Tuesday night, I and the rest of my jazz ensemble had the great pleasure of having jazz drummer and band leader Jae Sinnett not only sit in on our rehearsal and give us useful tips, but thereafter treat us and other students to an intimate (free!) concert with his trio, appropriately titled the Jae Sinnett Trio. The audience consisted of approximately 20 people, so I do mean intimate. Jae on the drums, piano, upright and electric bass. It was an incredibly loose atmosphere, and it was apparent that the band took musical liberties that they may not have in a larger venue. It was clear they were having a blast. I only wish the audience was more enthusiastic- I think I was the liveliest one not on stage.
After the show, I thanked Jae for the fantastic music and for his advice during class. I then told him that I wish I had money so that I could purchase his new album, It's Telling...a Drummer's Perspective, and he gave me a free copy. Class act, that man!
As I found out upon taking it home and playing it, the entirety of the album is wonderful. All the songs were composed by Sinnett, and his subtle, solid drumming perfectly shapes each piece. He'll often begin a song with an understated drum intro, to have the piano and bass come in soon afterward. It is a very cool album. Extraordinarily, unlike so many drummer-come-band leaders, Sinnett does not like to draw attention to himself, but on this venture, he has brought his drumming more to the fore--not to say that he has given himself the spotlight in any way, but he has allowed himself to showcase his masterful technique. Explaining this stylistic shift, Sinnett has said:
All songs on the album are written by Sinnett, and apart from being personal ("Crescent City Undercurrents" tracks New Orlean's musical history, its destruction, and hope for renewal), they are also quite varied in their time and rhythm; the title track is in 6/8 time, "Cliffhanger" manages a serious groove in 7/8 time, and "Truth be Told" switches between 9/8 and 5/8. In my opinion, anyone who can be that funky in 5/4 or 7/8 is OK.
Fantastic man, fantastic drummer, and a fantastic album.
Listen to a couple songs from It's Telling:
Truth Be Told
It's Telling
After the show, I thanked Jae for the fantastic music and for his advice during class. I then told him that I wish I had money so that I could purchase his new album, It's Telling...a Drummer's Perspective, and he gave me a free copy. Class act, that man!
As I found out upon taking it home and playing it, the entirety of the album is wonderful. All the songs were composed by Sinnett, and his subtle, solid drumming perfectly shapes each piece. He'll often begin a song with an understated drum intro, to have the piano and bass come in soon afterward. It is a very cool album. Extraordinarily, unlike so many drummer-come-band leaders, Sinnett does not like to draw attention to himself, but on this venture, he has brought his drumming more to the fore--not to say that he has given himself the spotlight in any way, but he has allowed himself to showcase his masterful technique. Explaining this stylistic shift, Sinnett has said:
“A while back I had a conversation with drummer Steve Smith…He said I should
bring the drums more out front because the drummers want to hear me play.
Open
up more. I thought about that for a long time...On 'It’s Telling…' the
drums are
shaping the direction of each composition and certainly more out
front.”
All songs on the album are written by Sinnett, and apart from being personal ("Crescent City Undercurrents" tracks New Orlean's musical history, its destruction, and hope for renewal), they are also quite varied in their time and rhythm; the title track is in 6/8 time, "Cliffhanger" manages a serious groove in 7/8 time, and "Truth be Told" switches between 9/8 and 5/8. In my opinion, anyone who can be that funky in 5/4 or 7/8 is OK.
Fantastic man, fantastic drummer, and a fantastic album.
Listen to a couple songs from It's Telling:
Truth Be Told
It's Telling
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