Learn about the wonderfully rich music which is derived from the fusion of the cultures of West Africa, Europe, and the indigenous Indian cultures of the Caribbean region with this book and CD pack. Most of the rhythms presented here have evolved from their original multiple percussion origins, and have been applied to the drum set. For each style sample or exercise, the CD contains a performance demo and then a version without the drums for playing along. For students wanting to be well rounded, well trained musicians, this publication provides the information and exercises that will give them a strong musical foundation in these important genres.

Hudson Music has teamed up with Turn It Up & Lay It Down creator Spencer Strand to bring you this series of books to accompany the popular and critically-acclaimed Turn It Up and Lay It Down CDs. Each book in the series represents a custom-tailored appraoch to learning grooves, fills and concepts that can be applied to learning different styles and playing along with the accompanying CDs. This is a complete instructional play-along package with a unique twist! The included minus-drums CD features 11 tracks that gradually step up in tempo from 100 to 310 BPM. Based on classic jazz standards, these play-along tunes give the drummer the opportunity to work on increasing his/her jazz drumming facility in a real-world musical fashion. The package contains drum charts and suggested patterns for each song, as well as a lead sheet for each song, helping the drummer to understand what he or she may encounter on a real jazz gig. Written by two jazz pros, Peter Retzlaff and Jim Rupp, this book/CD pack also includes a complete instructional method for learning how to play jazz, covering such topics as developing your jazz ride cymbal patterns, feathering the bass drum, learning comping patterns, and playing with brushes. All of the songs and educational topics are accompanied by clear text that explains the concepts, along with an extensive recommended listening discography.

With Big Band Drumming at First Sight, Steve Fidyk offers a comprehensive approach to improve sight-reading skills in a big band setting. With advice on how to accompany different musical forms and playing styles, Fidyk gives detailed information that will strengthen your ability to recognize band figures and beat patterns quickly and easily. The companion play-along MP3 CD features 10 arrangements of varying style with beat and figure examples extracted from each score that are "looped" or repeated several times for thorough study. Big Band Drumming at First Sight will be an invaluable tool in helping you to become a better sight-reader! Read, listen, study, and learn through Steve's experience on what it takes to look at a drumset part once, and know how to deliver the musical goods with confidence!

Break down rock into fifteen important sub-styles with this unique book and CD pack! For each sub-style, students get a comprehensive lesson centering on a fully notated musical chart on the CD. The CD includes a performance demo and then a version without the drums for playing along. With the sound of music in their ears, they can study and practice the technical aspects by performing the rhythms of each style. Each style section includes: historical references and background, useful information and explanations about the sub-style, notated musical examples of the style for drums, additional exercises and alternative variations, important performance tips, discographies and bibliographies, demonstration performance, and play along tracks.

Improvisation is at the heart of jazz, but knowing how to play stylistically correct in a large jazz ensemble is also a necessity. The books in this series provide tips, suggestions, examples and a play-along CD to help students become more aware of the stylistic nuances and the roles that different instruments play as a member of a large jazz ensemble. This book is one in a series of seven that deals with this important subject. A useful tool in the development of any big band drummer!

Basic Library
"Inside the Big Band Drum Chart" is a first of its kind drum set method that uses traditional and contemporary arrangements performed by a 17 piece jazz ensemble as the vehicle to study beats, musical form, ensemble phrasing, articulation, and interpretation. For each arrangement, there is "talk through" information explaining how the composition is played as well as transcriptions of key beats and melodic information that connects the "written drum part" to the music. The 248 page book includes a 2 1/2 hour Mp3 CD and an hour long DVD demonstrating every exercise in the text. Also included are anecdotes and interviews with legendary big band drummers and arrangers such as Louie Bellson, Jake Hanna, Phil Wilson, Mark Taylor and Bob Curnow. Highly recommended!

Written for five saxes: two altos, two tenors and baritone with optional rhythm section parts consisting of piano, guitar, bass and drums. These studies in jazz style for the saxophone section include five original pieces, plus alto sax duets, and also makes use of tenor lead. In addition this book can be used by saxophone teachers who want to gather five students and give them practical experience in playing in a big band sax section.

Editors' Choice
This exciting book by renowned jazz artist Wycliffe Gordon explains his unique approach to trombone playing...Sing it First. Perfect for classical and jazz trombonists, it is compiled and edited by trombonist Alan Raph. Wycliffe openly discusses the techniques that he has used regularly in his playing to achieve great success. Topics include warm-ups, style, embouchure and aperture, articulations, very high notes, endurance, velocity and much more.

Straight-Ahead Jazz Drumming provides a step-by-step method devoted to unlocking the mysteries of the jazz drummer's role as an accompanist. Author Jeff Jerolamon has combined informative text, realistic musical examples, and audio tracks that clearly and methodically detail such topics as how to: develop a good, traditional cymbal beat; adorn the cymbal beat with comping figures; play and use basic tension figures; play the cymbal in a contemporary, post 1960, fashion; adorn the contemporary cymbal concept with the rest of the drumset; resolve tensions or resolution points; build excitement behind a soloist and more. Excellent for self-study, studio lessons, and college curriculum use!