Alan Dawson Solo w/Sonny Rollins (1965)

The great Alan Dawson trading fours and soloing with Sonny Rollins 1965

[@onceovereasy1529]

Alan Dawson was an amazing drummer. He was known for his amazing dexterity and fluidity around the kit. I saw him a few times and his musicality was simply phenomenal...he could really make the drums "speak"...he was a great teacher...one of the best!!

[@robert3967]

That's about as much drumset inspiration as you can pack into under 4 min...thank you alan

[@patrickwickett1787]

True that. So tasteful.

[@sanityinaseaofmadness7353]

Super tasty, and the perfect example of what trading fours should sound like

[@thekeygod9810]

Lol

[@BrassAttack1]

A great musician, a great teacher, and most importantly, a great man.

[@drumtwo4seven]

Its amazing how Sonny Rollins emulated almost exactly what Alan played while trading fours. Very cool and a total trip! Alan Dawson was a great drummer. Awesome technique, swinging feel, very creative. Good stuff.

[@joecaroselli5858]

So very clean and crisp and poised and elegant. Woweeee! He plays with such intelligence, right?

[@thekeygod9810]

Alan truly was a great

[@allanalbert3642]

IM 79 AND LOVE TO PLAY JAZZ DRUMS HAVE BEEN PLAYING SINCE I WAS 10 YEARS OLD AND LISTEN TO ALL THE DRUMMERS THAT PLAY JAZZ, MOST OF THEM ARE WONDERFUL PLAYERS WITH GREAT FEELING, BUT IN ALL MY LIFE I NEVER EVER HEARD SUCH GREAT EXPRESSION FROM A DRUMMER, I HAVE FRIENDS THAT STUDIED WITH HIM AND THEY HAVE THAT GREAT EXPRESSION, I STILL PLAY AND WOULD LOVE TO KEEP ON LEARNING FROM LISTENING , I JUST RECENTLY MET BILL STEWART, AND ADAM NUSSBAUM,, GREAT GUYS AND GREAT PLAYERS, AND THEY BOTH HAD THEIR OWN STYLES, SOMEWHERE WHILE THEY WERE PLAYING I HEARD SOME ALAN DAWSON....HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO BE IN A WORLD FILLED WITH THOSE TALENTS..............................

[@SinclairLott]

Elegant, articulate and swingin'. Add his beautiful technique and fluid delivery, and that's about as nice a drum solo as I've ever heard.

[@thekeygod9810]

Truly he’s gifted with a lot of class

[@rickslammintone9173]

When you read about a drummer having good hands this is what they're talking about!

[@nealsausen4651]

:Not just good hands good hands great hands yes you’re right but also great musical ideas and concept this cat was ahead of his time lotta what the young guys are doing now with the bass drum and everything he’s going here back in 65 good night bye-bye good night bye-bye I’m at the rabbiTamark

[@jonsilence]

Too self-aware? An interesting concept but not sure if I agree or even understand what you mean. Being a huge Tony Williams fan & knowing of his studies with Alan, I went to see a clinic Alan did in L.A. in the 70s and found his concept of drumming to be musical, thoughtful & clearly the source for some of Tony's traits. The problem with today's Berklee/M.I. drummers is that they are robotic and overly technique-conscious to the point of losing their humanity. Tony & Alan were both VERY human.

[@lucianlarghi5402]

jonsilence I feel the exact same way. I've been listening to all the greats, and my goal is to never just play "licks". It's art, not an Olympic event.

[@buddyrichable1]

I agree, I have no idea what he means about being self aware. This was a brilliant solo, on par if not above his contemporaries, both conceptually and technically. I don’t understand why he is not more well known.

[@thekeygod9810]

Yes this solo was stylish, ergonomic and unique , Really that’s just how Alans style is

[@chriscurtis8344]

Alan Dawson is a MUSICIAN who happens to play drums. That is the difference between him and these MMA fighters now. Get a copy of “A Manual for the Modern Drummer!”

[@jonsilence]

@@chriscurtis8344: 🤣 Indeed, modern drumming has become a contact sport with thug rules!

[@DavidCornejomusic]

Such a great solo! And those trading fours, fire!!!!! Really cool how Sonny Rollins interacts with the ideas Alan Dawson is playing too!!

[@mohomoho1]

Best drum solo I have ever witnessed! Tight, extremely, but also very loose!

[@thekeygod9810]

I love Alan’s style he’s so ergonomic!

[@chrishollandsworth6700]

Wow! Alan is in a class of his own. Who can do that?!

[@MrCappon1111]

Just Marvelous! you can hear the strong influence he has on Tony Williams and Vinnie Colaiuta his best students. what a drummer. thanks for posting this.

[@63Baggies]

+MrCappon1111 He was a BEAST of a player; he seemed so unassuming as well.

[@luciolopes6138]

+MrCappon1111 É verdade!!!

[@rundibakshi]

He was one of the truly musical drummer in the history of jazz, as Jo Jones or Max Roach were. The exact opposite of numerous lumberjacks. And obviously a master in using brushes.

