the official blog of the Percussive Arts Society

This short solo is inspired by the grooves of New Orleans and the drummers who inspire me including Stanton Moore, Herlin Riley, Zigaboo Modeliste, and countless others. Besides accurately playing the notes, please listen to some of the legends and aim to capture the feel of “playing between the cracks.” Feel free to change any sticking or add any additional ornaments (buzzes, drags, etc.) to make this more authentic. Please note that all notated rimshots are typically ping shots, playing closer to the bead of the stick.

Dr. Christopher Butler is a percussion educator, artist, conductor, author, and composer with experience in all facets of percussion. He is an Associate Professor of Practice and Director of Percussion Activities at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, Ill.). He has presented and performed at a multitude of international conferences and contemporary music festivals including PASIC and the Outside the Box New Music Festival. His compositions and methods for percussion are published through Tapspace Publications, Blueshift Music, and Meredith Music. He also serves as the president of the Illinois PAS chapter.