I was first exposed to the Samba while playing in stage bands, in high school, college, and the U.S. Army Band. In contemporary big bands, you’re required to play a really wide variety of drumming styles, making it extra challenging. These styles can include latin styles like Bossa Nova, Songo and Samba, as well as Swing, Bebop and Funk.
When I first started learning to play the Samba, I practiced ostinatos with my right hand, and independent left hand figures over a Samba bass and high hat pattern. Then, when I was at the Armed Forces School Of Music, I met a drummer from Puerto Rico. He watched me play the Samba, then demonstrated it for me. He said I needed to loosen up more and get away from the right hand ostinato.
After that experience, I started practicing rhythms where the right hand basically takes the lead. The left hand doubles some of the right hand notes or fills in notes between the right hand notes. Sometimes the rhythm is just broken up between the two hands. This is more of an interactive approach.
I never studied latin drumming formally. I used to be really paranoid that I didn’t play the Samba correctly. However, I had a couple of performing experiences that showed me that I really knew what I was doing. The first was while I was still in the Army Band. I got to play with a bass player from Puerto Rico. I asked him several times as we performed together if my Samba style sounded correct. My bass player friend would reassure me and tell me I sounded fantastic.
The next was performing in Kansas City with a steel drum band. The band leader told me he’d only played with one other drummer in Kansas City who really played latin music correctly. The other drummer was Doug Auwarter. Doug is a latin percussion guru. He’s written books on latin drumming, and has performed in Brazil many times. So for another musician to put my latin drumming in the same class as his was a really huge compliment!
I hope you found this drum lesson helpful. Feel free to contact me with questions or comments.
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