Thank you very much, I also love Mel Lewis' playing, but I can't dissect it like you do. Lovely stuff, both your work and his playing. Nothing left for me to do than start Rub-a-Dubbing
PS I really get the rubadub thing much more after your fine playing examples and explanations, and the video examples of Mel himself are spectacular- and I think really rare!! Terrific all around Chris, bravo. -Greg Burrows
Greg, thank you so much for your message. I am glad that you have gotten a lot out of the book, I sure enjoyed making it. Also, glad the Rub-A-Dub clicked, it's very useful. I will be posting other Mel video's like that episode, but on Matching Articulations and Rhythmic Foreshadowing.....sometime in the next couple months. Thanks again!
Trying to make your book last,but can't put it down! As a matter of fact yesterday I ordered the hardcover version as I noticed its getting hard to find and if you do track it down it is double or triple the original price! Also wanted to say how blown away I was at that clinic footage and Mel's incredible touch and dynamics,just simply amazing! Do you know if Mel mostly played traditional grip or did he play matched grip sometimes as I've seen him playing both in some UA-cam vids.
Terry, as far as I know Mel nearly always played traditional grip. Sometime matched, but from what I have noticed it was during solo sections. If he was swinging and playing time he was playing traditional grip. Traditionalist!
Great video Chris, I'm glad I stumbled upon it! I own your book which is also excellent. I loved every page. I am a huge fan of Mel, having had to play so much of the music that he originally recorded, such as the Terry Gibbs Dream Band repertoire and also Art Pepper plus eleven and more from the Marty Paich Dektet. Mel was one of THE best big band drummers but his small group work was also up there with the best.
Did you ever check out Mel Lewis’ famous “cut out” ride cymbal when it was up for sale at Steve Maxwell’s shop some years ago? Charlie Watts eventually bought it.
Ira, I wasn't in NYC the week it was at Maxwells. Really wish I could have seen it. From people I spoke to, it was amazing to see it but it sounded nothing like you think it would and you wouldn't have known from tapping on it that it was "THAT" cymbal. :-)
@@ChrisSmithJazzDrumHang - I wrote to Deric at Maxwell’s some years ago about the cymbal, and he wrote back, “I talk to Danny (Gottlieb) a good bit. He had zildjian try for years to do something. I have to say a lot of it was the fact the cymbal had really been played a lot. It was an a zild. I think a trans stamp from the 40's that had really seen better days... Danny and I agreed that this cymbal was almost played out. It had hit the end of its life. Still sounded great but prob not something you would want to take out too much.”
These videos are so good. I nearly fell off my chair when you said you wrote the Mel Lewis book! It's an amazing book and some pretty emotional stories in there. It's superbly written and it's always my go to book when I'm not sure what to read. Anyway, I love these videos and thanks for all you do. All the best. Richard
Richard, thank you so much for watching the videos and I am also very glad that you enjoyed the book! If you have any topics Mel or Non-Mel related that you'd like to see on the Drum Hang please let me know. Wishing you the best - Chris
@@ChrisSmithJazzDrumHang Hi Chris , thanks for the response. As you can probably tell i`m a trumpet player but i do direct quite a few different students big bands and what i find particularly helpful about your videos is that it helps me explain to the drummers how to play different grooves better . For instance ,last week i was rehearsing my arrangement of Senor Blues and most young drummers will instantly go for a basic 12/8 rock feel because thats what they hear and relate to. After watching your Billy Higgins video i was better able to articulate how to play more of an afro feel on the piece which he got pretty quickly. I am also directing the students to your channel as well as all the drum tutors i work with at the various college/universities i work at. Thanks again Chris, so much stuff on youtube and i`m so glad i`ve found your stuff. Best of luck with it all. Richard
It's a concert led by the pianist Friedrich Gulda, sometime in 1966-68. Gulda was a famous classical pianist who loved jazz and recorded and composed for jazz. He put together these all-star bands in the 60's and launched an international jazz competition for young players. Mel was involved for many years. The following is an excerpt from the New York Times July 1966, "EARLY last spring, Eddie Daniels, a stocky blackbearded, 24-year old jazz saxophonist from Brooklyn, invested $400 in a round-trip flight to Vienna to take part in the International Competition for Modern Jazz. This contest, the first of its kind, was organized by Friedrich Gulda, whose original reputation as an interpreter of Beethoven's piano works has been augmented by subsequent success as a jazz pianist and baritone saxophonist."