[@je36]

wow! my first time i see some footage from Alan! what a great drummer he is! thanks!

[@SteveHatfieldcom]

Thanks for posting this! Alan Dawson has got to be one of the most under appreciated drummers of all time. A rare combination of inspired creativity and technical command of the instrument. As a teenager, I attended the Ludwig Drum Symposiums and would make it a point to follow him around and ask questions. He was always very patient, kind and generous in sharing information. What a gentleman! What a musician!

[@marceibel1131]

Drumming giant. Clever comping, clean rudiments, musicality.

[@TheEleatic]

Never heard of him before. Completely sound technically and musical. Wow.

[@cosmicjazzman4817]

If your a drummer and you study Jazz then you know his legendary exercises with Ted Reed's syncopation! Those alternating triplets RRR LLL RRR LLL.... FUCKIN A . Brilliantly played so smooth.... I never had the pleasure of meeting Allan but I studied with someone who passed his methods on. Coliauta,Steve Smith,Tony Williams,Terry Lynn Carrington,Tommy Campbell etc... All studied with Allan. Thanks for your amazing contribution to music... Salute ✌ RIP

[@mohomoho1]

Does it get any better than that. What a solo!

[@EricBaileyDrums]

Not only is the playing here incredible, what a great video. The camera work and editing is so good for 1965. It really makes you feel like it wasn't so long ago.

[@jasona1806]

He has influenced heavily, and in some cases privately taught, the greatest modern drummers we all know well.

[@dylangatenby9928]

Truly one of my favorite drummers. He was so influential on so many jazz drummers.

[@dylangatenby9928]

Love the way his kit sounds. Those old kits just sound great.

[@EleniEliades_]

Why isn't Dawson brought up in conversations about wicked smooth Drummers? This solo is so liquid and quite different from other supposed 'Jazz Greats' I've heard. Did he write any books? Did he write "Alan Dawson's Rudimental Ritual " or is that something great he's known for? Amazing drummer ~❤👀🎵🔥💥💡✔🌟❗

[@margaretcesati1924]

He wrote it.

[@joecaroselli5858]

So very clean and crisp... poised... tasteful... killer sixteenth note triplets. I love the sound of his drums too. Not to mention that he was a great reader, and one of the greatest teachers ever. I LOVE Alan Dawson.

[@sz-ll9iq]

One can clearly where Bill Stewart got some of his phrasing concepts. The phrasings are very clean but I wouldn't call that a lack of playing the moment at all. Just like some people are well spoken and intelligent on any given topic or situation. I would always point to Ed Blackwell or Roy before but this has change some of my perspectives in regards to Bill's influences.

[@brent3760]

Beautiful drumming!!

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

still love his drumming!!

[@lapps22]

Love what he did my favorite drummer. rip AD

[@roybeckerman9253]

I’ve always admired the old school drummers , but Buddy Rich, is in a class of his own. Gene Krupa, was the master showman…

[@alanlopez5971]

Very musical, and has great control. great drumming. I whish I had known about him sooner

[@mikezes]

Pure class...

[@dylangatenby9928]

Alan is an awesome jazz player!

[@patrykdobosz9664]

AMAZING!

[@923rememberme6]

So. Much. Talent @_@

[@friedrich.koerner]

after more than 12(!!) hours i finished the drum transcription (1:51 - 3:17) if anybody has interest, write me on facebook

[@captnginga73814]

Leider habe ich kein FB, könnten Sie mir über Mail behilflich sein?

[@TheStudioDrummer]

Finesse.

[@patricktiglao]

I can see what Alan passed on to Tony . Its clear as day.

[@theillestdrummer7822]

Absolute speechless for once

[@stanburdick9708]

Big influence on Tony willams

[@milo8796]

OMG!!! 0:33 ... in 1965!!!

[@medicicard]

bravo

[@whotfknws1427]

Would you be able to share the source of this video. I’ve never been more inspired by a solo in my life (just started learning)

[@simonbroke-smith7783]

🤘😎🥁🔥👍

[@drumtwo4seven]

2:22 thru 2:26 damn cool!

[@mysticalgerald]

God!

[@caderoggenbuck]

2:22 tho like how does Sonny Rollins not jump off his stool

[@osumdman]

Cade Roggenbuck that’s what I was thinking 😂😂

[@shawnhudson7712]

Damn.. like buddy rich chops with a lighter touch

[@TheQuestion31]

A very technical but relaxed approach, not unlike Joe Morello. He keeps nearly perfect time throughout. Very different from Tony Williams.

[@faolancollins4885]

Can anyone tell me what gig this is from?

[@freddiegarner2581]

what tune is this?

[@brainiacgames]

Nah it shouldn't make you unpopular. There are some drummers who are very technical but zero fun to listen to (Weckl, Dawson, Minneman); some who are fun to listen to but not technical; and very, very few who are technical and musical. Joe Morello was probably the best of that latter set.

[@SonorSonicFan]

I know this will make me unpopular with Dawson fans, but his problem is that he does not play in the moment. He is an amazing technician, and clearly a great teacher. He just seems too self-aware unlike Tony Williams (his student) who was all about the moment.