03 Inspired by reading 'The One Thing'...

Multi-Grammy Nominated Drummer, Eric Harland is the most 'In demand drummer' of his generation. He has already been on close to 200 recordings at his age of 36. Eric has been recognized in the Boston Globe, New York Times, JazzTimes, Modern Drummer, All About Jazz, The New Yorker, DownBeat, Vogue and other prominent publications. Harland has shared the stage with masters such as Betty Carter, Joe Henderson, MyCoy Tyner, Michael Brecker, Terence Blanchard, Branford and Wynton Marsalis, Wayne Shorter, Savion Glover, Bill Cosby and many others, as well as todays up and coming artist like Esperanza Spalding, Jane Monheit, Taylor Eigsti, Julian Lage, Stacie Orrico and so on.  Eric Harland graciously sits down with me, to share some of where he's come from, practice 'routines' and how he thinks of putting together his sounds/rigs for the gigs he plays... Eric - was in town with one of today's hottest and most forward thinking saxophonists, Chris Potter...    I had just had the great fortune to catch these guys the night before...  The new record Chris Potter's  "Circuits"  features this trio of virtuosic players, with Eric Harland on drums, and James Francis- keyboards...   I'll probably always remember that this was taped on an afternoon during a blizzard...  the band, still to get word whether they were going to do just one set that night or a regularly scheduled second show - due to hazardous travel... In stark contrast to the cold... this band's performances were Smokin' Hot !!!  Without further adieu, Eric's interview...

Today's episode of Drumming Secrets, inspired by the book, "the One Thing"  ... How this simple base concept and subsequent ideas, relate heavily also to our drumming and 'what we do' as performers, and students in striving to master the instrument and hone our skills. Taken off a quick youtube lesson... Another very early recording in an attempt to broadcast...(leaving up for a little bit)

 Drummers, don't let this word, Rudiments: scare you into thinking this is about boring  'routines' ,,, or not for the 'cool kids'.  Every great drummer uses Rudiments, whether or not they are telling you they do or not... put it this way;  Not learning, or have control of the drumming "Rudiments" would be like trying to play baseball without being able to  catch a ball or a football player not learning how to tackle...  The Rudimental basics: give us what we need to attempt to add strength, and consistency, to a  "Beat" - and also  playing it quickly, and controlled, and creatively.