The definitive book on bop drumming -- a style that is both the turning point and the cornerstone of contemporary music's development. This comprehensive book and audio presentation covers time playing, comping, soloing, brushes, more jazz essentials, and charts in an entertaining mix of text, music, and pertinent quotes.
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The definitive book on bop drumming -- a style that is both the turning point and the cornerstone of contemporary music's development. This comprehensive book and audio presentation covers time playing, comping, soloing, brushes, more jazz essentials, and charts in an entertaining mix of text, music and pertinent quotes.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Kevin J
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've had this book for about a month now and am reaping increasing benefits from it. I've been playing jazz for 20+ years, and have studied various books during that period, so I wasn't sure what Mr. Riley's book would bring to the table. I was not disappointed.
The beauty of this book is that there is something here for players of every skill level. The explanantions are clear and lucid, the play-alongs are superb, and the subtle insights are priceless (great photos and quotes from the masters too). Well done....and highly recommended. (I'd also recommend Kim Plainfield's "Advanced Concepts", to tighten up your funk, fusion, and Latin chops. If you spend a year seriously studying each of these books your musicianship and chops will thank you.
Have fun...and keep swingin' !!!
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By "greavette"
Format:Paperback
I have progressed very quickly by using this book alone! It has been laid out in such a way as to start from the very basics of a simple swing beat and then takes the reader up to the very complex syncopated rhythms. The most important thing to note regarding the book is that it is laid out to advance the student at a VERY quick pace. And since it comes with an audio CD you can 'hear' what is written on the page. There is also five songs that do not have a drum track so the student can play along. For [money] I have at LEAST one year of drum lessons!!! The author not only explains WHAT to play but WHY and also WHEN. The book teaches you not only how to be a good drummer, but also, how to be a good musician. A perfect drum book!!!
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is absolutely excellent. Covers all aspects of jazz drumming: interdepence, timekeeping, drumset orchestration and soloing. The accompanying CD is very good, and contains several excellent play-along tunes (with and without drums).
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Kuru
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This rather thin-in-size book packs a tremendous amount of practical instruction. It is intended as a thorough course in bop drumming for serious students, and will realistically take many months simply to work through at a basic level (and, as with any high-level skill, many years to actually master). It is suitable for beginning drummers who at least know the rudiments and basic technique (and who have familiarity with jazz in general), but would also be appropriate for experienced drummers wanting to learn the specifics of bop drumming. The book begins with basic time-keeping on the ride cymbal and progresses through comping and tailoring accompaniments. There is a detailed section on brushwork. While the focus naturally is on rhythm, there are also many useful pointers on tone, dynamics, composition and such. The accompanying CD is well put together and, in addition to including examples, also includes "music minus one" type tracks to play along with. The writing style is lucid and the explanations are clear. The author understands that playing drums is a lot of fun, and he seems to aim to provide a highly disciplined approach that manages to avoid taking the fun out of things -- no mean feat. This book is the next best thing to actual lessons with a great teacher.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is awesome for the beginner. I started with the first comping ideas and found myself progressing faster than all of the years of trying to play jazz. To play jazz, one must understand its theory, and this book brings it. If you are interested in drums, and jazz drums, you gotta get this book and learn how to comp! In the CD, the author plays all the ideas in the book, which helps you to learn how to read and how each exercise should sound. Shish, Boom, Bang. Amazing!!
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The best intro book for jazz drumming. John Riley introduces the style, complete with information on cymbals, tuning and equipment.
Regardless of experience, you will quickly pick up the skills to go as far as you want as a bop drummer. Independence, comping, brushes, solos, charts...it's all here and presented clearly. The attached cd is good to help you hear what the lessons sound like and to provide several tunes minus drums to play along with.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By martin neal
Format:Paperback
the first time I tried the "warm up" exerises in this book I couldn't believe how stupid I sounded-I literally threw my sticks on the floor and closed this thing for at least a year telling myself "I will never be able to play like that".....but I never forgot about the thing either..a month ago I said I have to try again-well
long story short I preservere and found that with effort (harder than ever worked before) I could at last do the warm up.(took three weeks) you all know what I found? the warm ups are very hard but the comp material(next section) is much easier and s**T loads of fun!!! and super cool to play--dudes it will make you sound years more cultured than you are! (I usually play metal). I went to a music store with a bunch of loud ass kids bangin around and started playn this stuff and when I finished...everyone was quiet and dads were smilin and kids were lookin-that has never happened to me hahahaha very funny-but please read--- to unlock the rest of the book YOU HAVE TO GET PAST THE VERY HARD WARM UP EXERCISES!!! thanks mr riley for your great contribution to my playing!
