Art Blakey Drumming Style

[TheSoundsreal]

hes not art blakey

[ADRENALINbt]

ez fos

[RockingMagician]

NEVER, play Hi Hat on 1 & 3.. Pleeeease, it's jazz...

[170adamb]

@RockingMagician lol try telling Steve Gadd to never play the hi-hat on 1&3 in jazz,I guess there's more than 1 way to crack a nut (i think thats the expression anyway)

[Manem83]

I always wanted to learn to play DRUMS *Mannuel

[blight4hire]

you sound like berneard perdie!

[Wanielyo]

How About the groove from "A Little Busy"? that's one of my all time favourite drum groovest!

[ysaac01]

nice kit^!!

[wallinhoajax]

Drop dead gorgeous interpretation of Art Blakeys drumming, but i'm not to fond of that ride sound :/ nothing personal, its just not my taste ;)

[9livecats]

@wallinhoajax i was gonna say the same thing

[greensofa1]

Art Blakey's Blues March gave birth to the Tutles' So Happy together

[eastside3673]

gorgeous buzz roll ftw

[RogerioMgouveia]

their sound is quite near blakey.

[adzug]

dont like the dry sound of cymbals

[dieyoung]

he hammered his hats like that ?

[holygroove2]

If you listen to Bu's Delight, Caravan, and alot of other albums you'll hear Blakey's high hat really steady and crisp. It fit his style. I loved Blakey's independence - it's super hard to have more than 2 things going on AND hold a solid groove without slowing down. This was a part of his individual style. He was able to keep the hat strong and have all this other stuff too.

I like this demonstration b/c the feel is strong and limbs are loose/fluid.

[97Samownz]

he was hitting the ride cymbal the wrong way some of the times. your supposed to hit it with the tip of your stick but instead hes hittin it with the edge.

[1951drdave]

It is not esclusive to hit the cymbal with the tip of the stick, it depends on the sounds you are trying to draw out of it.

[drycomplexity]

There are many many different ways to play the ride cymbal. The shoulder sticking that your referring to, is used quite frequently by jazz drummers for accents, or for more intensity.

[holygroove2]

I like the little hesitation thing at btwn 1:30 and 1:35 that you bring out with the bass drum. Way cool, and totally Blakey. I'm now seeing how cats today have taken his feeling and put it into their thing -it's really important to keep that drive alive... for lack of a better way of explaining it.

[97Samownz]

cats?

[PositivelyBored]

@holygroove2

well said. its those tiny musical inflections, perturbations..that's what makes a drummer

[holygroove2]

Nice. I'm gonna pass this along to a drummer that I'm helping out. Thanks for putting this out.

[Bendoengbanaang]

typical Blakey shuffle timing at the 1:09 part

[ThreeShampooBottles]

Man - your ride moves like liquid. That's cool.

[archerman3000]

hey man, killin feel

[PositivelyBored]

no one cares

[SCARBAND]

obviously you do.

[westhofer8]

WHAT?!

[TheRealManzilla]

whats the cymbal make above the hi hat? sounds great

[michaelcurtisjr]

If I had to guess I'd say its a Sabian Artisan of some kind? Great playing anyhow...

[drycomplexity]

Its a Sabian HHX ride. Not sure of the exact model because the camera doesn't get close enough.

[bendinggreenvans]

great :)

[nbdrums]

i love that cymbal, does anyone know what kind of cymbal that is?

[JIMFISHES1]

My man Ralph, great player and great person as well.

[maseo96]

itrain2015 what Sabian hats you using they sound pretty sweet, good 'chick' to em??

[FaithIsAccidental]

As is your grammar and face.

[freebeer3399]

agreed.

[dozzyozzy12]

lol your right he isnt that good

[zoso445]

that's what god said about your life

[tomtomskin]

nice playing man, poor recording.

[panopticonartist]

I saw Billy Harper once and this kid in the front row wanted to know what kind of a reed he used. It's like critiquing Ed Witten's choice of chalk.

[AHillFL]

i hate ur cymbals.

[CheezeyWeezey]

Are you kidding me AHiIIFL?! Those cymbals are BEAUTIFUL.

