World Jazz Drumming - Book/Online Audio by Mark Walker

To preface: I had the opportunity to play with Mark's longtime musical partner Paquito D'Rivera a few years back, and that's how I first heard of Mark. Paquito liked my playing and suggested I take some lessons with Mark to "tighten a few things up". Unfortunately, he's in Boston, and I'm in Washington State, so it'd be a bit of a commute, lol! ;)While browsing the Vic Firth website one afternoon, I saw a series of lessons that Mark had filmed for them, and those videos alone made me want the book; Mark is a master of Latin percussion styles (there's a reason he's on staff at Berklee, folks!) and he plays them with such authenticity that it's mind boggling.The book/CD combo is very thorough, covering each style, where it's from, a little background on how it came to be, and appropriate uses for it. There are also variations on some grooves so you can learn to "add some flavor" instead of just playing the textbook version of the pattern.If I had one critique of the package, it would be that the audio samples of each groove (on the CD) are quite short; you only get a few bars to listen to it and soak it in, and then it's gone! It just feels a bit "rushed", and I think the student would be able to understand the grooves more thoroughly if they could hear 8 to 12 bars (or a few repetitions) of any pattern so they can really take it in. Other than that, it's a helpful and welcome addition to what is already a stellar book.If you're like me - intermediate-to-advanced player who wants to tighten things up and be exposed to TONS of world music styles to use on gigs - then GET THIS BOOK! It's money well spent. :D

I was knocked out by the impressive variety ofcore rhythms provided - over 40 rhythm "keys"are provided on CD and within the printed material,aimed toward unlocking major genres in different regionsof world music. Mr. Walker also has seeminglyimpeccable credentials as a student and practitionerin adapting these rhythms to the drumset, (Paquito D'Rivera!;The provided selected discography at the back of the bookis rife with notable, and very creative, world class players. The approach seems to me to be in providing practical,applicable foundations that touch on the core grooves.This seems much stronger and consistent throughout thanseveral other surveys I've seen. His focus is on "worldjazz", perhaps along the lines of Guillermo Klein, PabloZiegler; there's a lot of vocabulary to acquire here.Primarily South America and Caribbean (see list below). World Jazz Drumming Tango, Milonga, Chacarera,Candombe, Cumbia, Chande, Festejo,Lando, Marinera, Vals, Joropo "Por Corillo", Joropo "Por Derecho",Onda nueva, Merengue Venezolano, Samba, Samba Batucada, SambaPartido Alto, Baio,Afoxe, Afoxe "a Donato", Maracatu, Bossa Nova,March, Marcha Rancho, Calypso, "Old School" Soca, Dance Soca,Mazurka Pike. mazurka Nuit, Gwan Bele, Biguine,Bomba, Plena, Compa,Merengue, Mambo, Bembe, Songo, Timba, Danzon, Cha-cha-cha, Afro,Rumba Guaguanco, Reggae, (Jazz-brief overview)

World Jazz Drumming is an extremely comprehensive compilation of authentic rhythms from around the world...and then some!! Mark Walker's ability to convey how these rhythms can be used in proper context is well thought out, which he demonstrates with the accompanying CD. His ability to show how these rhythms (which often would be played by an entire percussion section) can be applied to the drum set will be quite useful for any player. Although I am currently using this book with some of my advanced students, I am also a student as I process this most excellent book.

Like most percussion/drum books it's limited but still useful. Some examples would have been better if a few more measures with permutations were written out. With the included CD fortunately there is some context to go along with the written parts.

Excellent book by great drummer Mark Walker. Useful as a reference to know all popular rhythms. Very good section of tips and audios.

Wer Latin/World Grooves lernen will, ist mit diesem Buch gut beraten. Mark Walker hat hier sehr interessante Variationen der traditionellen World-Grooves für das Drumset aufgeschrieben. Es ist allerdings eher für Fortgeschrittene und professionelle Drummer gedacht, weil bei einigen Grooves doch eine etwas höhere Koordination gefragt ist.Zusammen mit dem Buch "Worldbeat" von Lucas van Merwijk DAS Buch für Latingrooves am Set.