Exciting Sounds of the Big Band Era: Drum Book

Stepping into a smoky mid-century jazz club where the rhythm section drives the band with understated confidence. These arrangements invite the drummer to color the ensemble sound with dynamics and phrasing rather than dominate it, creating that classic big band feel where the groove is everything.

Drummers in high school or community jazz ensembles who have solid fundamentals and are ready to tackle swing style and jazz ensemble textures. This book works equally well for drummers stepping into their first big band situation or those reinforcing their jazz vocabulary with a curated repertoire.

• Keep the hi-hat articulation crisp and light on ballads like 'At Last' and 'In a Mist'; these charts rely on the drummer's sensitivity to set the lyrical tone.
• Lock the kick drum pattern with the bass player from the first read-through; the groove won't breathe if those two parts aren't synchronized.
• Pay attention to the kick drum figures in uptempo charts like 'Taking a Chance on Love' and 'Two O'Clock Jump,' as they often define the energy of the section.
• Balance brush and stick work across the collection; brush technique on shuffles like 'Back Bay Shuffle' requires a completely different touch than on straight-ahead swingers.

Build a full concert around this single drum book by selecting 8 to 10 of these tunes and programming them alongside original big band recordings of the same titles. Your audience hears both the published arrangement and recognizes the standards, and your ensemble gains experience with repertoire that shaped American jazz.

• Swing rhythm and articulation, particularly the push-pull feel of medium and uptempo big band grooves
• Brush technique on shuffle and ballad settings
• Comping in the style of classic big band drumming, including dynamic restraint and ride cymbal phrasing
• Kick drum figure recognition and execution in charts ranging from simple to syncopated patterns
• Ensemble listening and responsiveness to soloist dynamics and section intensity