Jeff Hamilton's brush technique

[rondrums51]

Jeff is a great brush player, and he also "breaks the rules." He uses lateral strokes with his right hand almost exclusively, rather than the "tap" most of us jazz guys were taught. He also uses brushes with heavy wires. I tried a pair, and they didn't work for me.

I'm from the old school: sweep back and forth with the left brush (not circles!---unless it's a very slow ballad), and tap with the right brush. You can lay the right brush down flat for a broader sound, or whip the tips of the wires down for a more pronounced sound. Also, keep a narrow spread on the wires. It's the Philly Joe / Louis Hayes school of brushes. I've been doing it so long, I'm not changing it.

But Jeff has a whole different idea about brush technique, and he applies it to straight ahead jazz playing. I give him a lot of credit for that. He sounds damn good.

If you watch the video of Jeff and Steve Smith playing "Salt Peanuts" with brushes, you can see the difference between Steve's traditional technique vs. Jeff's lateral technique. It's interesting.

It's all good!

 

[RickP]

I agree with you on Jeffs Signature brush with the thicker gauge wires Ron. They are very tough to play using the usual up down brush technique . I do use Jeffs brushes on occasion if I am doing a Big Band gig in a very large room or outdoor gig . They are better suited to the lateral technique Jeff uses for sure .

I far prefer the Regal Tip XL or Clayton Cameron model brushes with the Ed Thigpen getting used as well on ocassion.

The clip posted is excellent and clearly demonstrated some great brush techniques

 

[rondrums51]

I agree with you on Jeffs Signature brush with the thicker gauge wires Ron. They are very tough to play using the usual up down brush technique . I do use Jeffs brushes on occasion if I am doing a Big Band gig in a very large room or outdoor gig . They are better suited to the lateral technique Jeff uses for sure .

I far prefer the Regal Tip XL or Clayton Cameron model brushes with the Ed Thigpen getting used as well on ocassion.

The clip posted is excellent and clearly demonstrated some great brush techniques

Regal Tip XL's are good for jazz playing, if you narrow the spread with rubber bands around the base. But I wish the handles were a bit longer. The balance would be better. The people who design this stuff don't have a clue.

 

[BlackPearl]

He gives a good tutorial on his technique here :

 

[cworrick]

Wow.

Steve and Jeff have forgotten more about playing brushes than I will ever know.

 

[ARGuy]

Back in the mid 80's, my college big band had trumpeter John McNeil as a guest soloist, and at that time he always brought along his drummer, Ron Vincent. Besides being featured soloists, they worked with the band. We were playing a chart that called for brushes, and I was playing circles with the left hand and tapping with the right. During a break, he said, in a gruff but lovable NY way, that my approach to brushes wasn't happening. He said that the horizontal approach, which he showed me, was the way the guys in NY were playing. I spent the next week working on playing horizontally, and while I don't play anywhere near as well as Jeff Hamilton (or Ron Vincent), that approach has worked great for me.

 

[drumgadget]

Jeff is currently my favorite brush stylist. I dont believe that anyone swings any harder ....

I love the lateral move with the right hand, especially mixed with the tap or slap.

Also, the heavier brush wires. Several years ago, George Marsh sat in on my kit; I spoke with him afterwards, hoping for some tips on brush technique. He held up a pair of the white plastic-handled VF brushes ..... told me that he found the heavier wire easier to use for dynamic control. Kinda the opposite of what I was trying to accomplish with lighter brushes. He then handed me his pair .... its cool, Im an endorser ........ That very pair are all I ever use now .....

Mike

 

[Pocketplayer]

Great trivia question...
What major pop star in the 80's lived near Jeff Hamilton in Glendale, CA?

Hint: He hit it big on TV just before exploding with his music and was a
bust pretty boy in the 70's...all but gave up on music and tried TV.

 

[paul]

Honestly, I liked what Steve was doing in the video better than Jeff's work, but it was close. Those guys are masters.

My girlfriend got us tickets at Bass Hall in Fort Worth for my birthday in 2002, and we saw Tony Bennett from the third row on the right. Clayton Cameron played a brush solo on a snare drum on a stand 25 feet from our seats, and Pat said on the way home, "That drum solo was worth the price of the tickets all by itself." That lady was very perceptive.

 

[paul]

My big band learned the Patrick Williams arrangement of "In the Still of the Night," which he did for Peter Erskine, several years ago. Of all the songs I've played solos on over a 55 year (so far) career it's my favorite, not least because it's mostly played with brushes.