Deconstructing the Vernel Fournier / Ahmad Jamal "Poinciana" beat

Scott Gordon (drums), Dave Bass (piano), Kerry Kashiwagi (bass)

[@mondoman1890]

Best breakdown of "poinciana " I have come across. Thanks

[@ZigRhino]

Those are fantastic sticks! Great video… 👍👍👍

[@bennyamon3043]

Very helpful resource. Really helped me learn a the 2nd and 3rd main groove variations! I hear at least two more awesome variations towards the end of the Live at the Pershing Recording. Will try to transcribe those if you don’t get to them first! As a drummer who lived in New Orleans a long time, you are also spot on about Vernell playing the left hand on the offbeats/2and4 because he is replicating the feel of playing a bass drum with mounted cymbal in a brass band. I would highly recommend that anyone trying to get into the spirit of poinciana check out traditional New Orleans Brass Band music and start to understand where the Big 4 comes from.

[@BKflamgriller]

Thank you so much..very nicely done.

[@sunnysidejazznola]

Thank you! That’s awesome that you found the actual transcription! - Rob with Sunny Side.

[@geoffreydlang]

Nicely done. The trio I (sometimes) work with will be diving into this tune...and I'm not about to place a 15 page transcription in front of me. Your tutorial is very helpful - thank you!

[@HardbatProductions]

Thank you for such a nice message. Glad you found it helpful - have fun, and I look forward to hearing your results!

[@carld.smelserdrumlessons9462]

Hello Mr. Scott Gordon. I am impressed with your dedication to this song. Your explanation re: second line drumming, mallet choice, Ted Reed's Syncopation, left hand off-beat, and song form is very helpful. Your respect for the composer and performers is admirable. Thank you Sir.

[@HardbatProductions]

Any relation to the great trumpet player, Noel Smelser?

Great lesson, wonderful example also for my advanced Students, thanks for sharing !!

[@funkman0811]

Addendum to your recommendation of stick mallet combo also made is the Dennis Chambers Zildjian mallet/ stick option I love these slightly thinner than the Vic Firth model

[@HardbatProductions]

Thank you for the suggestion - I'll check those out!

[@TheDriveDemo]

Very clear and helpful. Thanks. The rimshot kind of functions like a timbale rimshot or abanico in Salsa, cueing the band to the next section.

[@HardbatProductions]

Yep!

[@JammerPro]

Great video... thanks so much for the deconstruction.

[@inculcator]

Wow Scott, thanks for the inspiration and the homework! I play this tune with Vic Firth Corpsmaster CT1's (medium hard felt) for a smokier sound but still w/rim shots. Amazing job this week in Herdin Cats!

[@HardbatProductions]

Thanks Toby! That's great that you're playing this tune, it's its own thing, almost like playing a piece of classical music. Of course any tympani mallet would work - Vernel may have used a tymp mallet in the right hand, and a regular stick in the left hand. I just like that the swizzles have both a tymp mallet on one end and a regular tip on the butt end, so I can play either sound with either hand if I so choose. And thanks for supporting our Herdin' debut. See you around!

[@kalebbarkley5208]

This is a great video! Great analysis and playing! Thank you for sharing!

[@armandocairo5444]

This is GREAT! And very helpful. Thank You very much!

[@SteveCournane]

Beautiful work, and a real resource for anyone who wants to do justice to this tune. I always knew there was a lot more to it than I initially thought! i.e. I played it live and did a bit of work, but no where near as much as you. Thanks again. I have much to do!

[@HardbatProductions]

Thank you for taking the time to post such kind words.

[@joepyfer1696]

I used to play the cymbal part with the hi-hat open so I was able to hit rim shots along with the skins. But I like how you are able to do it. Remember it was I think 1958 when that album came out. I could never figure it out but a friend would always want me to play it so he was a fan

[@chrisbrown9632]

Great job!

[@CardinalEgan]

Great work. Was looking for something "new" to practice!

[@minqsdrums]

Totally agreed. Great work..

[@funkman0811]

Hello Scott just fantastic thank you for sharing you are a very talented drummer I truly enjoyed your video and I can't get over how your Purecussion trap set Sounded with Earthtone heads Smokin Ok now I got to go over your video Ive been playing Poinciana for years but i now can see and hear my mistakes again Thank you Scott

[@HardbatProductions]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a nice post. I'm glad you found it useful. Yeah, I discovered quite by accident that the Earthtone heads sound great on the RIMS headset kit. I didn't care for them on my regular kit, but I like them a lot on these.

[@joepyfer1696]

I played the hiHat open when needed. I adjusted it so I then had both hands free to play only thing was I didn’t have those mallets. Very good to se how you did it

[@matthewhloros5330]

Really enjoyed this, my trio is playing this song as well and this REALLY helped. As you said, I had no idea how iconic his playing was on this song and the amount of time I have now spent putting it all together. Thank you could not have done it without this.

[@HardbatProductions]

What a wonderful comment, thank you so much and I'm glad it was useful! I'm working on putting together a similar video for Max Roach's "Un Poco Loco" next!

[@matthewhloros5330]

@@HardbatProductions great looking forward to seeing it

[@wallo79]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@dirks.4172]

Thank you for your explanations. I do like that song and understand the drummers part now better. Best wishes Dirk

[@leeparks8672]

Loved it !!!

[@_MrTrue]

That was pretty awesome

[@jonahminkus3327]

Amazing!

[@thebeatclinic9000]

What makes you think he did the upbeat ride on the left and not the right?

[@HardbatProductions]

Because Vernell himself stated that in his book.

[@thebeatclinic9000]

@HardbatProductions Aaah OK. Thanks. I didn't know he had a book . I've been doing it with the RH. Good for the left though! All the best.

[@bennyamon3043]

Thanks for this. Would also add that as a drummer from New Orleans playing in a brass band you would play a mounted cymbal with the left hand. This approach to second line drumming definitely influenced vernells choice to play the 2 and 4 on the cymbal with his left hand

[@carlosleon9580]

where is the rest of that bass drum!!! :O

[@clivebadger4251]

What a teacher brilliant will be following your every move brilliant 👍

[@johnburke568]

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