While music listening should be an important part of any musician’s study, it is an absolutely essential component for anyone who is serious about playing the drumset.  The drumset student is learning a language.  It may be the Jazz language or the Rock language or any of several different musical contexts in which the drumset is commonly used.  Languages can only be learned authentically through listening.  The French language must be learned by hearing it spoken, and the various musical styles or languages must be learned in the same way.  This means that the student must spend at least as much time listening as they spend practicing.  Below are some compelling reasons to spend time listening:

 

Listening is Powerful          

 

You will sound like the musicians to whom you listen the most.  If you listen to Philly Joe Jones every day for a year, you will begin to sound like Philly Joe Jones.  In fact, you won’t be able to NOT sound like him.  This does not mean you will become a carbon copy, but through listening, you will begin to adopt various aspects of Jones’ style into your own.  The more players you are able to listen to in a concentrated way and over a long period of time, the richer your musical vocabulary will become. 

 

Be careful whom you listen to.  Be sure you are being influenced primarily by the masters of the instrument.

 

Listening is Inspiring

 

We all have times when we lose our momentum and need a musical shot in the arm.  Listening regularly to the great drumset masters of the past and present will help keep the creative juices flowing.  Alternating between and hour of practice and hour of listening can be a great way guard against boredom or discouragement.

 

Listening is informative

 

Through listening, you will gain essential insight regarding topics such as, time-feel, standard tunes, tune form, fill ideas, solo ideas, phrasing, balance, etc.  Many of these things cannot be learned through books.  They must be picked up aurally.

 

Listening is Fun

 

If we really love playing the drumset, then it is only natural that we should enjoy listening to great recordings of master drumset players.

 

When students begin to purchase recordings they are often overwhelmed by the huge number of options in most stores.  I have included below a short list of recordings to get started.  The list focuses on jazz drummers because this is usually where younger drummers have the least experience.  When you have listened to these, they will lead to others.  Happy listening!

 

Discography

 

Kenny Clarke

         Presenting Cannonball - Cannonball Adderely

Max Roach

         Brown and Roach, Inc. - Clifford Brown

         Study in Brown - Clifford Brown

         Max Roach and Clifford Brown - Clifford Brown

         Greatest Jazz Concert Ever - Charlie Parker

Philly Joe Jones

         Milestones - Miles Davis

         ‘Round About Midnight - Miles Davis

         Cookin’ - Miles Davis

         Relaxin’ - Miles Davis

         Steamin’ - Miles Davis

         Workin’ - Miles Davis

Jimmy Cobb

         Kind of Blue - Miles Davis

         Live at the Black Hawk Vol. 1,2 - Miles Davis

Art Blakey

         Giants of Jazz

         Straight Ahead

         Jazz Messengers ‘70

Roy Haynes

         Early Miles - Miles Davis

         Selflessness - John Coltrane

         Now He Sings, Now He Sobs - Chick Corea

         Misterioso - Thelonious Monk

Tony Williams

         Seven Steps to Heaven - Miles Davis

         Four and More - Miles Davis

         My Funny Valentine - Miles Davis

         E.S.P. - Miles Davis

         Miles Smiles - Miles Davis

         Miles in the Sky - Miles Davis

         Maiden Voyage - Herbie Hancock

Elvin Jones

         Genesis

         Crescent - John Coltrane

         A Love Supreme - John Coltrane

         Live at Bird Land - John Coltrane

         Live at the Village Vanguard - John Coltrane

         Speak No Evil - Wayne Shorter

Jack DeJohnette

         Standards Live - Keith Jarrett

         Standards, Vol. 2 - Keith Jarrett

         Still Live - Keith Jarrett