[Dixielandjazz] Herlin Riley

[loerchen2 at aol.com]

Dave,
 
I think Herlin is fantastic; he can play a different rhythm with each hand and foot, and have it all come out perfectly.  My other favorite traditional drummer (and teacher) is Hal Smith.  
 
However, you should keep an eye on James Alsanders; he's young and relatively new at trad jazz, but has a wonderful feel for the music and is listening to all the right stuff (Dodds. Barbarin, etc.).  He's been accompanying the band in the show "Looking for Josephine" in Europe for the last 5 months, so is getting a lot of practice in 1920s-30s music.
 
Sue
 
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Since I am only a rudimentary drummer  I can only go by my personal  
preferences on this: for me, the best modern drummer who captures the  
flavor of early New Orleans style has to be Herlin Riley.

I have heard him many times with a lot of groups, a lot of different  
styles - I like his tasty cymbals, back-beat, quiet snare press  
rolls, and the way he doesn't overplay! (until it is time to "rock  
out!") I don't think he is imitating Dodds at all - he has found a  
way to incorporate NO brass band drums, early jazz and modern styles  
altogether.


http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Herlin_Riley.html

Any inputs from the list drummers?

Dave Richoux
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