Drum Solos - The Art of Phrasing
by Colin Bailey

Colin Bailey is a tasty jazz player, and his book of soloing ideas reflects a real musical maturity. Bailey explains that solos for drums, like all other instruments, should have organization and continuty. His suggestions? Solo in phrases. To work on that concept he gives the reader exercises using two bar phrases, four bar solos, four bar solos using hi-hat with left foot, and four and eight bar solos in 3/4. He also divides paradiddles around the set, discusses four bar phrases that cross bar lines, and explores the concept of whole-chorus soloing. All in all, Bailey delivers some solid ideas upon which drummers can complile their own vocabulary.
    On the accompanying CD five songs are recorded with a fine jazz quartet and are presented with and without drums. Spaces where solos occur in the music include a click track that is loud enough to hear while soloing on top, giving the player a better understanding of where the beats are falling in the bar. At first I thought that this would be annoying, but for practicing purposes it's a nice touch.

Robin Tolleson