[zildmaster]

they may look beautiful but they don't sound "jazzy"

personally i wouldn't turn to Sabian for jazz I'd use Zildjians or Istanbuls, or if you want to spend about 1 grand you could get a Spizzichino

[CheezeyWeezey]

zildmaster, I personally believe that they sound "jazzy," since old jazz cymbals are generally very thin and very dark just like those in this video.

I also don't really like to discriminate cymbals based on brand; each brand offers many different cymbals, some suited for rock, and some suited for jazz. I have heard fantastic jazz cymbals from Zildjian, Sabian, Paiste, Istanbul, Bosphorous, and Dream.

[samstreet101]

I dunno i think they sound alright, sabian so some pretty good cymbals for jazz, the hand hammered series are beautiful rides, especially the duo version or the extra dry. But when all is said and done Ks or K customs are probably a better overall sound for jazz

[blackelk]

I like that shuffle is that more or less a new orleans type of style.you know you just don't see that these days ..what is up with todays drummers ??

[pshayn]

That is probably an understatement even. Just hurts me to see little fucks like all of you to sit here and comment on this great man. What da fuck do any of you idiots know about a true jazz cymbal sound? Have any of you little jerks even earned a dollar with ur drumming ability? Sad wastes of life.

[pshayn]

Simple minded morons without a damn clue or a right to speak on true legends of the jazz world. I have listed below in several posts just some of the great jazz musicians that Ralph Peterson has performed with. I love this man, he is a great, great drummer.

[pshayn]

Ralph is an incredible performer, one of few drummers that Blakey has picked himself as great drummer he loved himself. The guys here that say anything about him at all, are fucking retards that need a good head beating. You disrespecting fucking pricks need ur heads bashed in. u need to go back to school and study music history bcs it is precisely garbage like u which kills off great jazz in this country with ur mindless talk out of nowhere.

[CheneyPinata]

NOBODY will ever play like Blakey did and this man should be hit by lightning for saying that he plays "like Art Blakey". Snare is too loud on that Blakey shuffle also.

[pshayn]

Ralph was picked by Blakey when he was like 22 to play double drums in Blakeys big band. The man is probably the greatest living authority on Blakey plus he has his own sound. Your response makes you sound lie an idiot you metal moron. Twice as fast? Your missing the point. But I bet you are only impressed with speed..Tool...

[pshayn]

fucking sad fuck you are

[Symmetry44]

It is indeed true what you say, but you sort of negate the efficacy of your message by cursing and threatening. Not to mention it is a bad representation of not only jazz but those who respect and listen to it as well.

When you get so angry then anger becomes the issue.

You are definitely right in your message, just wrong in how you convey it.

Peace...

[pshayn]

you're right. point well taken Symmetry44. just gets under ur skin you know. when a bunch of uneducated children post so many unnecessary comments.

[Symmetry44]

I know EXACTLY what it is you speak of, lol.

I have gotten into some heated arguments on here myself and I hate when I do.

Some people are clueless, so I've learned to let their own comments do them in.

Art Blakey and legends like him let their playing do their talking.

No uninformed individual here, there or anywhere could ever deny this gentleman his just due.

I'm a drummer, so I understand this man's contribution to every drummer of this generation. If only everyone else did.

Peace...

[54spiritedwill54]

awesome. I would like to see more if it.

[kapdrums]

Is this ralph peterson?

[pshayn]

SURE IT IS

[BHSsnare08]

yeah that ride cymbal is definetly not teh best vintage sounding rides i've heard.

best ride cymbal i have EVER heard by far is made by istanbul.

i can't remember the EXACT make, but i know it was 22" and i believe it was the traditional series.

i nearly cried when i heard it, and got to play on it.

it was heaven on earth.

same with the istanbul mel lewis 18" crash ride.

most beautiful sounding bell i've ever heard.

[seamusmceagan]

Well i think the whole point is that it sounds really dry and nasty i mean the cymbals from this time period from when Art Blakey was still playing, the cymbal technology if you will haha wasn't like it is today, and still today jazz drummers i find prefer dry cymbals simply because of the mood it puts you in, idk i could be wrong though just my opinion, and i think in this recording his mics my be producing some different sounds than what it would actually be live

[KarlovackoFan]

Is it maybe Istanbul Agop EPOCH ride(Lenny White signature ride 22")

[esc319]

Yeah that ride is crap. Get some different cymbals...please...don't you hear that noise?