@@ChrisSmithJazzDrumHang you know ... there is a severe lack of content online pertaining to broken time feel. In the vein of Jack DeJohnette, Tony Williams, Bob Moses, Jorge Rossy, Bill Stewart etc... the kind of stuff in Skip Hadden's book . I'd be very interested to hear your take on that type of time feel and comping.
absolutely fantastic Youve demystified Lewis's style Not gonna be easy but this instructions makes it achievable If i could mention a record entitled Mr. Easy by singer Jesse Belvin with arrangements by Marty Paich and Lewis on drums can be heard on YT
Drew thanks for the comment! Glad you enjoyed the video! I know that record Mr. Easy, it is a great one. Any album with Marty Paich and Mel Lewis is gold to me!! Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
Thanks for this. If bass drum with first right hand stroke how are you using your left foot? How would you recommend incorporating the left foot into the pattern?
I play my left foot hi-hat on 2/4! That being said an easy way to incorporate it into the pattern is to play your feet together in union with first right OR with the single lefts. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Chris, Great videos, great channel two questions.. #1 the first video of Mel is that available on You Tube? #2 to whom is Mel referring using rub a dub? You have got some great brush videos also...thanks for sharing.. Jeff, in Springfield MO
#1 The first video of Mel is not online anywhere, it's not floating around yet. #2 He was referring to the drummer Tiny Kahn, who was a friend and influence on Mel Thanks for checking out the videos and for the great questions! Best to you - Chris
Enjoying the book Chris - it’s epic - you really put in the time and the homework. I saw Mel and met him when I was a high school kid, it was unforgettable even though I didn’t grasp what he was really doing - I thought it sounded sloppy, heh heh - now I fully get it. I’m in NY lets hang sometime. www . GregBurrows . net
Chris-this is so great! Sending to all my students! ...
Hey thanks Danny, I really appreciate that! Hope you are doing well.
seeing the fluidity of his left hand in the opening shots just blew my mind. its not just moving on a verticle plane but also horizontally as well.
Thanks Chris. Great breakdown of something that would usually just fly by in a whir of jazziness... appreciated!
Loved your book... love this video... Well Done!
Thank you very much, I also love Mel Lewis' playing, but I can't dissect it like you do. Lovely stuff, both your work and his playing. Nothing left for me to do than start Rub-a-Dubbing
Thanks so much Rowin, glad you got a lot out of Mel's concept!
This video threw me in a Mel Lewis rabbit hole, I've been digging his playing alot the past month.
Glad to hear! So many good musical lessons to get from Mel's playing! Thanks for letting me know. Be well Ken
PS I really get the rubadub thing much more after your fine playing examples and explanations, and the video examples of Mel himself are spectacular- and I think really rare!! Terrific all around Chris, bravo. -Greg Burrows
Greg, thank you so much for your message. I am glad that you have gotten a lot out of the book, I sure enjoyed making it. Also, glad the Rub-A-Dub clicked, it's very useful. I will be posting other Mel video's like that episode, but on Matching Articulations and Rhythmic Foreshadowing.....sometime in the next couple months. Thanks again!
I loved the book. Really important work.
Wow, Thank you so much for doing this Drum Hang episode on Mel Lewis Chris!
Thanks for checking it out Terry.
Trying to make your book last,but can't put it down! As a matter of fact yesterday I ordered the hardcover version as I noticed its getting hard to find and if you do track it down it is double or triple the original price!
Also wanted to say how blown away I was at that clinic footage and Mel's incredible touch and dynamics,just simply amazing! Do you know if Mel mostly played traditional grip or did he play matched grip sometimes as I've seen him playing both in some UA-cam vids.
Terry, as far as I know Mel nearly always played traditional grip. Sometime matched, but from what I have noticed it was during solo sections. If he was swinging and playing time he was playing traditional grip. Traditionalist!
Love the book!! Mel is also a hero of mine!! I've wondered what "rub-a-dub" was all about, great explanation!!
Thanks Kenneth! It's a very useful concept, enjoy.
Great video Chris, I'm glad I stumbled upon it! I own your book which is also excellent. I loved every page. I am a huge fan of Mel, having had to play so much of the music that he originally recorded, such as the Terry Gibbs Dream Band repertoire and also Art Pepper plus eleven and more from the Marty Paich Dektet. Mel was one of THE best big band drummers but his small group work was also up there with the best.
Thank you so much Terry!
Bravo! Fantastic video! Very inspiring and informative.
Awesome video Chris! Really helpful insight and super cool Mel footage!
Thanks Sutton hope you are doing well.
Did you ever check out Mel Lewis’ famous “cut out” ride cymbal when it was up for sale at Steve Maxwell’s shop some years ago? Charlie Watts eventually bought it.
Ira, I wasn't in NYC the week it was at Maxwells. Really wish I could have seen it. From people I spoke to, it was amazing to see it but it sounded nothing like you think it would and you wouldn't have known from tapping on it that it was "THAT" cymbal. :-)
@@ChrisSmithJazzDrumHang - I wrote to Deric at Maxwell’s some years ago about the cymbal, and he wrote back, “I talk to Danny (Gottlieb) a good bit. He had zildjian try for years to do something. I have to say a lot of it was the fact the cymbal had really been played a lot. It was an a zild. I think a trans stamp from the 40's that had really seen better days... Danny and I agreed that this cymbal was almost played out. It had hit the end of its life. Still sounded great but prob not something you would want to take out too much.”
