DRUMMER CAFE

Great posts - and great topic and all this talk of dynamic awareness applies to a lot more than just jazz playing IMO.

Bart's whole empahsis on listening I can't agree with more - there is a real tendancy to fall into "I'm hitting the drum and that's what it sounds like - so else can I do?". So beyond just "playing accents" or "feathering", I think one needs to have the broadest range of dynamic control available to oneself as can be mustered. Then really listen to the blend of the players around you - Am I too loud? Am I to soft? More bass drum? Less bass drum? - really listen and then really tweak the mix. If the bass drum is sounding like a big pig, ease off a bit from where you would normally play. Conversely, if it's not speaking right, you might have to dig in a bit more.  I'm constantly adjusting the balance between the various parts of the drum set to work better for moment that I'm in "right now".

And while the "right drum" tuned the "right way" can make this easier - rooms vary constantly and all over the place, so you still have to tweak alot even with all the right stuff. Me? I'm from the school of thought that says it's a good idea to be able to play bebop on ANY kit and rock on ANY kit - you just have to adjust your playing (mainly dynamics) to make each work the best you can.

As for the beater thing - I use a hard plastic beater 99.9% of the time and can play "brushes with feathering soft" - I just like the articulation I get from the hard beater. Impact pads are a whole other matter - it is very hard to play soft and still get the bass drum to "speak" with an impact pad... at least for me.  They just seem to force the drum into a mf or louder mode.

David

I wouldn't make a decision to "feather or not feather." Sometimes it adds a subtle drive that feels great and sometimes it is inappropriate. Let the song, section or even soloist decide.

If the tune is being played sparse and free in a small combo you probably just want the bass drum as another voice to add in here and there. On the other hand, adding a light feather right after a two measure break leading into a driving solo feels great on the right tune.

As Bart mentioned, let your ears decide 

+1 on the listening, and though I agree with DC, et al that you 'should' be able to 'do it on whatever kit', I've found that an old-skool rig helps me IMITATE the records I've been listening to and studying. My 2-headed 20" w/felt strips, tuned high, tells me more accurately when I'm getting the hang of what I've heard on record. It has helped me to 'get into the heads' of the guys on the records.

And now I better understand what the cats were doing, and also the evolution of that sound into the 'modern' sound and adaptation of the previous ideas.

But since I'm playing 99% old/dead music from particular eras, I like to play the old-skool rig.