Improve your jazz drumming today

1. Don't play a backbeat as you would in a rock tune. Alternatively, you can play a shuffle or cross stick on 2 and 4 instead. 
2. Lower the amount of comping chatter and the snare and bass drum. Play half as much, sound twice as good.
3. Do I hear your bass drum keeping time? Boo! The bassist is going to glare at you. Feather it or leave it out.
4. Flexible wrist on the ride cymbal. Without flexibility you are ruining your swing feel and cymbal tone. And you are likely playing too loud as well.
5. Tame down the amount of tom comping. A little goes a long way.
6. Not too many theatrics on the throne. Moving too much is distracting to yourself and band mates. Good posture is important for endurance. 
7. Straighten out the 8th notes in your solos. Great ideas here. Accent studies in the book "Syncopation" will be helpful here. 
8. Leaving space in your jazz solos is imperative for your ideas to develop and make sense. And more importantly, be understood by the audience. 
9. Playing too damn loud. Join a heavy metal band. Quincy has insight on using accents. 
10. Intensity before passive creativity. The band needs clarity and intensity from the ride cymbal and firm backbeat from the high-hat. "Drive the bus!"

Now go watch the video and then head for the "shed".
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Thank you, Quincy

David