Here's a fast hihat comping phrase from Roy Haynes. This comes about 1:44 into the opening track "Steps - What Was" from Chick Corea's Now He Sings, Now He Sobs record.

How can I leave out Max Roach?! Here's a solo phrase from the Clifford Brown & Max Roach At Basin Street record. This come about 2:49 into the track "Gertrude's Bounce".

Here's a solo phrase from one of the unsung legends of jazz drumming Specs Wright. This comes from the trading on "M-Squad Theme" from the Red Garland At The Prelude record.

A special holiday edition of Minute of Drums! This is the groove Sam Woodyard plays on the Ellington/Strayhorn arrangement of The Nutrcracker Suite. This variation comes during the last drum break in the tune, about 2:21 into the track "Sugar Rum Cherry".

30 Minutes of Drums! To celebrate, here’s a phrase from one of my favorite recordings of Elvin Jones… “Witch Hunt” from Wayne Shorter’s Speak No Evil. This comes in about 1:53 into the track.

The Philly Joe Jones "bomb" on beat 4! One could say this was his trademark phrase. Philly Joe used this to extend his phrase endings over the barline, propelling the music forward. Definitely a lasting part of the jazz drumming lexicon; it's difficult to find a drummer that came after Philly Joe who doesn't play some version of this!

Here's a comping phrase from Tony Williams, again from Herbie Hancock's Empyrean Isles record. This is transcribed from "One Finger Snap" about 1:47 into the track.

Here's another swingin' comping phrase from Billy Higgins. I transcribed this one from the track "Homage" off Charles Lloyd's "Voice In The Night" record. There is a tasteful tenor and drums intro at the beginning of the track, and this phrase comes about 10 seconds in.

I can't help myself... more Elvin Jones! This is 2 bars pulled from a trading phrase on "Familiar Ground" from Elvin's 1984 record Brother John. Check out the original recording around 2:12 into the track.

Here's a comping phrase from Jack DeJohnette that gets the hihat involved. I transcribed this from "Amsterdam Blues" off Chris Potter's Unspoken album. It goes by quick on the recording but really caught my ear!

Here's a short phrase taken from Roy Hayne's solo on Reflection off his classic 1959 trio record We Three. This comes about 2:55 into the track.

Here's a five note solo phrase transcribed from Elvin Jones. You hear Elvin use this quite often, both in-time and in his more free, open solos. It's a great way to change up the flow of your solo and trading ideas!

A belated celebration of Billy Higgins' birthday back on October 11th! Here's a short comping phrase I heard on "Bolivia" off of the first Eastern Rebellion record from 1976.

In honor of Art Blakey's birthday on October 11th, here's a solo phrase transcription. This comes from his drum solo on "Sakeena's Vision" off of The Big Beat, right around 3:50 into the track.

One of my favorite Roy Haynes phrases this week. A short excerpt from his solo on "Reflection" from his 1959 album We Three. It's all about the swagger!

This classic Elvin phrase comes from the trading on "Water Pistol" from Yusef Lateef's 1961 album Into Something. Works great in a solo, or as a comping idea.

This week's lesson is a comping phrase that gets the hihat involved. I heard Jack DeJohnette play something similar to this on a record I was listening to recently and got inspired!

Some inspiration from swing legend Sonny Payne this week. This phrase comes from a video of a solo feature performance with Harry James's band in 1970. Just a small snippet from a solo filled with great (and always swingin!) ideas.

A comping idea inspired by Tony Williams. I came up with this while exploring the phrasing ideas I transcribed in Minute of Drums Episodes 1 and 4. Every measure of Tony Williams I've transcribed opens up a world of possibilities!⁠

Here's a groove I came up with inspired by Afro-beat pioneer Tony Allen. I think there's a hint of New Orleans second line in there as well!