A strong rhythm section does more than support an ensemble—it defines its feel, balance, and sense of time. Yet for many directors, especially those whose primary instrument is not in the rhythm section, diagnosing problems and guiding improvement can feel opaque.
In this workshop, I focus on practical listening strategies and conceptual frameworks that help rhythm sections function with greater clarity, cohesion, and intent. Rather than prescribing a single approach, I work from the premise that rhythm section playing is contextual, relational, and deeply tied to sound.
The session is modular by design. I typically offer the following topics as a menu, allowing participants to shape the discussion based on the needs of their students and ensembles:
- Rhythm section set-up and configuration
- Interpreting rhythm section notation without reading the page too literally
- Conceptualizing jazz guitar sound and role within the ensemble
- How guitarists and pianists can play together without clashing rhythmically or harmonically
- Piano accompanying in a jazz context
- How drummers set up ensemble figures
- Introducing students to historically and currently significant players on their instrument
- Listening strategies using classic jazz recordings
- Famous rhythm section combinations and what distinguishes them
- Managing multiple guitarists, pianists, and drummers within one ensemble
- Effective ride cymbal patterns
- Bass line construction and execution
Central to this workshop is the idea that students learn rhythm section playing most effectively through focused listening. To that end, I regularly reference a broad range of historically and stylistically significant musicians—not as a canon to be mastered, but as points of orientation.
Selected Rhythm Section Lineages
Pianists
Art Tatum, Nat Cole, Oscar Peterson, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Barry Harris, Hank Jones, Cedar Walton, Tommy Flanagan, Sonny Clark, Red Garland, Ahmad Jamal, Wynton Kelly, Horace Silver, Lennie Tristano, Bill Evans, Phineas Newborn, George Shearing, John Hicks, Harold Mabern, Kenny Drew, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Kenny Barron, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Joe Zawinul, Mulgrew Miller, Richie Beirach, Fred Hersch, Eddie Palmieri, Paul Bley, Kenny Kirkland.
Guitarists
Charlie Christian, Charlie Byrd, Barney Kessel, Grant Green, Freddie Green, Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, Jim Hall, Tal Farlow, Herb Ellis, Les Paul, Django Reinhardt, Jimmy Raney, Joe Pass, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Wayne Krantz, Bill Frisell, Ben Monder, John Abercrombie, Larry Coryell, Pat Metheny, Ed Bickert, Mick Goodrick, Ralph Towner.
Bassists
Oscar Pettiford, Paul Chambers, Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Dave Holland, Butch Warren, Sam Jones, Buster Williams, Richard Davis, Jimmy Garrison, Steve Davis, Reggie Workman, Wilbur Ware, Doug Watkins, Charles Mingus, Bob Cranshaw, Scott LaFaro, Eddie Gomez, Marc Johnson, Rufus Reid, Charles Fambrough, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Charlie Haden, Ray Drummond, Christian McBride.
Drummers
Papa Jo Jones, Kenny Clarke, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Art Taylor, “Philly” Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Jimmy Cobb, Tony Williams, Roy Haynes, Billy Higgins, Danny Richmond, Al Foster, Mel Lewis, Ralph Peterson, Jon Christensen, Victor Lewis, Louis Hayes, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Chambers, Carl Allen, Vernell Fournier, Adam Nussbaum, Steve Gadd, Jeff Watts, Brian Blade, Rudy Royston.
PowerPoint Presentation: Rhythm Section Solutions