14 Comments
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Rory McDougall's avatar

Hi Vinnie, have you read Kick It: A Social History of the Drum Kit, authored by Matt Brennan - it’s great. Some good drummer jokes too, I found it to be really interesting

Vinnie Sperrazza's avatar

Hi Rory, please see the first footnote. Kick It and Brennan's colleague Paul Archibald are credited for framing my thinking on this. Thanks for reading.

Rory McDougall's avatar

Oh yes, my apologies, really looking forward to reading more as you write about this. You write with a real warmth and humility that reaches further than the notes!

Colleen Clark's avatar

So looking forward to this! Zutty is my guy. In my dissertation, “The Evolution of the Ride Cymbal Pattern from 1917-1941: An Historical and Critical Analysis” I posit that bandleaders had a direct influence on how drummers orchestrated tunes and how eventually that drove the pattern to take over the music. Excited to read your work! Congrats!

Vinnie Sperrazza's avatar

Hi Colleen, thanks for this comment. I came across the title of your dissertation years ago; is there anywhere I can read it? Would love to learn more and cite your work!

Colleen Clark's avatar

You’re so awesome, of course! Here it is: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1505181/

I also did a truncated version of it for Zildjian:

https://ae.zildjian.com/education/evolution-of-the-ride-pattern/evolution-of-the-ride-pattern-installment-1/

Thanks for the support and I’m so happy for your work as well. More cats need to know about our incredible instrument, its history and how its evolution directly affected jazz.

Drew Conlin's avatar

So excited Vinnie. What a great idea. Perhaps the drum set is the response , in part, to the stifling of percussion in western music

https://youtu.be/1k5r4TwA5eo?si=EvBKtRyDPTLrNM_h

It’s such a privilege to play a drum set. I love it.

lnasogroup@gmail.com's avatar

Major subject. You're the man for it. Drums have been my great luv....hanging on every word. Philly Jo Jones !!!! Yesssssss

Richard Schiavi's avatar

Interesting, I have wondered how drum sets and rhythm playing evolved. Thanks.

Charles Powell's avatar

"Thanks to the men who play the drums-this music is dedicated to you"

Dave Liebman, 'Drum Ode', ECM Records 1975

Vince Keenan's avatar

Cannot wait for this, Vinnie. It's a big project and you're the person to tackle it.

Bill White's avatar

Bated breath on this, Vinnie. Bravo for attempting it. I’m sure it’ll be great.

Arthur Rosch's avatar

I love this, Vinnie! My love affair with trap kits goes back a long way. MY god, I bought one of those Trixon kits, the drums shaped like cones. The floor tom sounded like an empty steel barrel. It wasn't bad, but eventually I went with mostly walnut Rogers kits. Truly, I don't remember every kit I've owned. I think I've had about ten kits.

Richard Kamins's avatar

Don't write furiously, Vinnie––write joyfully! I'm excited to read what you'll be giving us lucky readers!