Flamenco Drumset Article in MD

[drum4fun]

When I saw the Flamenco music article in Modern Drummer's June edition, I was excited because I have a friend, who is a Flamenco guitarist. I asked my music teacher about the article. My music teacher played some of the examples mentioned in the article. My music teacher has never played Flamenco music before but he is a solid musician. The examples in the article did not seem to "groove" to us. If anyone has read the article and has experience playing Flamenco music, can you share your comments regarding this article? Did the examples work for you? Do you have any other suggestions regarding playing drums with Flamenco music besides the ones mentioned in the article. Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 27, 2004 04:01 AM: Message edited by: drum4fun ]</font>

[Vdrummer]

I have not and I doubt many of us have had the opportunity to play with a flamenco guitarist. My guess would be that the fludity that you play the quintuplets, might make a difference in how well the patterns groove. The sticking provided has a natural dynamic shape (i.e. quieter on the double) that probably shouldn't be changed or flattened out. Also, I thought the fives were used to support the resqueado's (sp?), so playing them by themselves may not provide adequate context in which to judge the grooves. Perhaps someone here has another take on it.

Brad

[Randy walker]

I did a disc for a flamenco guitarist, but I did not play traditional, he wanted me to rock out against what he was playing. Live playing with him I had to play more tradional but I was playing a cajon.
Takes abit to get the patterns in your head and to your hands if you have never played this type of rhythm before, I know for me it did. Plus, I had to mock some things that the flamenco dancers were doing too.

[XNavyDrummer]

When I saw Marco Minneman play at the spud a few months back. He was working with JK Kleutgens on bass (from Vinnie's Cavemen CD) and two guys playing acoustic flamenco guitars. The flamenco patterns were a great setting for Marco's playing.

I grew up listening to flamenco since my mom was a professional flamenco dancer. It would be very cool to play in that setting.

[drum4fun]

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts on this topic.