Josh Collazo on swing drumming
This is Volume 8, issue 37 of the Josh Collazo Fan Club Newsletter and Stalker Almanac.
While at Lindy Focus, I had the opportunity to do a video interview with Josh Callazo, the universally-admired drummer of Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five. It was shot on a dinky camera, part of which was during the sound check as that was the only time the interview could be done. (I also accidentally cut off a drum flourish Josh gave for the ending, dammit.) However, Jonathan and Josh have shown a lot of interest in us doing a longer, more professional version (with good microphones) at some point. Until then, enjoy.
Since the first half of the interview with Josh is during the end of a sound check, it mgiht be hard to hear the first part of the interview. It begins like this:
What are the differences between rock drumming and swing drumming?
(one of the musicians behind him): Money!
Josh: That’s very true. Well…basically, you couldn’t have rock and roll without swing drumming. In swing drumming, you swing the eight notes. (Josh gives an example.) For instance, I’ll just give you a little brief run-through of pre-swing to swing to early R&B to Rock and Roll. (Gives examples.)
So, I hope you enjoy the interview, I certainly did. And a special thanks to Josh Collazo for being so cool.
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[NOTE: Recently I published “Venn Diagram #2: Neo-Swing” in which I made the joke that even really good Neo-swing music is still bad Neo-swing music. It is not just a cheap shot, I promise. This interview with Josh proved a great opportunity to explain the joke and how it’s actually something that is interesting and important about swing (to me, at least). I have updated the Venn Diagram with new notes regarding this.]
Here is another good article on drum shuffle;
http://www.eddielandsberg.com/drumshuffle.html
That’s really interesting; Thanks for the link.
Thanks for the post. I drum and dance to swing music, and I always like to hear a fellow drummer’s opinion on the matter.
Thanks Bobby, Josh is seriously amazing to dance to so it is great to hear him talk about it.
Thanks for this great video. Josh is awesome.
Nice one! That was great!