Today, another first from DITT: we're going to take a break from listening for once, and go all cartological instead. In the course of writing about our Heroes, an important question I've tried always to bear in mind is the dissemination of musical ideas from drummer to drummer. It's vital to consider, when discussing a … Continue reading Library #8: Drums In The Twenties On The Map: Chicago
Vic Berton
Instruments #7: The ‘Snappy’ Turkish-style Cymbal, late 1920s
Over a year ago, I promised that I’d be taking a three-part look at cymbals and cymbal-playing in 1920s jazz, each article profiling a typical period instrument from my own collection which I use regularly, and examining some instructive audio examples of our ‘Twenties drumming Heroes using theirs in action. I began with an essay … Continue reading Instruments #7: The ‘Snappy’ Turkish-style Cymbal, late 1920s
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 #11: Stan King, 1900-1949
"Come on, I want you to meet the world's greatest drummer, Stan King!" - Fud Livingston, as quoted by Timme Rosenkrantz KEY RECORDINGS: With THE CALIFORNIA RAMBLERS (VAGABONDS / LITTLE RAMBLERS / GOOFUS FIVE / UNIVERSITY SIX / VARSITY EIGHT / GOLDEN GATE ORCH. / etc. etc. etc.) 1923-6; 1927-9 With THE DORSEY BROTHERS ORCHESTRA, … Continue reading Heroes #11: Stan King, 1900-1949
Instruments #2: Jasper Taylor’s Wooden Washboard, c.1924
The tradition of washboard jazz is a deep and wide-ranging one, with numerous legendary players down the decades occasionally having reason to pop the thimbles on at one time or another in search of a bit of down-home gutsiness, a crowd-pleasing showpiece or simply a lightweight and space-saving alternative to the drumset. But the origin … Continue reading Instruments #2: Jasper Taylor’s Wooden Washboard, c.1924
Heroes #5: Victor Berton, 1896-1951
“A true pioneer, for the timekeeping methods he introduced and for his role in determining the very equipment [...] subsequent drummers would play.” – Richard M. Sudhalter KEY RECORDINGS: With THE WOLVERINE ORCHESTRA, 1924 With RED NICHOLS & MIFF MOLE, 1925-30 (aka. The Red Heads / Red Nichols & His Five Pennies / Red & … Continue reading Heroes #5: Victor Berton, 1896-1951
