Jon Arkin Online Class: Postmodern Jazz Drumming

Wednesdays 7 – 8:30pm
4/7 – 6/2 (9 weeks)

What is a “modern” jazz drummer? This term has constantly shifted throughout the various eras of jazz’s evolution, which inevitably leads to today’s “modern” drummers becoming the “classic” drummers of tomorrow. This cycle is a direct reflection of the nature of jazz as a revolutionary art form, which adds to the unbreakable connection between the music’s history and the cutting edge of innovation at every stage.

When studying the lineage of jazz’s most influential drummers over time, with the aforementioned perspective as context, one begins to discover a breakdown of dichotomies that have attempted to classify these drummers at any given moment: old versus new, in versus out, correct versus incorrect, superior versus inferior, hip versus stale, and countless other assumptions that can form a limited understanding of jazz’s aesthetic. Without these limitations to obscure our view, we can see the “postmodern” in drummers of every era, and find equal inspiration, from the early pioneers of the instrument’s language to those who are currently reinventing it.

This class will provide a broad study of jazz drummers (from the center to the fringes of jazz’s mainstream) through the study of audio and video examples, with discussion of many aspects of their approaches. While the focus will be on the larger musical perspective, technical considerations will inevitably become a component of the conversation, and offer inspiration for reinventing one’s own study and practice. Open to drummers of any level of experience.

To register, follow this link to the CJC’s website.

Please note: All Listed Classes and Workshops are Pacific Time. This course will be conducted live via video conferencing. A computer or other device with a webcam and microphone and a reliable internet connection is required. Log-in information will be sent to students before the first class meeting!