How to Play a Calypso in Jazz

Jazz pieces often incorporate many other styles of music, and Calypso has proven a particularly compatible style with Jazz. Master bassist Larry Ridley and his Jazz Legacy Ensemble tell you more about what each rhythm section member does when playing a calypso!
Learn more at the Jazz Academy by visiting academy.jazz.org
Larry Ridley - Bass
Richard Wyands - Piano
Greg Bufford - Drums
Eric Suquet - Director
Bill Thomas - Director of Photography
Aaron Chandler - Sound Engineer
Richard Emery - Production Assistant
Recorded August 14, 2013

[@KerryonBass]

Great music but enjoyed even more seeing how much fun they are having playing together :)

[@ariesnathaniel2245]

Instablaster.

[@elijahvaldivia3729]

love how you dont need a big band to make great music

[@bigtimedrum]

Greg Bufford was my mentor and brother, he is a legend and a great brother.

[@enriquemundaca8396]

What an elegant approach to Calypso... fabulous!

[@m0j0b0ne]

Great point about the 'imaginary dancer'. The great thing about gigging is even when I'm just warming up on djembe, I see the subtle changes in the movements of all the nearby humans. The power to strike a groove and make folks move is an awesome privilege, and the closest hing I've witnessed to magic in this life. Marley said when the music hits, you feel no pain and I'm a witness; I broke two fingers, but never missed a gig; I wrapped my splints and miked my drum, though I did put a slide on one of the broken fingers and played guitar the first gig, cuz I'm not a masochist and broken fingers hurt.

You all look so nice and light hearted. It was a great video. Thanks for sharing it!

[@lasdudas9210]

Great class, these cats really groove. Cheers from Argentina. :)

[@nate_kang]

Reminds me of Sonny's "St Thomas"! Great video, guys!

[@alexhinds6488]

That's because the original composition is Sponger Money, a folk song from the Bahamas and probably other islands like St Thomas where Sonny is from.

[@richardyoung6721]

Teachers, thanks for the AWESOME lesson, and I loved your performance!

[@puffinwrangler7557]

Thank you so much for playing 'light & tasty.'

[@andrewmcrory]

I want to be these guys when I grow up

[@cameronsalehizadeh6232]

this some heat

[@mcsteifefrise9995]

what a great pianist!

[@mezdrums]

Beautiful

[@davida.benedetto2281]

Hello there. This was an excellent video by three masters (RIP Richard). I was trying to write a jazz tune with a calypso rhythm and this one seems about perfect. Anyone out there have a way to notate the single-measure repeating patterns for some of the time stamps here? 1) The part beginning at 0:50 2) The part at 2:01 If there is a link to a site with patterns written out, that would be helpful as well. Good day and good music everyone!

[@Oopdie6721]

Feel free to listen to anything by Lord Kitchener

[@georgechristiansen6785]

I love the emphasis on dance music! Too much of jazz is listening music only these days.

[@DrumsBonedo]

Thanks, really enjoyed it!

[@christophermatthews3977]

i play the drums and i rally want to play jazz

[@arturwachowski6827]

thanks for music

[@rrayjay5171]

Awesome!

[@sambsialia]

Soooo good!

[@najibpeligroso8734]

Nice to know you today calypso jazz

[@coachwillridley1374]

My uncle Larry

[@masuro49]

Love it 👍

[@EllingtonReborn]

Nice redux on St. Thomas!

[@RJHEllis]

Im also hearing shake senora

[@mcsteifefrise9995]

great musicans

[@luisfernando-mm3jt]

masters

[@kaieteurcanada]

dont seem to be hearing the bass line.... nice though...!!

[@ruskugay]

song name?

[@Viicebec]

what Is it?

[@finzer4000]

she's a hurricane in all kinds of weather