long story short I preservere and found that with effort (harder than ever worked before) I could at last do the warm up.(took three weeks) you all know what I found? the warm ups are very hard but the comp material(next section) is much easier and s**T loads of fun!!! and super cool to play--dudes it will make you sound years more cultured than you are! (I usually play metal). I went to a music store with a bunch of loud ass kids bangin around and started playn this stuff and when I finished...everyone was quiet and dads were smilin and kids were lookin-that has never happened to me hahahaha very funny-but please read--- to unlock the rest of the book YOU HAVE TO GET PAST THE VERY HARD WARM UP EXERCISES!!! thanks mr riley for your great contribution to my playing!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Like Jazz? Don't like Jazz? It doesn't matter. Whether you like to swing or not, this book WILL make you a better drummer and musician. The triplet feel is almost its own dimension in drumming and every drummer should master it. Although it is targeted for bebop jazz (basically faster swing feel as far as a drummer is concerned), this book will give you plenty of exercises and ideas you can incorporate in any genre. The exercises are great for independence and time-keeping, and offer very, very good fill and solo ideas.
As for aspiring jazz drummers, there is absolutely no question, GET this book. Any jazz professor at the university level would approve and it is used widely in music schools such as Berklee and Indiana University Music School (I graduated from IU).
The lessons on brushes are crucial and if you have never placed your hand on a brush, here is where you should start looking.
The accompanying CD is great as well and helps you to master a good swing time, listen to exercises being played, listen to compositions and play along tunes with a bassist or with a whole rhythm section.
As for aspiring jazz drummers, there is absolutely no question, GET this book. Any jazz professor at the university level would approve and it is used widely in music schools such as Berklee and Indiana University Music School (I graduated from IU).
The lessons on brushes are crucial and if you have never placed your hand on a brush, here is where you should start looking.
The accompanying CD is great as well and helps you to master a good swing time, listen to exercises being played, listen to compositions and play along tunes with a bassist or with a whole rhythm section.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Art of Bop Drumming
Never studied bop drumming all that much. Great introduction. Lots to learn from John Riley, a great instructor and drummer.
Published 1 month ago by John W Butcher
4.0 out of 5 stars
great book
I had this book about 5 years ago and lent it out to someone and never saw it again, so I finally decided to buy it again. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Nathan I Burdick
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best
If you love jazz music and you are interested to play jazz music, this is the book that you should have. Very helpful!!!
Published 3 months ago by Postepay
5.0 out of 5 stars
another one of the best books i have purchased in the last 9 months
this book and the dvd have been very valuble in my started to play drums again , after being away from them for 30 years.
Published 5 months ago by ronald sanders
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MUST
If you are a drummer, a serious drummer of any skill level who wants to strengthen their chops, you need to buy this book. Period. Read more
Published 8 months ago by F. lastname
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE JAZZ DRUMMER'S HANDBOOK!
As a professional drum teacher, I've been using this book for 10 years. If you're a drummer and have been thinking about learning about and how to play Jazz, then this is the book... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Greg Sundel
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good information, difficult notation.
The book has lots of information and very good lesson plans, but it's written in eighth notes requiring you to transpose them in your head into eighth note triplets. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Looking Closer
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Way Drum Books Should Be
This is one of the books that was used by my drum instructor at a large, local music store. This is one of the best out there that I have encountered for jazz. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Eric M. Ruthig
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great introductory book for jazz
As a self-taught drummer in pop/rock, I find this book very useful for learning jazz. The author John provides a highly systematic approach to get my limbs used to the classic... Read more
Published 24 months ago by T. To
5.0 out of 5 stars
Uooouuuu!!
Is a really good book. If you like to develop your jazz thecnic, this book and the "Jazz and Syncopation" of "Ted Reed" are the best way. Read more
Published on June 4, 2011 by Hector
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 13
books:
See all 13 books this book cites
13
books
cite this book:
See all 13 books citing this book
- A Way Out by Brook J. Gillespie in Back Matter
- Afro-Cuban Rhythms for Drumset (Book & CD) by Frank Malabe in Back Matter
- Giant Steps by Kenneth Tauloe in Back Matter
- Drumset Reading by Ron Fink in Back Matter
- The Great Jazz Drummers (The modern drummer library) by Ronald Spagnardi in Back Matter
See all 13 books this book cites
- S.E.E.K. Facilitator's Guide by Nancy Jessop on page 143, and Back Matter
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Drums, 2nd Edition by Michael Miller in Front Matter, and page 164
- Mel Bay The Drumset Styles Encyclopedia by John Thomakos on page 23, and Back Matter
- The Commandments of R&B Drumming: A Comprehensive Guide to Soul, Funk and Hip Hop by Zoro on page 127, and Back Matter
- Mel Bay presents Drum Set Smart Book: Style-Mechanics-Applications-Routines-Tips by Steve Fidyk in Back Matter
See all 13 books citing this book
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