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Big Band Drumming: The Philosophy, the Function, and the History

Episode 96 of the DrumMantra Podcast

Even if you never end up playing in a big band, understanding its role in the evolution of the drumset is essential to your growth as a drummer.

The drumset was invented in the early 1900s—born out of the ragtime era, evolving through early jazz, and designed to serve the music. It wasn’t originally created to be a solo instrument—it was built to support, to connect, to drive the band. Understanding this lineage gives us a clearer picture of what our instrument is really meant to do.

In this episode, we explore how drummers function in a big band setting:

• From early press rolls on the snare in New Orleans…

• To the birth of the swing pattern, comping, and articulation

• To the modern big band context, where the drummer becomes both the engine and the glue holding 20 musicians together.

Big band drumming isn’t just about playing what’s on the chart. It’s about ...