Intro and brief history of New Orleans 2nd line drumming
Jeffrey Clemens of G.Love & Special Sauce, a native of Massachusetts, spent many years calling New Orleans his home...all up until the infamous Hurricane Katrina, in Clemens words: "...washed away the "spookiness, ghosts and cob webs of New Orleans". While living there, Clemens soaked up the laid-back culture and unique style of music, dubbed "2nd Line", of the city. Here Clemens provides a brief intro to the history, key players and a beginner lesson on New Orleans 2nd line drumming. Into Exercises to Second-Line drumming
"Here is a bit of history in regards to the great style of New Orleans 2nd line drumming. This is really a general overview with some names and stats. In case anyone cares to do more research, you can go to Google, or any search engine on the internet and put in any of the names below to find out more. Have fun!!" What is New Orleans 2nd line drumming?"Well, in musical terms it's the syncopated rhythm and a by-product of Jazz. Parade bands (consisting of a bass drummer, snare drummer, tuba, trombones, trumpets and saxophones) formed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. French and Spanish rule of New Orleans collided with the influx of European immigrants, and post-slavery African-American roots. This 'mixing of races', is the single most important element of the distinct rolling rhythms of 2nd line parade music. This rhythm, a signature to New Orleans music, is still one of the most important threads to the sound and feel of New Orleans, both past and present." Long before "Jazz" was even a word or style of music, the early days of colonial New Orleans were celebrated with events that included these marching bands, indigenous to New Orleans...ranging from lavish balls, society gatherings, parades, and jazz funerals. Traditionally, what happens at a New Orleans "Jazz Funeral"?"Well, the mourners, who are in the 'front line' of the procession, along with a New Orleans brass (marching) band, who line up in the '2nd line', or behind the mourners, meet at the place of eulogy or funeral parlor. At the end of the service, the band generally leads the mourners in a slow procession thru the neighborhood and to the cemetery, playing somber traditional gospel hymns, with a slow tempo (usually referred to as a durge) with no improvisation. Examples of this would be, "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" or "St. James Infirmary"." "However, on the way back from the cemetery, after a respectful distance is established (for the person layed to rest), the lead trumpet player will play a two-tone signal (usually twice), to fire up the band in an up-tempo celebratory "2nd line", or fast rolling and funky street parade beat. Examples of this would be, "When the Saints Go Marching In", or "Little Liza Jane"." Where else would you find these brass bands playing?For the last hundred years, and still running, you can hear this style of music all over New Orleans every day and night at Mardi Gras parades, social and pleasure club parades, during "super-Sunday" parades, white buffalo day celebrations, and in bars and music clubs... everywhere!!!" Key Players/Groups in New Orleans 2nd line parade bands"As far as the parade bands, some of the more popular New Orleans parade bands were, and would be: The Eureka Brass Band, The Olympia Brass Band, The Young Tuxedo Brass Band, The Imperial Brass Band and The Treme Brass Band....and more recently: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Rebirth Brass Band, The New Birth Brass Band, The Hot Eight Brass Band and The Soul Rebel Brass Band." "Some of the formidable players in these parade bands would be Paul Barbaran, Lionel "Uncle Lionel' Batiste, Benny Jones, Jenell Marshall, Keith Frazier, AJ Malloy, Norwood "Gitchie" Gohnson, Tuba Fats and Derrick Tabb." Key Player's who brought the N.O. 2nd line style of drumming to the drum set"Possibly, the earliest example of a "trap set" drummer to play in the style of New Orleans 2nd line was Baby Dodds....back when a hi-hat was still called a "sock cymbal"! Baby Dodds was an innovator for a few reasons... when he played with King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Fate Marable, Jelly Roll Morton, and many others...he was one of the first to play a 'ride' cymbal, and even play melodic patterns on the tom toms." "Another of the great early trap set players was Zutty Singleton. Zutty played with many bands and even led his own band in the mid to late 1920's before moving to New York to play behind Louis Armstrong. Zutty also played with Mezz Mezzrow, Sidney Bechet, Fats Waller, and, he like Baby Dodds, played with Fate Marable and as mentioned, Louis Armstrong." Some other very important drum set drummers who influenced New Orleans music in the last 50 years include: Earl Palmer, Vernell Fournier, Smokey Johnson, Idris Mohammed, Joseph "Ziggy" Modeliste, Herman Ernest, Herlin Riley, Shannon Powell, Johnny Vidacovich Terence Higgins, Willie Green, and Freddy Stahle and Stanton Moore." Some cool recordings to check out would be:
"It Aint My Fault"-Smokey Johnson "Again, this is a very general overview of some of the history of New Orleans drumming. I could keep you here for hours explaining the history, players, techniques etc. N.O. 2nd line is totally indigenous, very unique, and unto itself...I hope I have sparked some interest for you to further research it and discover this great style of drumming for yourself!" Jeffrey Clemens uses the Vater Sweet Ride, Retractable Wire Brush and Vintage Bomber Beater. 
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