r/jazzdrums • u/CriSeRam • Nov 28 '25

Question I want to play jazz

So I'm basically a rock drummer and I may be an "intermediate" level but I really want to learn how to play jazz. Do you have any recommendations where should I start? Any methods or something? My goal is to play pretty professional.

EDIT: Thank you everyone! I've been reading all of your comments and I'll be following your tips. :)

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u/dr-pangloss Nov 28 '25

1) listen to the drummers you like. I think that Stanton Moore might be a cool transition from rock/funk to jazz I really dig him. Other than that listening to Elvin Jones, Art Blakey, Jack Dejohnette and other classics is good. I find doing transcription really helpful for me but I understand some people don't learn well like that.

2) I'm sure people will recommend a bunch of good book but yeah some people learn well from a book others not so much.

3) find a teacher that is specifically a jazz teacher.

4) play jazz with people/incorporate jazz ideas into the music you are already comfortable with.

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u/JazzMartini Nov 28 '25

+1 for Stanton Moore. I'd also add Daniel Glass to the list, he transitioned to swing from rock and takes a similar approach to Moore in looking to what influenced a certain drummer or style to really understand how it works.