Travel Light, Play Big: Mastering the Minimalist Drum Kit

Hello fellow drummers,

This week, our featured article discusses reducing the amount of gear you take to your gigs. Playing acoustic drums is great fun, but when it comes to gigging, hauling gear around is no fun at all.

We talk about reducing kit size as well as hardware considerations, and I discuss my own recent experiences in going through this process. Find out how that went, what gear I bought and how it changed my musical approach!

We also have a feature on drumming legend Jack DeJohnette. A jazz pioneer and hugely influential drummer, Jack’s playing has inspired many top drummers. We cover his background, style and some examples of his playing.

In addition, we’ve got our top 5 from around the web!

Let’s get into it.

My 5 picks for this week from around the web.

First off, the non-glamorous drummer, Stephen Clark, shares a technique for improving your doubles. We did a feature on doubles in a recent newsletter, so check this out as an addition to that.

There’s an interesting “legacy” Phil Collins interview been re-posted this week by John Edgington Documentaries. Also check out our recent newsletter “Focus on…” about his son, Nic Collins - definitely strong drumming genes in that family!

Mike Barnes demonstrates some of the features he likes about Manu Katche’s playing. It’s always lovely to get an insight into some of the individual style and preferences of top drummers!

Goldin takes us on a tour of the 2012 drum kit of the legendary Alex Van Halen. Completely counter to this week’s featured article on reducing your gigging kit, but who wouldn’t want to get behind this beast???

The 80/20 Drummer gives us some advice about making mistakes during drum solos, however, the advice can really be applied more generally. There’s gold in the video 🪙 and worth a watch even if you’re not a drummer that "solos”.

What does your gigging setup look like? Are you lugging tons of gear to gigs and spending ages setting up and tearing down? Running backwards and forwards to the car many times?

For some, they are happy to do this because they love their larger setups. And admittedly, some types of music are suited to more voices.

(Whilst not an extreme case, I still have a “two up, two down” practice kit that I love to play).

For others though - and especially as we get older - this can become a real chore that can even overshadow the joy of playing the gig.

This week, we explored what it takes to reduce your kit and the implications of doing so from a creative perspective. I detail my experience and share some insights - you may be surprised at the results.

…Jack DeJohnette

Born in Chicago in 1942, Jack DeJohnette has carved out a remarkable path as one of the most influential jazz drummers of his generation. Originally a pianist before turning to the drums, DeJohnette's musical background is both diverse and rich, contributing significantly to his unique style.

DeJohnette began his professional music career in the early 1960s, initially as a pianist before his passion for rhythm led him to the drum set. He worked with numerous influential musicians, including Jackie McLean and Bill Evans. His break came when he joined Charles Lloyd's quartet in 1966, alongside Keith Jarrett and Cecil McBee. The group's ground-breaking fusion of jazz, rock, and world music gained wide recognition and served as a springboard for DeJohnette's career.

In 1969, DeJohnette joined Miles Davis' group, where he further developed his distinctive approach to drumming, becoming known for his precise, innovative rhythms. His time with Davis, including playing on seminal fusion albums such as "Bitches Brew" and "Jack Johnson" established DeJohnette as a leading figure in the jazz fusion movement. The track "Pharaoh's Dance" from "Bitches Brew," in particular, showcases DeJohnette's propulsive yet subtly complex drumming.

DeJohnette's drumming style is characterized by a nuanced blend of power and subtlety. He has a unique ability to maintain a driving rhythm while also injecting intricate accents and embellishments, imbuing his performances with a dynamic fluidity. This can be heard in his playing on Keith Jarrett's "The Köln Concert" where his light touch and melodic sensibility shine through. His background as a pianist has helped shape his approach to rhythm, with a sense of melody that sets him apart from his peers.

DeJohnette's career has been marked by collaborations with a host of influential musicians, such as John Abercrombie, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, and John Scofield to name a few. He has also led several acclaimed groups, including the Jack DeJohnette Group and Special Edition. The track "One for Eric" from Special Edition's album "Tin Can Alley" is a sterling example of DeJohnette's dynamic style, mixing complex rhythmic patterns with a rock-solid groove.

As a testament to his immense contribution to music, DeJohnette has been a profound influence on countless contemporary drummers. Among them is Louis Cole, a drummer and electronic musician who has gained recognition as part of the funk band KNOWER (see our “Spotlight On…” from a previous newsletter). Cole has spoken about the impact of DeJohnette's rhythmic approach, particularly his ability to incorporate complex and unpredictable elements while maintaining a compelling groove.

Other notable drummers who cite DeJohnette as an influence include Brian Blade, famous for his work with Wayne Shorter and Chick Corea, and Mark Guiliana, who has made a name for himself in both acoustic and electronic music contexts. Both Blade and Guiliana have acknowledged DeJohnette's impact on their approach to rhythm, highlighting the elasticity and rhythmic creativity that have become DeJohnette's trademarks.

Jack DeJohnette's drumming has not only helped shape the sound of modern jazz but has also crossed over into a variety of other genres. His influence is seen in the performances of many contemporary drummers, underscoring his significant contribution to the evolution of modern drumming.

As such, DeJohnette's legacy continues to beat in the rhythms of jazz and beyond.

Could you win this $100 challenge?

Until next time, take care and enjoy your drumming…