Paul T. Riddle: The Influence of Joe Morello

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: This excerpt is Paul T. Riddle talking with me about the Dave Brubeck Quartet’s Greatest Hits album. Specifically, Paul talks about Joe Morello‘s playing and sound and the influence Morello with the Brubeck Quartet had on Paul’s drumming.

I don’t remember the exact purpose of this interview. My best guess? I had a concept for a magazine feature where well-known drummers would talk a bit about key records and musicians that influenced them. And also, to talk about songs on their own albums that they really liked.

I’m sure Paul and I were talking from our homes. Although my idea never got off the ground, I do have my taped conversations with Paul T. Riddle circa 1982. And Paul’s recorded thoughts on drummers and records that influenced him should be of interest to Marshall Tucker Band fans, Paul’s many drum students, and to rock n’ roll historians.

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Myron Grombacher’s Ludwig Drumset 1983

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Scott K Fish

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SKF NOTE: Whatever goes around, comes around. The first time I saw this photo of Myron Grombacher‘s 1983 Ludwig drumset, I thought of earlier drummers such as Chick Webb using the same concept with cymbal stands.

I also thought Grombacher’s was one of the cooler looking drumsets to emerge in the early 1980s.

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Chick Webb (Courtesy marcdedouvan.com)

 

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Bernard Purdie: ‘Purdie Shuffle’ Solo Drums (1990)

Posted on December 17, 2017 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: Bernard Purdie’s 1990 solo drum performance is from a larger drum project in which Chip Stern asked me to take part. The general idea was having a percussion magazine and a companion audiocassette.

The project never went public. I am posting this performance with Chip’s permission.

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Barry Keane: Teaching Drums the Way I Wanted to Be Taught

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: Barry Keane is among the most successful drummers I know, with a long career as a studio drummer, and a touring gig with one of the world’s great songwriters, Gordon Lightfoot, that has lasted, so far, over 40 years.

Relistening to my first conversation/interview with Barry around 1981, I was struck by the way he taught drums to students, and the wisdom in Barry’s teaching method. In a nutshell, Barry’s teaching niche was guiding kids who wanted to know how to play basic drums — they way Dave Clark, Ringo Starr, or Charlie Watts were playing much of the time on their respective records.

Help a kid like that learn what interests him. Some may go on to more advanced drum studying. Some may not. But there’s room for the kids who just wants to start playing backbeats on 2 and 4, without first having to master the 13 essential drum rudiments.

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Pete Best Plays Himself in ‘Lennon’s Banjo’ Stage Production

Posted on December 10, 2017 by Scott K Fish

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SKF Blog: Fun stuff. Thumbs up to Pete Best for his sense of humor and historical perspective.

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http://www.itv.com
Beatles drummer Pete Best to play himself in new John Lennon play

The original Beatles drummer, Pete Best, will appear in the comedy production Lennon’s Banjo, in Liverpool next year.

The show, which tells of a quest to find the first instrument John Lennon learned to play, is based on the novel Julia’s Banjo by Rob Fennah and Helen A Jones.

“I read the novel Julia’s Banjo some years ago and thought it was a great mix of fact and fiction with regards to the Beatles and the elusive banjo.

“It made me smile – a really enjoyable read. So, when speaking to Rob Fennah about the book becoming a stage play, I said in passing ‘I should play me!’ And lo and behold, here I am doing a few of the performances,” said Pete Best.

Full story

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