John Riley's The Master Drummer is based on the premise that all the greats excel in four areas: technique, groove, creativity, and musicianship. Each of these areas is explored in detail with extensive video content, exercises, and transcriptions. While the main sections of video were previously released on DVD, the extensive additional text, notation and analysis in this book create a much more complete, effective course of study. In addition, expert transcriber Terry Branam has notated each of John's drum solos, and John breaks these down and explains the musical concepts he is using in each solo. Whether working on your technique, timekeeping, soloing, rhythmic vocabulary, or your overall understanding and execution of jazz drumming, The Master Drummer is a must-have.

The book comes with online video that is clearly marked with icons throughout the text.

“John Riley has done it again. Two of his books, The Art of Bop Drumming and Beyond Bop Drumming, have permanent places of honor on the bookshelf of my teaching studio at the Thornton School of Music at USC. John's insight into pedagogy and his ability to artfully explain both simple truths as well as complex polyrhythms have made him a sought-after teacher. His jazz drumming voice is authoritative, expert and encouraging. The Master Drummer is a book that can be utilized in a student/teacher dynamic or by a curious drummer on their own. His written language is clear, and his exercises will bear fruit for any drummer wanting to put in the work. Above all, The Master Drummer is as fun as it is informative. I'll say it again: John Riley has done it again.” –Peter Erskine
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