Mestres e pupilos

…When I was four years old, I got a record with Max on it, and that was the thing that said, “This is music – it’s not just about drums”. Max played melody and harmony and rhythm…
Marvin “Smitty” Smith on Max Roach

Jeff “Tain” Watts por Oliver Link

I’m pretty much self-taught on drum set. My teachers have been people like Elvin Jones or Roy Haynes, who let me sit behind them and watch how they produce their sound.
Jeff “Tain” Watts

Andrew Cyrille por Dominik Huber

But my friend had Max as his champion, and I met Philly Joe Jones, so just to have a hero of my own, I attached myself to Joe. But they didn’t give me any kind of lessons, I would just be on the scene watching them play.
Andrew Cyrille on Max Roach and Philly Joe Jones

Peter Erskine por Karen Miller

But what really surprised me was when I saw Art Blakey on the street. I imagined him to be this very tall man, because the records had such a big sound. When he played the drums, he was a giant.
Peter Erskine on Art Blakey


Big Sid Catlett was one of the first drummers to make people aware that drummers are musicians too.
Kenny Washington on Big Sid Catlett

(Fonte: Down Beat, Nov. 92)