or drag, plenty of sonic space for people to hear if your brushes aren’t on point. (Even Jojo gets nervous…)
So I thought I’d give you two simple tools to make your jazz ballads better. First, a ballad pattern that seems to work at multiple tempos, and keeps one brush in motion all-the-time, but also accents the beats to give the band a clue where you are. Second, you know that hipster lick you always hear Ari and Greg doing? I’ve got a version of that. (As usual, I tried to get at the DNA of the lick, not just recite it verbatim.)
Anyway, you’re probably here for the transcription.
And for the comment thread, who’s coming to my LA clinic!?!? It will be either Wednesday Jauary 20, Thursday the 21st, or Friday the 22nd. If it’s thursday I might drag some of you to cocktails with some of my entrepreneur buddies. Oh - and probably in Echo Park/Silverlake. As I’ve said, I’ll get an official announcement out soon!
See you soon killaz,
N