This is one of the best drumming videos that I have ever seen. You can sense the bond between you two and the chemistry of your precision playing. World class teacher and student who has rocked the world - Bravo
3 comments: 1) GSU drum department needs an offering of a coarse in buddy rich not related to private lesson focus 2) I use constantly principles I learned from Mr. Bell and are principles that I still work on today or this week in counting and rhythmic accuracy along with grip and approach right to the drum head 3) for only a semester I was a student at Berklee college in Boston fall 1994. I met John Blackwell jr. and this is before Atlanta in my life. Jim Chapping was invited to celebrate his 75th birthday ( I think that’s right) and gave a clinic and I was there first in line 6 hours before anyone. I got the seat right front center. Finally it starts announcer brings Jim on and he sits down says hello, talks about his life, knew buddy, about his jazz book, how his foot has gotten better in the last 10 years he had better control than ever, and so don’t stop trying, and then asks me to hold the hand out pages because for what ever reason there was not a music stand any where, so I held the pages and he drummed how to do his slap bounce grab instruction so I was two feet away. So, that ended after 5 minutes. And I sat down. He talked all through the going over the figures and such. Then he said he was gonna play the drum set for us, and took a time getting cymbals in place and he says I can start now sets the mic stand behind him and was going to play to some tracks of swings songs. Just before he plays, he deliberately stops, grabs the mic again, the fall of 1994, and says “Sonny Emory is the greatest living drummer.” Puts the mic back and played his deal. WOW Johnathan Foster .. so far all I could amount to was a bum. I do drum everyday. GODBLESS
Wow! Both of y’all have inspired countless drummers no doubt! Mr. Bell, I am an Atlanta native and studied with one your former students (a second generation student of yours in a way), and also admired your playing with the Atlanta Symphony for years. Mr. Emory, I saw one of your clinics in Atlanta and have been a fan ever since (I learned how to do open/close hi-hat swooshes with my foot from observing you). I teach and play semi-professionally. My students have gone on to major in music in college and pursue playing in various ensembles/churches. Safe to say Mr. Bell that your students’ students have impacted many musicians! Thank you both for this video!
