Tag Archives: Down Beat

Horace Silver: Highest Marks for Billy Higgins

Posted on May 26, 2018 by

SKF NOTE: I’ve always thought pianist Horace Silver‘s left hand comping makes great fodder for drummers’ left hand comping. That idea first came to me listening to Blue Note’s classic albums, A Night at Birdland Vols. 1 and 2. Recording … Continue reading →

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Mel Lewis – Best Beat of a Lifetime

Posted on March 5, 2018 by

SKF NOTE: This 1968 Gretsch drum ad with Mel Lewis — and other great drummers in the series — need to be kept in the public eye, IMO. As I’ve said before, pre-internet, these ads gave young drummers one our … Continue reading →

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Art Blakey on Chick Webb’s Drum Lesson

Posted on January 11, 2018 by

SKF: Here’s Art Blakey recounting his drum lesson from Chick Webb. Down Beat: [T]he public in the swing era always looked to the drummer for a wild solo. After that, as time went on, people began to appreciate the drummer … Continue reading →

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Jack Bruce: Tony Williams is ‘the Prophet of Rhythm’

Posted on November 28, 2017 by

Stanley Hall: Did you enjoy working with the Tony Williams Lifetime? Jack Bruce: Oh yeah, it was one of the high spots, and Tony, he’s the prophet of rhythm. Source: Jack Bruce: Low String Eclectic, by Stanley Hall. Down Beat, … Continue reading →

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Shelly Manne: I’m Not Thinking Rhythms, I’m Thinking Melodies

Posted on November 25, 2017 by

SKF NOTE: Growing up, Down Beat magazine’s writers, editors, and reviewers were inspiration to this aspiring music journalist. They set the bar high in their knowledge of music, particularly jazz, in the maturity with which they interviewed musicians, in their … Continue reading →

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Drum Photos as Drum Lessons

Posted on November 24, 2017 by

SKF NOTE: A great 1968 photo of Buddy Rich. I’ve said it before, but photos like this one were drum lessons in themselves. Especially pre-internet and when opportunities to see Buddy and other great drummers live or on tv were … Continue reading →

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Tony Williams Smiles (1983)

Posted on November 17, 2017 by

SKF NOTE: A favorite shot of Tony Williams.

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