Education
Modern Jazz Drum Solos to Learn: Ari Hoenig, Mark Guiliana, Brian Blade, Larnell Lewis and More
Oct
Bebop solos by Max Roach and Art Blakey are the foundation of jazz drumming, but today’s great drummers speak a different language. Odd groupings, metric modulation, gospel chops, electronic precision and Middle Eastern rhythms are all part of modern jazz drumming – and the fastest way to learn that language is the same as it has always been: transcribe the masters.
Here are twelve modern solos, grouped by what they teach, all available as note-for-note jazz drum solo transcriptions.
Ari Hoenig: melody and rhythmic illusions
Ari Hoenig is famous for playing melodies on the drum kit and for advanced rhythmic concepts, explored in his book Systems. His solos are full of phrases that cross the bar line and ideas that seem to change tempo while the pulse stays the same.
- The Other (♩ ≈ 115) – the most relaxed tempo, so it is the best one to start with.
- Rhythm (♩ ≈ 130) – inventive phrasing and motivic development.
- Arrows And Loops – intro and outro (♩ ≈ 130) – two solos on the same tune; compare how he opens and closes the piece.
How to practise: count out loud. When a phrase seems to shift the beat, keep tapping quarter notes with your foot so you never lose the real pulse.
Mark Guiliana: precision and odd meters
Mark Guiliana – known for David Bowie’s Blackstar and his work with Brad Mehldau and Avishai Cohen – plays with electronic-style precision. His solo on Odd Elegy, from Dhafer Youssef’s Diwan Of Beauty And Odd, is a great study in placement and odd-meter phrasing.
How to practise: work with a click at a slow tempo and aim for perfectly even dynamics – Guiliana’s sound depends on control.
Brian Blade: dynamics and storytelling
Brian Blade, drummer of the Wayne Shorter Quartet, plays like a storyteller. His solo on Jazz Crimes, from Joshua Redman’s Freedom in the Groove, is full of space, contrast and surprising accents.
How to practise: copy the dynamics, not only the notes. Mark loud and soft phrases on the page and exaggerate them.
Larnell Lewis and Dave Weckl: fusion and gospel chops
- The City Lights (♩ ≈ 160) – Larnell Lewis of Snarky Puppy, from his album Relive The Moment: fiery, modern and packed with gospel-influenced vocabulary.
- Hard Wired and Watch Your Step – Dave Weckl’s clean, technical fusion drumming, with linear patterns and perfect time.
How to practise: learn fast passages at half speed with relaxed hands. Speed comes from relaxation, not force.
Israeli jazz voices: Ofri Nehemya and Daniel Dor
Israel has produced some of the most exciting drummers in modern jazz, many of them connected with bassist Avishai Cohen.
- Sheva – Ofri Nehemya’s solo on a piece by Shachar Elnatan.
- Shlosre – Ofri Nehemya on an Avishai Cohen composition.
- C#- – Daniel Dor on another Avishai Cohen piece.
These solos mix modern jazz with Middle Eastern rhythmic feels – a fresh source of ideas if you mainly study American drummers.
A practice routine for any transcribed solo
- Listen to the solo five times before reading it.
- Mark phrases and repeated motifs on the sheet music.
- Learn two bars a day, slowly and evenly.
- Play along with the recording at full tempo only when the notes are secure.
- Take one favourite idea and improvise with it for ten minutes – that is how vocabulary becomes yours.
Get all twelve solos
The Modern Jazz Drum Solos Collection includes all twelve transcriptions at 35% off the single price. For the bebop foundations, see the Max Roach Drum Solo Transcriptions Collection.
Frequently asked questions
Which modern jazz drum solo should I learn first?
Ari Hoenig’s “The Other” has the most relaxed tempo, and Brian Blade’s “Jazz Crimes” is great for dynamics. Both are good starting points.
Are these complete solos?
Yes. Each solo is transcribed note-for-note from the recording, from start to finish.
Do I need to know bebop first?
It helps, but it isn’t required. Many drummers learn modern and bebop solos side by side.
Browse all jazz drum solo transcriptions, or order a custom drum transcription of a solo you love.
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