AUSTRALIAN DRUMMER CHRIS BRIEN - "African Six"

This video is entitled "The African Six".
It was recorded live at "The Light Of The World Festival", Statue Square, Hong Kong, 24th December 2007

"THE AFRICAN SIX"
Pattern Breakdown:
Right hand: The African Six cowbell pattern being played on the cowbell with some basic movement around the drumkit.
Feet: Accented 1/8 Note triplets being played between the two bass drum pedals and the two hi-hat pedals.
Left Hand: Improvised melodic patterns on the drumkit.

In the middle section of The African Six the pattern on my feet changes to a six pedal ostinato. During this section even though the pattern is still based on an 1/8 Note Triplet feel it takes on the feel of 3/4.
While this is happening I am playing a basic grouping of "3" in 3/4 time on the mini timbale with my left hand (1 +a2 +a3 +a) while playing the "Cascara" rhythm which is in 4/4 time on the mounted cowbell with my right hand.
During this section I go in and out of the 3/4 feel into the 4/4 African Six Feel.


The Story behind "The African Six"

THE AFRICAN SIX

The African six tells the story of a group of African tribesman hunting a wild pig.

The tribesman use their drums and stomping feet with jingles around their ankles to confuse and scare the wild pig.
As The African Six develops you can hear how the tribesman are constantly right behind the wild pig.
In the middle section of The African Six the suspense breaks down as if the wild pig has eluded the tribesman, but the wild pig has not escaped. The tribesman are right behind the wild pig and the final chase is on; but this time the tribesman are successful with their catch.


For more information please visit Chris Brien's official web site http://www.chrisbrien.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• australian
• drummer
• independence
• cascara
• mozambique
• latin
• double
• bass
• drumming
• gretsch
• zildjian
• vic
• firth

[ronaldrii]

You could look at the patterns as the basis for the groove, then vary specific parts in a spontaneous way, or strip down the patterns and merely suggest the groove rather than play it explicitly. You could be as open as you want, straying from the "basic" pattern, and maybe just refer to the pattern every once in a while as a reference or to re-establish the groove. You could also take segments or "slices" of the patterns and re-arrange them to shift the feel.

[pianomags]

Octupus. Surely?

[greenfruitface]

oops....I guess there are more than four pedals. Either way...amazing job. Just amazing.

[greenfruitface]

Holy sh*t. I searched for "African drum + kit" and I landed on this. AMAZING. Exactly what I was hoping to find, and more. The footwork with the two four pedals is amazing. Nice job!

[cpdrumming]

I was referring to the patterns he is playing being very repetitive and sort of worked out in advance. I was really asking how you would use this outside of the drum solo context. I.E. to support a soloists in an open jazz setting.

[xxxslayerxxx666]

well you could learn how to metric modulate, just youtube it...basically a metric modulation is shifting to a new beat while still staying in the same time, but it sounds like your off time

[YaGiMaStaZ69]

Only one word GREAT !!!

[Crolegend4]

I'm learning from him, hope I get as good as him someday...

[cpdrumming]

Hey man you sound super. I have a question about how you might apply what you are doing here to an improvisational setting? I worked on this type of playing for some years and then got away from it because I didn't ever bear any real fruit in my playing. I mean I got good at drum pyrotechnics but I didn't help be when it came time to solo over a vamp in a tune or lock with a bass player. Don't misunderstand me I think you are a fabulous player I am curious how you use these ideas spontaneously?

[DJMemphis]

Jesus christ, keep an eye on his right foot from 3:20 onwards where he brings the third right pedal into it :o