My Reflections On Jazz

It's early April here in Berks County and the long winter is finally yielding to spring's gentle advances.  But spring's much appreciated arrival also means the beginning of a Berks County tradition, Jazz Fest.  With the scintillating sounds filling the air of our small county it's hard not to get captivated by its allure.  I had been floating the idea of taking a month to listen to the work of the drummers presented in "The Great Jazz Drummers."  Since Jazz Fest is on, there would seem there is no better time to start than now! 

Before I get started with this journey through the Mount Olympus of jazz I wanted to get some of my feelings about the genre on paper.  Most musicians have cut their teeth by playing along to their favorite albums and it's an important part of the growth of any musician.  It gives the young musician a chance to test his chops in a musical setting, and "fill the spot" of one of his influences.  Even as one grows past the basics as a musician playing along with records can be a way to open your mind to new possibilities.  

Despite, or maybe because of, my admiration for jazz I have never played along with a jazz record.  There is something almost otherworldly about the playing of greats like Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Buddy Rich, Tony Williams and others (This doesn't even cover those outside of the drumming spectrum.)  These are the giants whose shoulder we as drummers stand upon, and these records are the hallowed grounds on which they made their mark.   

Listening to these records is, in a way,  like walking through a place with historical significance.  They say if you walk through a place like Gettysburg or Lambeau Field you can feel the gravitas of events that have happened there.  Since jazz is generally an improvised art form when you listen to a record it's capturing a moment that will never happen again, no matter how many times that song is played.  When I listen to a record featuring Elvin, or Philly Joe, or any of the greats I can feel the spirit of the player and the moment exuding from the record.   

So attempting to play along with these tracks, to interject myself into that moment, is something  I find completely daunting.  As much as I understand the benefit of playing along to records, I feel it is almost arrogant to try to interject myself into that moment.  These songs are the playground in which some of the greatest musicians of all time came together to play.  Much like children in a playground the sheer imagination and ingenuity creates some truly special moments.

Which leads me to what I'm hoping to get out of this little experience.  By listening to all these drummers I'm hoping to get a better understanding of jazz drumming and the players that shaped the instrument.  To me jazz drumming is one of those rare things that the more I understand the more magical it becomes.