Jazz Drummer Q-Tip of the Week: Brush Essentials!

INSTAGRAM: / qdjazz
WEBSITE: www.quincydavisjazz.com/
I hope you found this video helpful! Sorry for the low quality of this one. Did it a while ago before I knew what I was doing and forgot all about the HD feature. Ha!
NOTE: The playing examples/exercises begin at 4:47.
Check out some of my favorite albums with some great brush playing:
Papa Jo Jones - Old Man River (Essential Jo Jones); Bebop Irishman (The Everest Years)
Charles “Specs" Wright - Live at the Prelude with (Red Garland)
Vernell Fornier - Live at the Pershing; Ahmad’s Blues with (Ahmad Jamal)
Ed Thigpen - Any of (Oscar Peterson's) albums but check out The Cole Porter Songbook
Albert “Tootie” Heath - Live at the Village Vanguard with (Bobby Timmons)
Elvin Jones - Overseas (Tommy Flanagan)
Jeff Hamilton - Bassface on the song Remember with (Ray Brown)
Kenny Washington - (Tommy Flanagan’s) Mean Streets from Jazz Poet;
(Bill Charlap’s) All Through the Night and Live at the Vanguard
Gregory Hutchinson - (Eric Reed's) The Swing and I
Clarence Penn - (Stephen Scott's) Renassaince
Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto - Brazilian samba and bossa nova (Getz Au Go Go)
Louis Hayes - Curtain call from Live at the Jazz Workshop with (Barry Harris)
Kenny Clark- Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (Miles Davis)
Carl Allen - Billy Boy (fast); Shiek of Araby (great solo) with (Benny Green)
Don't forget to leave comments, questions and suggestions for future videos. And press the LIKE and SUBSCRIBE buttons! More helpful and practical videos on the way!
If you are interested in taking Skype lessons, contact me.
Whether it's a technical, conceptual or a creativity issue, I'm happy to help out with any issues you are having with your playing that you'd like to improve upon. With years of teaching experience, I can definitely help you!!!!
You can reach me here on KZbin or just email me at [e-mail]. .
Thanks for checking the video out!
Quincy
Assistant Professor of Jazz Drum-set, University of North Texas
Vic Firth, Zildjian and Yamaha Artist
www.Quincydavis.com

[@manuelgchapajr2000]

GREAT LESSON I TEACH ALL OF MY STUDENTS THAT THERE IS REALLY NO WRONG WAY TO PLAY BRUSHES. THIS WAY I CAN ENCOURAGE THEM TO FIND THEIR OWN VOICE. I CHALLENGE ALL OF THEM TO TRY TO NOT SOUND LIKE EACH OTHER. I GET SOME VERY INTERESTING RESULTS FROM THEM. AND SOMETIMES I AM AMAZED BY THE OUTCOME SO I COPY THEIR STYLE. NOTHING WRONG WHEN YOUR STUDENTS BECOME YOUR TEACHER. THE GOD GIVEN GIFT OF MUSIC IS SO AMAZING!!!

[@drumqtips]

That's awesome Manuel! It's definitely important for students to find their own voice on brushes.

[@nicolasduthoit2994]

I hope you'll never stop making such great videos man.

[@drumqtips]

Thanks Nicolas!

[@danielkrawiec9859]

You, Sir, are an excellent teacher. Thanks.

[@kkkhhgffjjhygdxcvg9871]

I love your teaching style, thx!

[@drumqtips]

Thank you!

[@joesantoro]

Great lesson Master Quincy! Can't wait to watch other videos from you, please keep it going!!!

[@chicanochops]

Love how informative and detailed your lessons are

[@jhardycarroll]

Excellent lesson, Quincy. Brushes are becoming my favorite.

[@edpias7881]

Beautiful! Really excellent playing, description and lesson. Great!

[@billbrandt1106]

Great style! I love ur brush work - really swings. And THANKS for a great lesson.

[@cjklz]

excellent teacher!! My buddy's I jam with , will love you for showing me this.

[@444chez]

fantastic videos . Great teachings . You have style !!!!

[@neotake2278]

Quincy ,,THE KING" Davis - thank you! Greetings from Poland. God bless you.

[@MrDavesf]

So I have RARE jazz gig today...just found out about it...and I thought..."let's have a refresher!"...man, thanks, this is great. Most helpful!

[@boomboomdrums]

Cool video. Thanks. Very simple, precise, and to the point. Loved the advice too to not try fancy patterns til you're ready. When you try to get too fancy, that's when you mess up. I never thought of playing with snares but agree it does sound cool. I'm brushing up on my technique cuz I may be getting a sub gig requiring brushes but haven't played them in many years. Thanks again. Great job.

[@fernandocaromarquez7045]

Awesome lesson! I've been playing for eight years but now i'm getting serious with my brush technique. I wish i could sound as solid as you!

[@christianfraude4517]

Love this video !!

[@gregsbasicdrumsetlessons1172]

Very nice! Thanks so much for sharing.

[@jazzpotato180]

Mr Davis I could listen to you for hours and hours... your students are very lucky

[@srklgk]

Great lesson !

[@ruurdje]

Thanks for posting such awesome content!

[@drumqtips]

I appreciate that Ruurd!

[@stevenobrien595]

Excellent tutorial. Thanks

[@drumqtips]

Glad it was helpful Stevie!

