The Way Big Band Drumming Should Be Played Driving! Exciting! Swinging!

As the drummer and leader of my Ken Loomer Big Band, it`s so important for me to drive the music with my drumming and support my fellow excellent musicians. First you must feel this music and have a great swing ride cymbal pulse that is strong. I want my drumming to be exciting so when I get a drum solo break, I want it to be interesting and have a good flow to what I`m playing. At one point I`m playing the melody on the snare drum with my press rolls. I have learned from the great Big Band drummers like Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Butch Miles, Sonny Payne, Jeff Hamilton, and Ed Shaughnessy that you must drive the Big Band and have the musicians feel your groove at all times. This song I`m playing is one of the last new arrangements that Buddy Rich played in 1986 called The Trolley Song. A very exciting arrangement done by Matt Harris and played so wonderful by my Big Band.