COOL LINKS
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Great Drummers Who Have Directly Influenced My Playing:
Garey Williams I have been studying privately with Garey since March 2011 (and for several months back in 2004). He is both an incredible musician and teacher. I have a great time at each lesson, we cover a lot of material, and I leave with an incredible sense of both having made progress and enthused about what to do next. Watching him play, whether with his band, Ecstasy In Numbers, or any number of big band/jazz combo gigs leaves me awestruck and inspired.
Tommy Igoe Garey turned me on to Tommy's Great Hands for a Lifetime program. Working through the program has allowed me to play more subtly, as I have greater awareness of my hand position, and faster as I am bouncing more instead of wristing. Then I discovered some of Tommy's videos online with the Birdland Big Band... DAMN!!!
John Riley Riley's "The Art of Bop Drumming" and "The Master Drummer" rock my world. Through the coordination/comp exercises, I have developed the ability to switch between perceiving either the left, the right, or both sides of my body at once... while not dropping the beat! His explanations and analysis in the DVD are thoughtful and precise.
The Best Jazz Learning Opportunities in Seattle:
Jazz Night School Whatever your current playing ability, this is the place to learn to take it to the next level. Two big bands, nearly a dozen combos, improv classes, drum lab... Fantastic instructors and a community of musicians that encourage and truly want to help each other succeed.
Dreaddie's Drum Gear:
DW Drums DW Collectors Series (Blue Abalone Finish):
      22" Bass
      10", 12", 14", 16" Toms
      14" J. Craviotto Sig snare
Sabian Cymbals Sabian Manhattan Jazz HHX series:
      20" ride
      18" sizzle ride [three rivets!]
      16" crash
      14" hats
Zildjian Cymbals Zildjian K Custom series:
      20" ride
      17" dark crash
      14" dark hats
Zildjian Avedis series:
      12" Splash