Concepts for Drumset Improvisation Improvisation is at the core of every great jazz performance, and as we mature as musicians we become more confident in expressing ourselves on our instrument. The rhythmic or melodic concepts that we play illustrate a particular mood, and the ideas that resurface often help define a player’s style. Listening to solos by masters like Roy Haynes, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, and Jimmy Cobb still has impact today, because each rhythmic concept is so strong, believable, and identifiable. I recall my first teacher explaining that a good drum solo tells a story, with a beginning where major themes are introduced, a middle where those themes are developed, and an ending that can involve a recapitulation of earlier themes or state a new idea. At the time, when I was a young drummer, this made little sense to me. As I continued to study and listen […]

January 2013 Issue