Steve Smith - Drums

Hello! How about something for the drummers tonight? There are so many terrific drummers you should listen to that it's hard for me to pick one you should start with. I'll mention a few names towards the end of the post, but for now let's start with Steve Smith.

Smith is one of the most versatile players you'll ever hear. He was already an accomplished jazz drummer when he joined the rock group Journey (yes, that Journey) in the late 70s - that's his playing you hear on the rock standard "Don't Stop Believin'." In the mid-80s he left Journey to return to his roots in jazz; you can find out more about him at his website.

This YouTube video shows Steve Smith demonstrating a melodic drum solo. If you listen closely, you can hear him creating a melodic line with the drum set, and developing it as he goes through the solo. There's a lot of technique involved, to be sure, but it's all for the sake of really developing the solo as he goes.

Drummers aren't excused from making great jazz solos just because there aren't any "notes" on the set! If you're a drummer, be sure you're making good jazz lines and great music as you improvise. Players like Max Roach and Jeff Hamilton are easily located on YouTube or iTunes, and demonstrate the art of playing drum set solos melodically.

A couple more things: Here's an excerpt of Steve Smith demonstrating some basic funk. Listen to how simple the groove actually is! Well, he makes it sound easy. Playing great funk is actually pretty tough because you have to be precise with the rhythmic stuff, much like Latin grooves. Sloppy playing means no groove!

And finally, here an interesting bit from a "drum-off" between Steve Smith and Jeff Hamilton. Apologies for the camera-snap pauses towards the end, but you get the idea. Playing drums well in a jazz setting isn't all about technique and volume...you have to play melodically!