[@tatedavis2016]

I always thought Jimmy Cobb and Kenny Clarke’s brush technique were impeccable. Great video!!

[@andrewgriffith4807]

Great video Quincy! Thanks for mentioning things like snare-on/off sounds and breathing with the soloist. Also, giving all due credit to the masters and the great Shadow Wilson (one of my favorites) and Elvin recommendations! Beautifully played and filmed!

[@drumqtips]

My pleasure Griff! Yeah Elvin and Shadow had such a great brush sound!!

[@ZionGuySupreme]

Loved the one set you did at Mezzrow... just a snare drum and your brush playing was awesome!

[@drumqtips]

Thanks Zion! I think I remember seeing you there.

[@stevepruittmusic]

Man, this is awesome bro!

[@drumqtips]

My dude! We're going to get together one of these days!

[@darkerareas]

So nice! Thanks so much. I do have a question: how can I fix bent wires on my brushes? Do you do any maintenance on them? Thanks in advance for your response.

[@luiszuluaga6575]

Quincy, you’re a seriously smooth cat!

[@luiszuluaga6575]

Beautiful playing that reminds us to breath as we play.

[@drumqtips]

Glad you enjoy it! And yes, breeeeeeathe:)

[@drumlover1687]

Man, that is some great technique you have.

[@drumqtips]

I appreciate that!

[@patrickrees917]

Great news, Quincy! I've found the tracks/ artist names! Yeee haaa! Sorry for testing your patience. Best regards, Patrick

[@omargunason6563]

Great lessons .. fantastic palying. One question, the bass drum sounds beautiful in the beginning of the clip. Can you tell me what bass drum you're using, what drum heads, muffling, and tuning? Thank you .... Omar.

[@darry_lavis]

Hey Quincy- great video. What is your opinion on Philly Joe Jones brush playing? Can you recommend any good records of his to check out? Bill Evans' On Green Dolphin Street comes to mind, but are there any more where he plays brushes more than sticks? Thanks!

[@thenel2162]

damn near any record philly joe is on is a study. whether its brushes or anything else. Cant go wrong with anything

[@JoelCarbonellGonell]

I appreciate the new miniature picture! 🔥

[@drumqtips]

Which miniature picture do you speak of my friend?

[@JoelCarbonellGonell]

@@drumqtips sorry, I meant the new "Thumbnail" didn't got the English word right away! The one that says "Jazz Brush Playing Part 1" ! :)

[@gabriellavenant3823]

Amen

[@subdrummer2203]

sick

[@Withcare111]

wheres the second part of this video?

[@apfelbaum6858]

thanks man, I'm glad I discovered your channel!

[@drumqtips]

Thank you Apfel

[@ericpuente]

Thank you for another great lesson. I notice on your 4-stroke ruff you start with RH and land the last note on LH. Do you always play it like that? I do, too, but watching lots of other videos made me think I was doing it wrong and should start with my LH, which doesn’t flow as well.

[@drumqtips]

Sometimes. I do it also RLLR or RRLL. Depends on the sound I'm going for. Thanks for watching!

[@tdrum21]

Great lesson! Thanks for this. Look forward to the next. Gotta get these on the regular 😜

[@drumqtips]

I know! I've been so busy. I have a couple of great interviews with Willie Jones III and Bill Stewart in the pipeline. Stay tuned!

[@tdrum21]

Quincy will do. Thanks! Look forward to it!

[@djthemoretaiwan]

Do you have 1-1 online lesson?

[@tuskedbeast]

4:47

[@kaimacrae1737]

I've seen many lessons which say that you should never push the brush into the head when sweeping, but I notice you push the brush into the head in one of the examples. Would you say either is 'right'?

[@drumqtips]

I never like when teachers say NEVER do something. There's so many different ways of doing everything that it's not good to completely shut down other approaches. To answer your question more directly, depends on the sound and effect you're going for. For a big full sound like Vernell Fournier or Ed Thigpen, then I push the left hand into the drum quite a bit. For a lighter sound or to create variations in dynamics to create a more phrase-like effect, I lighten up on the pressure. Cheers!

[@kaimacrae1737]

Yeah, I've noticed that Ed Thigpen pushes it into the head in some videos on KZbin

[@musicaremusic1967]

Thankss!!!

[@JulianFernandez]

Yeah! hahaha. Killer!

[@drumqtips]

Thank you.

[@sticktrik]

Quincy you're right!....an almost completely lost art amongst younger players!!!!!!!!

[@patrickrees917]

Sorry to be such a pain, but I can't find the brush tunes you recommend. Could you send me the link, please? Thanks 👍

[@drumqtips]

Come on dude. Make a little effort and you’ll very quickly find it in one of my brush videos. There are 4 videos.

[@patrickrees917]

@@drumqtips okay, Quincy! Thanks for your encouragement!

[@KeepItReal43000]

i've been wondering for awhile what kind of kit do you play on your videos ? been searching a "bop" kit and don't know where to start..

[@banjomango145]

raphael aurand maybe a catalina jazz club kit? Greatly priced to start with

[@KeepItReal43000]

they have them in my consevatory, wish i had something else :D

[@jeffsulima]

Don't rush... Brush! Lol

[@drumqtips]

Nice! Sounds like something I would say. Lol

[@jeffsulima]

@@drumqtips I've never heard someone talk about the"tips" of the brushes... I've been thinking about that all week. Cool idea Q, thanks for that!