Here is Surrey With A Twist a written solo tribute to Philly Joe Jones. This short but sweet solo is from the book Jazz Drum Solos Volume 1 by Rich Thompson.
This is one of many published solos I use in my teaching curriculum.
The solo is based on the soloing of Philly Joe Jones. I am demonstrating this solo in a clean accurate style so you can grasp the rhythms easily. Once you get it up to tempo you can ad-lib a bit and give it that Philly Joe edge since he tended to play on top of the beat. You can hear this sound in the final solo I play at the end of the video.
I play the solo at the written tempo of quarter = 208 and show you two different camera views. I talk about the influence Philly Joe has had on the drumming world as well as my own exposure to his playing. Then I discuss some ways to practice this solo and demonstrate several sections of it.
According to the author, Rich Thompson this solo was inspired by the following recordings
Surrey w/a Twist: Sonny Clark’s Cool Struttin’ CD “Royal Flush”, Sonny Rollin’s Newk’s Time “Surrey w/the Fringe On Top”, also Bud Powell’s Time Waits LP/CD: “Monopoly”
The drums used in the video are Gretsch Centennial from 1983.
The sizes of these drums are: 18"x14" bass,10",12",14" toms and a 14"x 6.5" snare.
The cymbals in this video are all 1940's- 1960's K Zildjian except for a Paiste 22" swish/china.
Cymbal sizes
21" ride
18"crash/ride w/rivets
16" crash
15" Hi Hats
22" Paiste swish/china with rivets
The drum heads are all calf skin.
Microphones are a AKG C24 stereo overhead and an Shure Beta 52 on the Bass drum.
According to the author, Rich Thompson this solo was inspired by the following recordings
Surrey w/a Twist: Sonny Clark’s Cool Struttin’ CD “Royal Flush”, Sonny Rollin’s Newk’s Time “Surrey w/the Fringe On Top”, also Bud Powell’s Time Waits LP/CD: “Monopoly”