The Root Rhythm of Jazz and Beyond The Charleston was a popular dance rhythm during the 1920s that got its name from the popular composition of the same name by pianist/composer James P. Johnson. The syncopated Charleston rhythm is one of the most fundamental figures that makes up the DNA of jazz, as well as many different types of music from around the world. All of the great jazz drummers throughout history utilize the Charleston. Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Billy Higgins, and Elvin Jones, to name just a few, applied it in all sorts of interesting and creative ways. Elvin often phrased this rhythm in 3/4 over a 4/4 meter. In this article on the Charleston rhythm, we explore ways to create interesting comping patterns by shifting the figure to begin on different 8th-note positions within 4/4. I divided the variations into two sets. The first contains the four […]

September 2020 Issue