Five Drummers

The �drum and drum set's� role in the development of AmericanMusic is as important as any other individual instrument.  Jazz music, another uniquely American creation was the primary force in the development and evolution of the drum set.  Although it is not known exactly when the drum set and jazz emerged, Gospel, spirituals and the blues were the foundationand there were plantation brass bands as early as 1835, and minstrel troupes were touring by the 1840s.  Ragtime, a syncopated music that took its formal structure from the march, developed inthe 1880s and is thought of as the fore runner of jazz.

The origin of jazz and the drum set comes from the Africans who were brought to America as slaves. One can not separate the origins and evolution of the drum set and the music �Jazz�, the music it was designed to play and support.  During this time drummers would play individual instruments.  A typical ensemble might have a snare drum player, a bass drum player and someone playing various other instruments like the cymbals and wood block.

The five drummers I chose to use as primary contributors to the performance development of the drum set are recognized by many as a good representation for this subject matter.  Obviously there were other drummers that I could have chosen and some might have been equally as qualified but for this exercise these drummers are very important to the art of drumming.

I feel this is a very good introduction to the history of the drum set.  In addition to reading about a subject matter the ability to listen and observe a performers specific approach to something greatly enhances ones ability to stay engaged, learn, understand and remember specifics about the performers performance capabilities.