Improvisation is at the heart of jazz, but knowing how to play stylistically correct in a large jazz ensemble is also a necessity. How to Play Drums in a Big Band offers tips, suggestions, examples, and a play-along CD to help you put it all together. The repertoire covers many jazz styles, from Basie to Latin and African-influenced music to ECM and contemporary jazz (the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Bob Brookmeyer, etc.).

Presents the essential elements of bop drumming demonstrated through concise exercises and containing ideas to help understand what to play and how to play it and why, as well as an explanation of how the drummer functions in a group.

Inside the Big Band Drum Chart is a first of its kind drum method that usestraditional and contemporary arrangements performed by a 17 piece jazzensemble as the vehicle to study beats, musical form, ensemble phrasing, articulation, and interpretation. For each arrangement, there is 'talk through' information explaining how the composition is played as well as transcriptions of key beats and melodic information that connects the 'written drum part' to the music. The 248 page book includes a 2.5 hour audio available online and an hour long video demonstrating every exercise in the text. Also included areanecdotes and interviews with legendary big band drummers and arrangers such as Louie Bellson, Jake Hanna, Phil Wilson, Mark Taylor and Bob Curnow.Includes access to online audio/video

Titles are: Swingin' for the Fences * La Almeja Pequena * Hunting Wabbits * Whodunnit? * Count Bubbas Revenge * Get in Line * Horn of Puente * The Jazz Police * High Maintenance * Cut 'n Run.

This book has become a classic in all musicians' libraries for rhythmic analysis and study. Designed to teach syncopation within 4/4 time, the exercises also develop speed and accuracy in sight-reading with uncommon rhythmic figures. A must for all musicians, especially percussionists interested in syncopation.

The ultimate guide to drumming styles by the co-author of the best-selling instructional book The Best Beginner Drum Book. Brandon Toews and Drumeo present... THE DRUMMER'S TOOLBOX! The Drummer's Toolbox presents drummers of all skill levels with the most comprehensive introduction to 100 different drumming styles from the past century. This ultimate guide includes more than 900 groove examples, as well as listening suggestions for 1000 recommended recordings. Throughout the book, drummers will also learn about the history of each drumming style, effective techniques for playing them, and how to break down different grooves limb-by-limb. The Drummer's Toolbox is for any drummer who's serious about expanding their musical vocabulary and becoming more versatile behind the drum-set. You will learn how to play: - Rock: Surf Rock, Progressive Rock, Punk Rock... - Jazz: 4/4 Swing, Up-Tempo Swing, Contemporary Jazz... - Blues: Texas Blues, Chicago Blues, Flat Tire Shuffle... - Country: Train Beat, Two-Step, Rockabilly... - Soul & Funk: Motown, Neo-Soul, New Orleans Funk... - Metal: Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Metalcore... - Electronic: Hip-Hop, Drum and Bass, Trap... - Afro-Cuban: Mambo, Nanigo, Songo... - Afro-Brazilian: Samba, Marcha, Bossa Nova... - Afro-Caribbean: Merengue, Reggae, Zouk... - And many more!

The Afro-Cuban Big Band Play-Along book and CD gives the drummer/percussionist an opportunity to play contemporary Afro-Cuban music in a big band setting. The book and CD includes six charts from the Grammy(R) Award-winning Caribbean Jazz Project album, Afro-Bop Alliance (featuring Dave Samuels). The tracks, minus the drum/percussion parts, will give the player an opportunity to solo and experiment with a variety of groove and/or style variations.

The winner of the Drummies! 2014 Best Drumming Book Award, Big Band Drumming Fill-osophy, offers a comprehensive approach to playing and interpreting fills in a big band setting. With advice on how to interpret section and ensemble figures, Steve Fidyk and Dave Black give detailed information that will strengthen the drummer's ability to recognize one-, two-, and four-bar section/ensemble figures quickly and easily. The companion MP3 CD contains over 75 reference and play-along examples extracted from real drum charts. They have been looped or repeated for thorough study. Big Band Drumming Fill-osophy will prove to be an invaluable tool in helping to interpret and play big band drum fills.

This comprehensive book & CD set can help drummers and bassists gain valuable playing experience in jazz, funk, and Latin jazz styles. The CD features 16 play-along tracks with parts and playing suggestions for each tune. Jazz classics by John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Sonny Rollins are included along with funk tunes by Pee Wee Ellis, Russell Ferrante, and others. The book explains in detail how to play in bands and how to practice effectively. Reading topics include jazz history, chart reading, feel, song form, and musician's vocabulary. The rhythm section includes Berklee faculty bassists Bruce Gertz, Oscar Stagnaro, Bruno Raberg, and Anthony Vitti. Soloists are Billy Pierce, Hal Crook, Ken Cervenka, and Walter Beasley. Educators may also benefit by referring students to the carefully notated rhythmic feels.

With Big Band Drumming at First Sight, Steve Fidyk offers a comprehensive approach to improve sight-reading skills in a big band setting. With advice on how to accompany different musical forms and playing styles, Fidyk gives detailed information that will strengthen your ability to recognize band figures and beat patterns quickly and easily. The companion play-along recording features 10 arrangements of varying styles with beat and figure examples extracted from each score that are looped or repeated several times for thorough study. Big Band Drumming at First Sight will be an invaluable tool in helping you to become a better sight-reader! Read, listen, study, and learn through Steve's experience on what it takes to look at a drumset part once, and know how to deliver the musical goods with confidence! It was love at first sight when I first encountered this book. Here is a great resource that is focused on sight-reading big band charts correctly the first time. -Percussive Notes Rather than offering exercises in speedy note reading, the volume covers the fine art of chart interpretation with useful advice and clear illustrations. -Jeff Potter, Modern Drummer