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Why I don't hear bass drums on Jazz LPs?

I don't hear the bass drums during playback of a number of jazz LPs (Webster, Hawkins, Ellington, etc). I have Thiel 3.6 speakers powdered by Mark Levinson 23.5 amp. I can isolate the sound of bass drums on rock/pop LPs but not on jazz LPs unless drummer play solo in the middle parts.

 

I read somewhere this has to do with size of the bass drums used in 40s, 50s and another explanation was the way drummer play bass drums. I can clearly isolate the double bass, snare drums, and cymbals on jazz LPs, but hardly the bass drum. Let me know your experience with this issue. 

pwerahera
lewm
12,643 posts
 

Also Philly Joe Jones.

Connie Kay? And how can we forget Art Blakey?

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,562 posts
 

 

A good YouTube channel to watch is that of Ken Micallef. He's a Stereophile equipment reviewer, but has also written pieces for several of the drum magazines. He moved to NYC years ago to pursue a career as a drummer, but eventually decided he, as he put it in one video, "didn't have what it takes" (I paraphrase).

His videos are largely devoted to reviewing Jazz LP's, and discusses all the musicians in depth, including of course drummers. He REALLY knows his stuff.

 

coppy777
124 posts
 

This was an excellent thread.  Maybe the best I've read on this forum.

Thanks to all the contributors.

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bottomzone
3 posts
 

The kick drum is usually not prominent In classic "laid-back" jazz versus high-energy bebop and fusion where the kick drum is usually more prominent. 

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