@@irawong Yes that's what I heard also. It had lived a long and successful life!!!! :-)
These videos are so good. I nearly fell off my chair when you said you wrote the Mel Lewis book! It's an amazing book and some pretty emotional stories in there. It's superbly written and it's always my go to book when I'm not sure what to read. Anyway, I love these videos and thanks for all you do. All the best.
Richard
Richard, thank you so much for watching the videos and I am also very glad that you enjoyed the book! If you have any topics Mel or Non-Mel related that you'd like to see on the Drum Hang please let me know. Wishing you the best - Chris
@@ChrisSmithJazzDrumHang Hi Chris , thanks for the response. As you can probably tell i`m a trumpet player but i do direct quite a few different students big bands and what i find particularly helpful about your videos is that it helps me explain to the drummers how to play different grooves better . For instance ,last week i was rehearsing my arrangement of Senor Blues and most young drummers will instantly go for a basic 12/8 rock feel because thats what they hear and relate to. After watching your Billy Higgins video i was better able to articulate how to play more of an afro feel on the piece which he got pretty quickly. I am also directing the students to your channel as well as all the drum tutors i work with at the various college/universities i work at.
Thanks again Chris, so much stuff on youtube and i`m so glad i`ve found your stuff. Best of luck with it all.
Richard
Great video, Chris. Really got a lot out of it.
Thanks for sharing this great lesson, Chris. What concert is shown at 17:22?
It's a concert led by the pianist Friedrich Gulda, sometime in 1966-68. Gulda was a famous classical pianist who loved jazz and recorded and composed for jazz. He put together these all-star bands in the 60's and launched an international jazz competition for young players. Mel was involved for many years. The following is an excerpt from the New York Times July 1966, "EARLY last spring, Eddie Daniels, a stocky blackbearded, 24-year old jazz saxophonist from Brooklyn, invested $400 in a round-trip flight to Vienna to take part in the International Competition for Modern Jazz. This contest, the first of its kind, was organized by Friedrich Gulda, whose original reputation as an interpreter of Beethoven's piano works has been augmented by subsequent success as a jazz pianist and baritone saxophonist."
What is background music name in the intro 0:02
Awesome…very helpful! Thx!
THank you!
enjoying your channel ... thank you for he quality content.
Hi Anthony, thanks so much for the comment. Glad you are enjoying! Are there any topics you'd like to see covered?
@@ChrisSmithJazzDrumHang you know ... there is a severe lack of content online pertaining to broken time feel.
In the vein of Jack DeJohnette, Tony Williams, Bob Moses, Jorge Rossy, Bill Stewart etc... the kind of stuff in Skip Hadden's book .
I'd be very interested to hear your take on that type of time feel and comping.
absolutely fantastic Youve demystified Lewis's style Not gonna be easy but this instructions makes it achievable
If i could mention a record entitled Mr. Easy by singer Jesse Belvin with arrangements by Marty Paich and Lewis on drums can be heard on YT
Drew thanks for the comment! Glad you enjoyed the video! I know that record Mr. Easy, it is a great one. Any album with Marty Paich and Mel Lewis is gold to me!! Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
I just got your book!
Chris,.... What is the intro music to your videos... kind of a laid back blues....
Molto interessante👍🎶
Thanks for this. If bass drum with first right hand stroke how are you using your left foot? How would you recommend incorporating the left foot into the pattern?
I play my left foot hi-hat on 2/4! That being said an easy way to incorporate it into the pattern is to play your feet together in union with first right OR with the single lefts. Check it out and let me know what you think.
@@ChrisSmithJazzDrumHang Thanks Chris.
Chris, Great videos, great channel two questions.. #1 the first video of Mel is that available on You Tube? #2 to whom is Mel referring using rub a dub?
You have got some great brush videos also...thanks for sharing..
Jeff, in Springfield MO
#1 The first video of Mel is not online anywhere, it's not floating around yet. #2 He was referring to the drummer Tiny Kahn, who was a friend and influence on Mel
Thanks for checking out the videos and for the great questions! Best to you - Chris
Enjoying the book Chris - it’s epic - you really put in the time and the homework. I saw Mel and met him when I was a high school kid, it was unforgettable even though I didn’t grasp what he was really doing - I thought it sounded sloppy, heh heh - now I fully get it. I’m in NY lets hang sometime. www . GregBurrows . net
NICE SWING !!!
Thanks so much!
Mel was a so - so drummer in my opinion. He was a reader and that says it all. Readers are robotic at best! No feeling for the music!
You sound like you can't read.
Whenever you come upon a really ridiculous post on social media, you wonder where you'll find the next one.
Here it is.
Hahahahahahahahahah
This is a joke right?