Melodic Jazz Drumming
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MELODIC JAZZ DRUMMING by Jonathan David McCaslin A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts Faculty of Music University of Toronto Copyright by Jonathan McCaslin 2015 ii MELODIC JAZZ DRUMMING by Jonathan David McCaslin Doctor of Musical Arts Faculty of Music University of Toronto 2015 ABSTRACT This dissertation examines and explores how jazz drummers consider the concept of “melodic drumming” and how it relates to their own personal performance practice. The drum set, in the context of jazz music, can easily be considered a primarily rhythmic instrument by its very nature. It is, nevertheless, worthwhile and necessary to discuss the significance of how jazz drummers consider other musical elements in their own personal style. An overall musical approach to the drum set is recognized and encouraged, but the term and concept of playing “melodically” is also important. However, an exact definition of this idea is difficult to absolutely define. The definition and application of a melodic approach to jazz drumming is often as unique as the individual who chooses to either define or apply it. For the purpose of this research, the question of how jazz drummers incorporate and consider melody in their own playing was determined through a series of extensive interviews with contemporary jazz drummers. The interviews also explore how melody is viewed in the larger scope of jazz drumming. The findings from these interviews, combined with various other available sources, were then compared with the findings further organized, compared and discussed. iii In addition to the importance of playing the drums with an overall musical agenda, jazz drummers also describe using melody on the drum set in the context of being both an accompanist and a soloist. This includes very literal expressions of melodic structures on the drum set to more conceptual (and perhaps less obvious) applications. Many drummers also explored how melody can be an effective tool in pedagogical applications. Furthermore, many jazz drummers also discussed their sources of melodic influence. Jazz drummer Max Roach figured quite prominently in many of these interviews and his contributions and stylistic relationship to melodic drumming are also discussed. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people whose help and assistance were invaluable in making this project come to light: My thesis supervisor, Dr. Russell Hartenberger, and dissertation committee members, Dr. John Brownell and Prof. Terry Promane, for their insight and guidance. Special thanks to Prof. Paul Read for his instrumental role in setting up the DMA program at the University of Toronto and for initially encouraging me to pursue my academic studies at the doctoral level. Thank you to Adam Nussbaum, Matt Wilson, Kenny Washington, Joey Baron, Lewis Nash, Billy Martin, Barry Elmes, Dennis Mackrel, Ian Froman, Ali Jackson Jr., Peter Erskine, John Riley, Billy Drummond, John Ramsay, Yoron Israel, Bob Gullotti, Jason Marsalis, Nasheet Waits, Carl Allen, Dan Weiss and Joe LaBarbera for so generously and openly sharing their thoughts, ideas, opinions and personal experiences related to jazz drumming. My doctoral colleagues at the University of Toronto: Dr. Tom Van Seters, Dr. Patrick Boyle and Dr. Mark Duggan for their collaboration, encouragement and fellowship. A very special thank you to my family: My parents David and Roberta, my wife Chandra Thomas and son Seamus. Without their patience and unwavering support, this paper would never have been completed. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...........................................................................................................................ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................................. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS....................................................................................................... v LIST OF FIGURES.............................................................................................................. ix LIST OF APPENDICES........................................................................................................ x INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 THE THESIS........................................................................................... 1 1.2 WHAT DOES MELODIC DRUMMING MEAN?................................... 2 1.3 WHAT IS MELODY? ............................................................................. 3 1.4 APPLYING MELODY AS A DRUMMER.............................................. 9 1.5 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................ 15 1.6 LITERATURE REVIEW....................................................................... 19 CHAPTER 1 WHY IS MELODY IMPORTANT? ................................................... 29 1.1 THE FOUNDATION............................................................................. 29 CHAPTER 2 THE MELODIC DRUMMER AS AN ENSEMBLE PLAYER ......... 38 2.1 MELODY AS A REFERENCE POINT................................................. 38 2.2 ORCHESTRATION AND ARTICULATION AS MELODY ................ 42 2.3 COUNTERPOINT AS MELODY.......................................................... 47 2.4 SUMMARY........................................................................................... 52 CHAPTER 3 THE DRUMMER AS MELODIC SOLOIST..................................... 55 3.1 MELODIC DRUMMING = PLAYING PITCHES ON THE DRUMS?............................................................................... 55 3.2 EXPRESSING MELODY ON THE DRUMS........................................ 62 3.3 THE USE OF FORM............................................................................. 64 vi 3.4 LINEAR DRUMMING.......................................................................... 66 3.5 IMPROVISING OVER STRUCTURES AND THE USE OF REPETITION.................................................................. 68 3.6 DYNAMICS AND STICKING PATTERNS ......................................... 72 3.7 ROY HAYNES - “IN WALKED BUD” ................................................ 75 3.8 MAKING MUSICAL CONNECTIONS ................................................ 79 3.9 SUMMARY........................................................................................... 84 CHAPTER 4 MAX ROACH...................................................................................... 87 4.1 THE INFLUENCE OF MAX ROACH .................................................. 87 4.2 MAX ROACH’S MELODIC SOLO STYLE ......................................... 92 4.3 SOLO DRUM SET COMPOSITIONS................................................... 97 4.4 INFLUENCES....................................................................................... 98 4.5 “CONVERSATION”........................................................................... 100 4.6 SUMMARY......................................................................................... 107 CHAPTER 5 MANIPULATING THE PITCHES OF THE DRUMS.................... 109 5.1 THE PERCUSSIVE ROOTS OF THE MANIPULATION OF PITCH............................................................. 110 5.2 JEFF HAMILTON’S MELODIC APPROACH TO “A NIGHT IN TUNISIA”.................................................................... 114 5.3 ARI HOENIG – A METHOD TO PLAYING MELODIES ON THE DRUMS ...................................................................................... 118 5.4 FOUR DIFFERENT PARTS OF MELODIC DRUMMING ................ 119 5.5 HOW TO START PLAYING A MELODY......................................... 120 5.6 PLAYING A MELODY ON THE DRUMS USING CONTOUR......... 122 5.7 PLAYING ACTUAL PITCHES .......................................................... 124 5.8 TUNING.............................................................................................. 127 5.9 REACTIONS AND CRITICISM......................................................... 128 vii 5.10 SUMMARY......................................................................................... 130 CHAPTER 6 MELODIC DRUM SET PEDAGOGY ............................................. 132 6.1 ALAN DAWSON AND MUSICAL DRUM SET PEDAGOGY.......... 133 6.2 SING A SONG .................................................................................... 140 6.3 LEARNING INSTRUMENTAL SOLOS............................................. 147 6.4 BIRD SONGS – THE INFLUENCE OF CHARLIE PARKER ............ 149 6.5 HARMONIC AWARENESS............................................................... 157 6.6 SUMMARY......................................................................................... 162 CHAPTER 7 MELODIC INFLUENCES................................................................ 166 7.1 MELODY VITAMINS – THE INFLUENCE OF THE PIANO AND OTHER MELODIC INSTRUMENTS........................................ 166 7.2 BRAZILIAN DRUMMING AND WEST AFRICAN RHYTHM......... 169 7.3 NORTH INDIAN TABLA................................................................... 171 7.4 FUNK DRUMMING ........................................................................... 172 7.5 SUMMARY......................................................................................... 174 CHAPTER 8 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ................................................. 176 8.1 WHY IS MELODY IMPORTANT? 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