The Commandments of R&B Drumming: A Comprehensive Guide to Soul, Funk and Hip Hop Raves!As if you needed another reason to buy the book, check out press, players, professors, industry and fan comments below... THE PRESS Modern
Drummer Magazine - ****1/2
Star Rating There are few who could undertake such journalism - and the list gets even shorter when you consider the requirement that author must perform on the attached CD. Thus, it is a relief to see Zoro’s name on this package. Anyone who has had the good fortune to have witnessed him with The New Edition, Bobby Brown, or Lenny Kravitz will verify that he’s The Man. The book contains historical overviews on soul, funk and hip-hop, all of which he breaks down into components. For example, Zoro examines the relevance to soul music of Latin, Gospel, and Second-line styles. Although his historical observations are on the money, he doesn’t dwell there. Contemporary styles get equal time. His transcriptions document virtually every rhythm cited in the text and Zoro offers practical and conceptual advice. For example, in a tips section on R&B grooves, he says: "Both hi-hat and ride cymbal work are the essence of the music, and are what makes the time flow and feel either smooth or jerky. It’s imperative that you spend considerable time refining that skill and developing finesse. This is the sort
of book you want to leave lying around, whether it be to gaze at the
photos of R&B pioneers, read some anecdote, check the listener’s
guides, or sink into instructional mode. Zoro has integrated the accompanying
CD perfectly with the text, and includes some often neglected areas,
such as how to weave buzz strokes into your grooves, or "Feel
Ideas Using Drumkit Voicings." Nor does he forget neglected drummers
like Yogi Horton or Sammy Creason. His writing style is candid and
engaging; his playing faultless. Highly recommend!!! Los Angeles drummer
Zoro parlayed stints with Bobby Brown, Lenny Kravitz, and others into The Commandments of R&B Drumming, an historical survey
of top drummers partnered with an instructional CD and lessons on
technique for funk, house, and hip hop percussion styles. Read this
invaluable tome and give the drummer some. Stop! Don’t
judge this book simply by its title and don’t assume that just
because you’re not a drummer, this book doesn’t have tons
to say to you! This may be one of the more innovative and well-designed
books I’ve encountered for some time. It contains more information
than you might imagine within this modest-sized book. For instance,
there is a marvelous full sized poster that provides you with an exhaustive
listing of major R&B musicians and drummers under the heading:
"R&B History Tree." It is as extensive as anything I’ve
encountered and does reflect both remarkable research and the labors
of someone who really understands his topic from first-hand knowledge.
A CD is also enclosed. But the remainder of the book is simply crammed
with an unimaginable amount of information. Don’t be mislead
by the casual appearance or the construction of this book. Once you
get past the notion that this is simply another one of the many books
out there that serves to satisfy some artist’s ego, you begin
to understand that there are many tidbits of crucial information contained
here. For instance, the final page is defined as " The Groove
Lines" and contains more than 100 citations of interviews of
notable drummers during the past twenty years. There are also numerous
quotes, extensive musical examples (both recorded and notated). In
addition to being the definitive book on the topic, it’s fun
to read. It’s written on extra-thick paper so that it stands
up to the rigorous demands of everyday use. But it’s also fun
and fresh - check it out! In the world
of parenting, few phrases are as dreaded as "Ma, I wanna drum
set for Christmas!" So if your the type of parent that has superman
tolerance for noise (or has a nanny, or is deaf, etc.) you get the
kid a drum set. What next? For the aspiring funk/R&B kids a good
place to start is Zoro’s The Commandments of R&B Drumming. Studio and session drummer extraordinaire, Zoro has written the
book to address to address drumming from several different approaches.
There are notated exercises, audio examples (on the included CD),
philosophy (quotes from established drummers are scattered throughout)
and suggested listening (each genre of drumming gets a top 10 list
of CDs to find). Each chapter even has a "what is hip" section
which recommends books and videos. Repertoire lists help aspiring
young drummers avoid embarrassing moments---"Whaddaya mean you
can’t play ‘Brickhouse’!? The included pull -out "R&B
History Family Tree" lays out some intertwined drumming history.
Also entertaining are photos of Zoro complete with hat and trademark
mustache, playing with Bobby Brown and Lenny Kravitz. This book is
a good way to stop your kid from mindless bashing and getting him
to play "Superfly." Zoro, the rhythm
and blues/funk drummer, has authored a practical, historical guide
to soul, funk, rhythm and blues and hip hop drumming. It includes
exercises that utilize concepts from each style, transcriptions of
grooves from important recordings, quotes from the originators of
each style, discographies and bibliographies with relevant material,
and a CD that demonstrates many musical examples found in the book.
