[Dixielandjazz] Bass drummers and NOBB

[R-V Thompson]

Dear Dave and list:

Regarding your posting and its question about the New Orleans Brass Band roll-off.
I don't think it has anything to do with there being separate drummers (snare
and bass).  My guess is it has more to do with the ability/abilities of the one 
playing bass drum--some just can't get it, no matter what.  

I play with a brass band from time to time (in fact have played with several at 
one time or another) and I have tried to instill in two drummers (who were asked
to play bass drum) what is, as I see it, a simple enough pattern, even making a 
tape of several NOBBs doing it for their edification, all to no avail!  So I have
just had to give up with them.  I would play the bass drum myself (although  that
would mean getting a drummer who can play SNARE with a NOBB!), but at my age I don't
fancy playing a parade carrying that much weight in front of me, even though I have
a very thin (light) bass drum in my collection.  Also it would be difficult to get
the right sound from that thin drum.

Of course, they are not the only ones who screw up the traditional roll-off.  I 
have experienced one trumpet player who just can't wait for the bass drum's
"dum dum dum de-DUM-dum" and jumps in ahead of, or in the middle of, the
thing. (He likes variety, I guess.)  But I have had a positive experience with the
following who were co-opted to play bass drum with a NOBB: sax player, clarinet 
player, and banjo player.  All they needed was a couple of run-throughs prior to
the start of the parade, and they had it down.  Go figger.  

So all I can do is shake my head over those drummers who can't get it.  

Onward and upward,   

Bert Thompson

-----Dave Richoux's original message (part)-----

 The traditional way of starting most all NOBB songs is for a trumpet
> player (usually the leader) will give a simple "doo-do" (usually 
in
> the key of the song) and then there is a short roll-off, and the most
> important part is the bass drum "dum dum dum de-DUM-dum" to establish
> the emphasis of the traditional lagging 4th beat style.  I don't know
> why it is so hard to get older (non-native New Orleans) jazz drummers
> to get that "feel" -  if they don't have it, the song just turns
into
> Dixieland. It is not exactly a "Bo Diddley" beat, either - but rock
> drummers seem to have a better time with it.

Do the drummers on this list think it might be more a factor of  
having a separate snare and bass drummer, or is it just a part (or  
lack ) of "life-long" exposure to a very particular regional style of 
playing? When I go to the NO Jazz Fest I can instantly feel that "4th  
beat" in all kinds of music, not just jazz.

I do know many older jazz drummers (not just ones from New Orleans)  
can do it - I have heard them play! (I was generalizing for effect -  
so don't kill me ;-)


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