Posts Tagged Drummer
Archive
February 18, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Jon Christensen
Jon Christensen has died, aged 76. The Norwegian drummer was one of the greats of Euro jazz working with Jan Garbarek, Bobo Stenson, Tomasz Stanko and many others. It wasn’t just European jazz artists that he worked with – though he was a staple of the ECM label. That of course meant he worked with […]Archive
December 18, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Drummers You Just Can’t Beat: # 19 – Karen Carpenter
Karen Carpenter – sadly thought of as a punchline by some, known to be an incredible singer and one half of the mega-successful sibling duo, the Carpenters – was a drummer. Brother Richard was in charge of song selection (covers) arranging, producing and composition. But if he was the boss Karen was the star. Ask […]Archive
December 10, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Gerald Cleaver and Violet Hour: Live at Firehouse 12
Gerald Cleaver and Violet Hour Live at Firehouse 12 Sunnyside Drummer/composer Gerald Cleaver is on fire here leading his band Violet Hour through some post-bop future-classics. Ben Waltzer (piano) is an early delight on the opener, Pilgrim’s Progress, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt has a chance to rip here too. And Chris Lightcap (double bass) is urgent […]Archive
December 5, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Poem: Tight But Loose
Playing along to Babylon Sisters on the drums. And Angela- the Theme from Taxi. Man, Bernard Purdie and Idris Muhammad. Beautiful. There’s a philosophy to their playing. They know the magic is in holding back. I never knew how to hold back, so I just dropped out. That’s how it’s usually been. Coming back to […]Archive
October 6, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker, the influential drummer from Cream and Blind Faith is dead. He was 80. He had been in poor health for years. A week or so ago we all got wind that his final breath was drawing near. By the time you read this the news is already everywhere. Ginger Baker is dead. He […]Archive
October 1, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Herlin Riley: Perpetual Optimism
Herlin Riley Perpetual Optimism Mack Avenue Herlin Riley has been a mainstay of Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra – and many of Wynton’s non-Lincoln solo albums too. He’s also been on recent recordings by Ahmad Jamal, and he carries the heart and soul of New Orleans in his bones and in his playing […]Archive
September 29, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Poem: Abbey Road at 50
It’s The 50th Anniversary of Abbey Road which means it’s pretty much the 30th Anniversary of me listening to Abbey Road. It might not be the best Beatles album but it’s my favourite. And that’s always been the way. And yes, there are new mixes and outtakes – but today to celebrate we took the […]Archive
September 3, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Shit That’s Good! Crap Albums I Love: #6 – Spin Doctors, “Pocket Full of Kryptonite”
Spin Doctors, Pocket Full of Kryptonite, 1991 Look, I either atoned for sins or tried to explain my weird attraction to (some of) the music of the band, Spin Doctors when I wrote this. But here we go again I guess… I’m fascinated with the idea that you can like a band, or album at […]Archive
September 3, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Jimmy Cobb: This I Dig Of You
Jimmy Cobb This I Dig Of You Smoke Sessions / Smoke Sessions Records Jimmy Cobb has just gone 90. He’s still playing beautifully. The cat swings. He has that touch. That same touch that has powered a couple of dozen albums as a leader but perhaps more importantly was there on several key records by […]Archive
August 1, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast # 178: Steve Francis (Bulletbelt)
Welcome to episode 178 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat. Now – as you probably know, as well as the usual platforms (this site, soundcloud, iTunes/Apple) you can now get to Sweetman Podcast on Spotify – follow it there and have it saved in your Spotify library. Steve Francis is the drummer and driving force behind […]Archive
May 29, 2019 by Simon Sweetman