Mike Alfieri

Part 6: Syncopated Double Bass…the Easy Way by Aaron Edgar When I began working on double bass, I was inspired by drummers like Gene Hoglan, Raymond Herrera, and Thomas Lang, all of whom seemed to have a never-ending supply of creative parts. I’d spend every waking moment figuring out their ideas and working them into my playing. From this, I stumbled on a simple concept that can be applied to even the most basic 8th-note rock grooves to turn them into heavy, syncopated double bass patterns.

In this lesson we’ll build on the concepts we explored in the April 2017 issue by taking a look at the drumming style of jazz legend Philly Joe Jones and applying his ideas to Ted Reed’s seminal book Syncopation. We’ll interpret the first line of Exercise 1 (found on page 38 of the most recently published editions), but be sure to apply the concepts to the entire page and beyond. Here’s the rhythm we’ll be utilizing.

The Father of Modern Jazz Drumming Papa Jo Jones was the epitome of swing, from his very early days with the Count Basie band in the ’30s until he passed away in 1985. His style, grace, and incredibly musical approach to drumming inspired other legends, including Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Max Roach, and Kenny Clarke. Jones’ technical skills were substantial, but he never let that get in the way of the music. With his featherlight touch, he could drive the out-chorus with just a pair of brushes.