Today's Library article represents a slight departure into new and unfamiliar territory for DITT, and some of the information I'm going to present below is some way outside my traditional comfort zone. Luckily, I've got a very knowledgeable person with a wealth of practical experience in this field to help me out, since this is … Continue reading Library #7: Drums And Acoustic Recording Technology – An Experiment
Ben Pollack
Instruments #8: The Chinese Cymbal, c.1920s
Today's article is the third and last of a three-part series examining cymbals and cymbal-playing in 1920s jazz. In Instruments #6 and Instruments #7, we've already had a look at two period examples of Turkish-style cymbals from my small collection, learned a bit about their manufacture and development, and heard how some of our 'Twenties … Continue reading Instruments #8: The Chinese Cymbal, c.1920s
Instruments #4: The ‘Bock-A-Da-Bock’ or Hand Cymbal, 1927-9
About two decades ago, as a curious teenaged jazz drummer, like many listeners keen to explore the earlier forms of the music I first alighted on Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven records. I started there partly because I already knew some of Louis’s later work, and because I’d read about these early records’ … Continue reading Instruments #4: The ‘Bock-A-Da-Bock’ or Hand Cymbal, 1927-9
Heroes #15: Gene Krupa, 1909-1973
“Krupa’s drums went through us like a triple bourbon.” – Eddie Condon KEY RECORDINGS: With FRANK TESCHEMACHER / RED McKENZIE / EDDIE CONDON and GANG 1927-9 (The Chicagoans / Chicago Rhythm Kings / Jungle Kings / Condon Quartet, etc. etc.) With THELMA TERRY AND HER PLAY BOYS, 1928 With RED NICHOLS / MIFF MOLE and … Continue reading Heroes #15: Gene Krupa, 1909-1973
Heroes #7: Ben Pollack, 1903-1971
“Now there was a drummer, one of the finest who ever lived.” – Jimmy McPartland KEY RECORDINGS:With THE NEW ORLEANS RHYTHM KINGS [NORK], 1923With THE STOMP SIX, 1925BEN POLLACK & HIS CALIFORNIANS/ HIS PARK CENTRAL ORCHESTRA, 1926-30With BENNIE GOODMAN & HIS BOYS, 1928With IRVING MILLS [small groups under many aliases], 1928-30 When the name Ben … Continue reading Heroes #7: Ben Pollack, 1903-1971
Drums In The Twenties 