It was time to circle back to Nate. It’s been since 2017.
And while I get a lot of comments to the tune of “why bother knowing ANYBODY’s beats? Why not just make up your own?” - encouraging me to explore the difference between having influences and copying others wholecloth - I’m going to assume most everybody reading this understands why we study the greats.
And Nate’s had a great step-wise career. When he was playing with Dave Holland, jazz nerds everywhere rejoiced.
When he joined Chris Potter’s Underground, we were like “yaaaaaay next chapter!”
But who anticipated the rocketship to mainstream stardom Vulfpeck and Fearless Flyers would launch? That’s why Nate now has a gaggle of new fans who only know him from the new stuff.
Well, allow me to be your tourguide through the multiple stages of Nate’s career. I’ll show you what I think are 5 essential Nate beats, as well as how to play them.
And if you’re the type of drummer who sees Nate play a flawless solos and thinks “I wish I could do that” - but instead feel like you’re tripping over yourself most days when you go for a fill or solo, you might be interested in 8020/Drumflow Coaching, an intensive 12-week live coaching cohort I’m running with my partner in crime, Jacob Evans. It’s open again for the first time since April, and if you’re one of the first 50 people to sign up, you’ll get a bonus 1:1 with me. (I never do those anymore.)
We made a video, with much more info.