Customer Reviews

Drummin' Men: The Heartbeat of Jazz: The Swing Years

5 star:		(5)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a GOOD book on the Be Bop drummers, my only complaint is that the author has opinions that I do not agree with. Such as "Blakey is not a virtuoso"; My opinion is that Blakey played solo's that were beyond "Human Technique",they were Spiritual. He also relates a story of how Buddy Rich was Philly Joe's "Demon",and again states that Philly Joe Jones was not a virtuoso. The author also states that the "Rich versus Roach" recording was a "radical mistake" for Max, because Buddy "ran Roach out of the studio". The author seems to think Buddy Rich is "The world's greatest drummer". And that the real innovaters have no technique. I say ,listen to Buddy with Bird & Diz;(Tasteless Bombast),then listen to Max(pure melodic Beauty). I don,t care if Buddy can play 3000 single strokes per minute, lets don,t distort the truth, with this continuing myth. Buddy did'nt make any contribution to "Music", that these cats did.

This is an outstanding account of the Big Band Era from the standpoint of the individuals who literally provided the beat. They're all here in the story of the best of the big band drummers: Chick Webb, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Davey Tough, Ray McKinley, Big Sid Catlett, and more. This was clearly a labor of love for author Burt Korrall, who is an amateur drummer himself. Following his references to recorded material the reader can become absorbed in the topic in a way he or she never thought possible. The fact is, this book is well written and makes great reading for anyone interested in the Big Band Era or swing/jazz drumming.

A book about bebop drummers needs to explain 1) what bebop drumming consists of and 2) how the styles of the various drummers profiled diverge. This book does not do either. Instead we are told that drummer after drummer after drummer has "a great feel" and "great time"; we learn nothing.

If it were just that I'd give the book another star for its sketchy and scattered biographical information, but considering how badly written the book is, I can't justify it.

I suggest instead that you buy a copy of "The Grove Dictionary of Jazz" and look up the entry for each famous drummer you want to know about. You'll learn a lot more and have a much better time doing it.

For transcriptions consult Modern Drummer magazine.

Mr. Burt Korall has put together marvelous two volume work about jazz drummers. But it is written and researched so well that anybody interested in jazz and its development should not miss it. It is not a technical analysis(though there are many good tips for aspiring drummers) but rather oral history of modern jazz and drumming. It's also very entertaining and has many interesting and amusing stories. Most importantly it's inspiring work for musicians to keep studying and researching history of the music and for jazz listeners to discover many hidden treasures in recorded music and some great underrated but important masters of this wonderful music we call jazz.
Both volumes on Swing and Bebop are among best books written on the subject and I keep going back to them for pleasure and inspiration (and I am not even a drummer). Highly recommended.

I am a drummer and I loved reading "Drummin' Men The Heartbeazt of Jazz...the swing years.

I've always admired the drummers of this era and wondered about some of their secrets. I learned how Gene Krupa got his cool rimshot sounds and why Burt Korall knows of what he writes. I couldn't put this book down. He confirmed some of my own opinions and let me feel what it was like to be in the Savoy Ballroom for a drum battle between Chick Webb and Gene Krupa.

If you drum, read this book. If you like music , read this book.

As a swing influenced drummer, I could not put this book down. It has inspired me as well as affirmed some of my beliefs regarding the drummer's role.