When I was a garage rock drummer in the early 60's, I saw Buddy Rich on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. I found a local jazz drummer who had actually filled in on The Tonight Show while Ed Shaughnessy was on vacation and begged him to teach me jazz. He wasn't a teacher, but I finally wore him down. He was like Mr. Miyagi on The Karate Kid with "waxy on, waxy off", with the rudiments. Each week, I was given one rudiment to practice, The following week I was given another. He said if I did not improve each week, the lessons stopped. FINALLY, he showed me how to incorporate the rudiments into the songs and applying accents within them. I never attained his skill level but the rudiments are everything! I am in my 70's and I still practice my rudiments.

man, this guy might just be the hippest musical drummer this side of the Hudson

I studied with Jeff at the Centrum Festival in Port Townsend, WA back in the late 80s, for two seasons. His teaching really pulled me out of a pretty dismal hole I was in at that time. I was only 19/20 years old at that time, but I still owe a ton to his guidance at such a pivotal time. This video is great and I wish I'd been advanced enough back then to really delve into these concepts. It's great to see that Jeff is still a great educator and a consummate musician. It's a rare combination. Thanks for posting these - brings back a lot of great memories with Jeff and, more importantly, offers a lot of great food for thought.

Jeff Hamilton is intelligent as hell! He knows the very core of s drum kit!!

That brother is all class man. All class.

Early 70's my instructor taught reading, rudiments, snare solos, then drum set. It gives you a great toolbox. A big reason there are so many frustrated match grip single strokers out there.

Great, great, advice re: what you can sing, you can play. It all comes from the inside!

That is a great video by an amazing jazz drummer.

Thank you Jeff for your musical tips.

Joe Morello used single and double paradiddles combined in his solo in Take Five. Rudiments are everything, once you've learned the phrasing with the accents.

what a charming fellow!:D

I came across a CD, Big Band, I read Jeff was the drummer, John Pizzarelli's Dear Mr. Sinatra. Jeff was impressive. I like how Jeff tells you (here) the "hear" what you want to play before playing it - plan ahead. Thanks for your talent!

Brilliant! Thank you so much. A humming I will go… 👏🌹🇦🇺✌️

Awesome! Great lesson. Thank you.

Jeff is the man. He’s driving the bus.

Fabulous drummer Geoff ♥️

Jeff is Great Jazz drummer+Bigband he reding sheets great!!! and sands so Great!!! National Recording Artists.long time.

So great to watch and listen to. Thank you.

so cool

Damn, I haven't listened to the Jeff Hamilton Trio for a while. It's been too long! What was I thinking haha

Great concept, thanks Mr Hamilton-

Nice stuff. Thanks Jeff!

Yes!

Wonderful!

Very informative!

Great insight.

Beautifious!🥁🎶

Good stuff.

This side of the Hudson

When he's playing the ratamacue backwards starting from the kick and floor is there a double on the bass or the floor tom? Trying to figure out the pattern there...

Anyone know what snare he’s using?

Ella Fitzgerald could scat-sing all instruments. Jeff can scat-sing all rudiments.

what mic is that