[bigbossmatt]

i like the ride its got a huge harsh vintage sounding... for the purpose of the video though its 'noisey'.

[pshayn]

ur an idiot. this man is a world famous drummer, band leader, blue note recording artist, educator, a professional. while u are just a dork who probably hasnt earned a dollar with ur drumming. some ppl whom Ralph Peterson has worked with:

Ralph Peterson Fo'tet,Don Byron Quintet,Ron Miles,George Colligan,Drew Gress,Betty Carter Trio,Joe Lovano,Joey DiFrancesco,Bobby Watson Quartet,Michael Brecker Quartet,Gery Allen,Uri Caine,George Colligan,Stanley Cowell,Walter Davis jr.,Mark Elf,Duane Eubanks

[pshayn]

Craig Handy,Kip Hanrahan,Roy Hargrove,Tom Harrell Quintet,K-Jazz All Stars,Charles Lloyd,Bheki Mseleku,Out of the Blue,Michele Rosewoman Trio,MarkShim,James Spaulding,Bobby Watson,Bobby Zankel Quintet,Bryan Carrott,Belden Bullock,Steve WilsonDavid Murray,Kazunori Sugiyama,Orrin Evans,Jim Anderson,Kenny Garrett,Joe Ferla,James Spaulding,Out of the Blue,Antonio Hart,Craig Harris,Harry Pickens,OTB,Nils Winther,Rodney Whitaker

[euphoricxd]

nice cymbals. are they sabians?

[utonium123]

amazing cymbals...i love the vintage roar

[drummafagod]

I hate the cymbals but the druming is good

[drumdrumdrumfun]

This guy is no moron. its a tribute to

one of the greats. Study up drumgod629.

[robox14]

good job

[shadowlorde]

cool drumming.. the only bad thing is your ride cymbal .. it sounds just as bad as the wuhan ride i got

[genecrewbar]

I can't get over how thin that ride cymbal is.

Love Ralph's playing.

[thatkendallguy]

I personally dig the Paragon rides. They're good and heavy, how I like them.

[jazzforthepeople]

Ralph!!

[SpencerMA89]

Very nice man the only thing is Art dug the sticks into the head on 2 &4 during his shuffle... as in he didn't let the sticks rebound at all; he jammed them into the head and kept them there. Thats how he got the huge sound out of his drums

[drumgod629]

he did the same thing with his brushes... he'd dig so much into em that they's always end uo all bent on one side... but he always knew how to play em...

[echoe09]

He sounded SOOO enthusiastic

[buffbluntz]

ralph peterson will blaze you...whoever you are.

[drumgod629]

you're a fuckin moron

[tbwff]

Nice!!!!

[metalmasher]

Thanks! I've always loved and respected Art. I'm glad to saee that someone has taken the time to demonstrate some of his ideas.  More please!

[gooman989898]

sounds like a fukin trash can Symphony

[Aldoliquidillusion]

great attempt man... but Art was 2 as fast and sounded twice as sharp.

[paradidd]

Ralph was picked by Blakey when he was like 22 to play double drums in Blakeys big band. The man is probably the greatest living authority on Blakey plus he has his own sound. Your response makes you sound lie an idiot you metal moron. Twice as fast? Your missing the point. But I bet you are only impressed with speed..Tool...

[gkdrummerboy]

Hey I listen to metal. But yeah, it's his style that counts...

[paradidd]

I like Metal too but old stuff like Priest and Maiden. Some say that's not Metal. Whatever, I like hard rock or what ever ya want to call it. That's what I stared out playing and listening to when I was a kid. The guy just made an ignorant comment. A lot of times people that are mostly into Metal rate a guy by chops too much. This is true. This happens more so in Metal than in Jazz and you get guys talking about "who is better" I can't get with that crap...

[paradidd]

Where is this vid from? I would like to see more if it.

[MADROCKS212]

lovely cymbals what are please

[nomedeutilizador]

They're sabian, hand hammered I think, at least the hi-hat is

[SqueakySpeedKing]

Thanks Ralph!

[lslewis]

you sound just like Blakey!!!!

[CJ81]

that was great! I was waiting for the jackhammer triplet fills that he always did on the snare or rim during the bop swing though.