One of the best features of the package is a pull-out poster that
outlines the lineage of each style, complete with the important drummers
and corresponding artists. Just learning which drummer played on which
recording was enlightening (as well as occasionally surprising). The
inclusion of the hip-hop section makes the book a very up-to-date
text, and Zoro’s snappy narrative helps to tie the whole package
together. This is a good text for those drummers wishing to study
the development of the drumming styles that permeate our everyday
lives. The Commandments’
real value is as a method book of R&B grooves and exercises that
Zoro perfected while performing with artists such as The New Edition,
Lenny Kravitz and Jody Watley. His material is well organized and
follows a logical progression, leading the reader through almost every
imaginable feel you would need to play on an R&B gig. The book
is accompanied by a CD, demonstrating many of the written exercises,
and also includes ensemble tracks, mixed with and without drums, allowing
the reader to play along. Zoro fleshes out the material with lists
of suggested albums to check out, tips about playing with drum machines
and keeping time, and a very cool pull-out time line poster that traces
the history of R&B drumming. Paying homage
to the pioneers of R&B drumming and codifying the style in a method
book is something that hadn’t been done until now. Zoro’s
enthusiasm for playing drums, coupled with his extensive experience
as a road and studio drummer, is infectious enough to make you read
the book ever if you don’t plan on practicing the licks. This
is a "state of the art" method book for drummers looking
to improve their chops in the R&B or soul music genre. The CD
full of examples is very well produced and gives the reader the true
feel of what the printed examples sound like, and the chronically
arranged fold out chart of R&B artists and drummers helps to keep
the perspective on where this style of music has come from (and where
It’s going). All in all, this book has a lot of historical information
not usually found in a method book. Congratulations to Zoro for a
job well done. Authoritative,
informative, educational, and absolutely fascinating reading. What
more could you ask for? Zoro’s book
goes a long way to fill the void in literature about some of the greatest
drummers of all time. Guys like Benny Benjamin, Al Jackson Jr., Jabo
Starks and Earl Young deserve their place in drum and music history
alongside Elvin Jones. Papa Jo Jones and Max Roach. A great and much
needed book! The process detailed
in this outstanding book is how you become a great drummer. You take
the inspiration from the music, and learn from the masters; Then you
apply your personality, creativity, and a focused practice routine,
to the music. Zoro has done just that, and now his insightful and
informative book will make it easier for everyone else to do the same.
He has succesfully brought down the commandments from the mountain
and delivered them to the world of drumming. This is a great book!!!! Zoro has authored
what may very well be the most insightful, absorbing, and thorough
text of the subject of R&B drumming ever written. A great
job and a must have for every serious student of drumming! Zoro put the
same fire into writing this book as he does playing his drums. Meticulously
researched! Dear Zoro, we
have your book at our retail store and it is Gr-r-r-r-e-a-t-t-t-t!!! It should become the instructional bible of R&B Drumming! I just received
a copy of The Commandments of R&B Drumming, and am very impressed
by it’s contents. Bravo! Hi Zoro, I just
wanted to drop you a note to let you know how impressed I am with
"The Commandments of R&B Drumming." I’ve read through
it and played a lot of the examples----and just had a ball doing it!
Congratulations. THE PLAYERS "The Commandments
of R&B Drumming" by my friend Zoro is compelling, irrepressible,
and thoroughly informative. It’s a "must have" book
for all musicians! Zoro has really
put the history, players and music in context along with accurate
examples for listening and playing along. A must for all players on
any level drummers or not. Zoro has definitely
done some serious homework!! His book is absolutely ridiculous and
the most comprehensive one on the subject of R&B drumming that
I have ever seen. A must have for all serious musicians. This book
is not only a masterpiece, but it’s practical as well as fun! Ground breaking
and cleverly thought out, Zoro’s book is not only a drum book
it’s also a history book and 156 pages of pure enjoyment. Whether
you are a beginning drummer or a pro, this is the book you need in
your repertoire of knowledge. I finally found out who the drummers
were on my all time favorite records, until now that priceless information
had remained a mystery. Old school and new school all in one book-------Z
you go boy!! This is the book
I’ve been waiting for! I can’t tell you how many times I
wondered who was playing drums on a particular record. Zoro’s
book is the urban drum bible!!! This book covers
a lot of history that I even forgot! Since I started playing in the
60’s reading it brought back a lot of fond memories. For those
of you that are truly serious about getting your drumming together
I urge you to go out and buy this great book immediately! Learning
the history of drums and music is of great importance no matter what
style it is and I consider Zoro’s book an essential investment! This book captures
the inner soul of all drummers. "Feel is the key to drumming
success and Zoro’s "Commandments of R&B Drumming"
is all feel and teaches us from the masters themselves! Zoro pulled out
all the stops on this one. The funk is fully covered in this book!!! Anyone who loves
R&B will love this book. The information on all the drummers is
worth the price alone! I’d like more of that…….Go Zoro!! Zoro’s book
brings back some long overdue attention to some of the unsung heroes
of the R&B world. There are so many great drummers mentioned in
this book that have been lost or forgotten. I’m into all the
information on the R&B greats that that is revealed throughout
this text and in the phenomenal history tree poster. The Commandments
of R&B Drumming is for real! I think it is very well researched
and that every drummer should have this as a study guide into that
style. The R&B drummer lineage poster is awesome as well! Until
now, no one has ever assembled such a monstrous project, it’s
obvious Zoro has respect for the pioneers. Hopefully all others who
purchase this book will have the same respect for the forefathers
of groove!! If you are interested
in R&B drumming then this is the book to get. Zoro gives you everything
you need to know in order to get the overall picture of the history
and style. He certainly did for me! Dear Zoro, just
read The Commandments of R&B Drumming. Nice going my friend! You
did a great job! Thanks again and congratulations! |
This site requires the latest version of Adobe Flash Player |
