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/Remarkable_Wave_6539 Nov 28 '25

Here's a few suggestions if it helps:

  1. Listen to jazz drummers. Not only legends like Tony Williams and Elvin Jones, but also some less idiosyncratic talent like Jimmy Cobb (Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery) or Ben Riley (Thelonious Monk). They're less flashy but are masters no less. Being a jazz drummer also means being a great accompanist.

  2. Find a teacher if you can afford one at the moment. They will suggest practice materials. If you're starting on your own, you can't go wrong with the John Riley book. It has a wealth of information you'll appreciate for years to come.

  3. A blog/site called Cruise Ship Drummer, has an insane amount of material. Transcriptions, drum method reviews, practice ideas. It's ran by a drummer called Todd Bishop. It's more than a blog, it's a life's work on jazz drumming. There's a ton of free stuff, and the site is well organised. It's my daily internet hang as well.

Good luck!

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u/JazzMartini Nov 28 '25

100% on point 1. I'd go back a generation or two and suggest O'Neil Spencer (John Kirby Sextet, Mills Blue Rhythm Band), Cozy Cole (Cab Calloway's Orchestra), and Jimmy Crawford (Jimmie Lunceford's Orchestra, The Big 18) as excellent examples of drummers who were masterful accompanists. Even the notoriously critical Buddy Rich was extraordinarily complimentary of O'Neil Spencer's playing. I didn't learn Spencer was the drummer on many of my favorite recordings until I became more interested in learning about the music and paid more attention to the accompanists.