204 – Kenny Washington: Speaking the language of Jazz

Kenny Washington is a Jazz Legend. The 58 year old Brooklyn born, Staten Island-bread drummer has played behind Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Ahmad Jamal and a never-ending list of amazing players. Washington has a strong interest in jazz history; he’s written liner notes for and/or helped prepare classic jazz re-releases by Art Blakey and Count Basie, among others. He’s also taught jazz drumming at the New School in New York City, and worked as an announcer at the New Jersey jazz radio station WBGO.

“Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse.” – Winston Churchill (Tweet this)

Kenny Washington Talks about:

• Getting Started playing drums
• Honoring the tradition of jazz
• Applying melody to the kit
• Learning and applying rudiments
• The difference between players now and years ago
• Much more

Resources / Links / People mentioned

• Contact Kenny Washington: KWJazzManiac2[at]hotmail[dot]com
• Ahmad Jamal 
• Hank Jones 
• Milt Hinton
• Jack DeJohnette 
• Domonic Cuccia
• The Engine Room: A History of Jazz Drumming from Storyville to 52nd Street
• Arsenault Twenty-six Standard Rudiments recordings 
• The Soul of Jazz Percussion 

Kenny Washington Plays:

• Canopus Drums
• Regal Tip Drumsticks
• Zildjian Cymbals
  • Kenny’s signature “Bounce Ride”

Drummer’s Resource Podcast is free thanks to:

DW Drums: I’ve been playing DW for years…not only because they make high-quality, handcrafted drums but because they support and foster drumming initiatives all over the wold, much like this podcast. I’m thrilled to announce that DW has signed on to support Drummer’s Reosource for 2016! Be sure to check them out today and DWDrums.com.

Sabian Cymbals: Sabian has just released more “Big and Ugly” cymbals to their line, including 18” AA Sick Hats (super dry and 28 holes for virtually no airlock) plus more Big and Ugly’s like the 14″ and 16″ AA Apollo Hats, the 14″ XSR Monarch Hats. As if that wasn’t enough, they also have crash-friendly sizes like the 18″ and 20″ Apollo and XSR Monarch. Check ’em at at Sabian.com/bigugly

Promark Drumsticks: Promark is Is now a sponsor of the podcast once again they were last year and now they are again. they just released the Mike Portnoy signature model that has the active grip 420X at it’s designed to add more power to your arsenal and features the heat activated technology. It’s s an awesome technology that actually adjusts to your body temperature and give you control you need so no matter how hard you play the active grip is going to help you handle it by getting tackier as it warms up. You can learn more about this great technology and the Mike Portnoy stick at Promark.com