During my studies at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, I developed a deep fascination with music composed by jazz drummers. Alongside drumming, I’ve always had a passion for composing, although it sometimes felt different due to my background as a drummer. While it’s now common for drummers to compose, this wasn’t in the past always the case. 

The drum set is primarily a rhythmic instrument and for that reason I was curious about the approaches drummers take when composing jazz tunes. Do they compose at the piano or guitar? Do they start by singing a melody, creating a bass line or harmonically? Or do they begin with ideas that emerge directly from the drums?

Many drummers, in addition to their roles as sidemen, have also taken on bandleader positions, gaining the freedom to create and showcase beautiful original music. Exploring these questions mentioned above led me to discover a wealth of compositions by drummers, which I researched to better understand their unique approaches to composing. Inspired by their techniques, I began applying them to my own work. Because I felt that their music was rarely performed and relatively unknown in the jazz world, I was inspired to create a new project, also because I wanted to share these compositions and make them accessible to a wider audience.

I then created the project ‘Stick to Sticks’ with the goal of performing music exclusively composed by drummers. This project has now been already active for two years, and our first record, Something Different, marks the opening chapter for us as a band.

Something Different is also a song I composed during this process, and I found it to be the perfect title for both the record and the concept. Something Different signifies a turning point for me—a moment to create something new. The title track, in particular, was the first composition I wrote starting with the drums.

Below, you can read a brief story and learn more about the tunes featured on the record. I hope you enjoy—or have enjoyed—listening to it.

Michele Pazzini

1. Respect for Truth is a jazz composition by Ralph Peterson, a prolific bandleader, composer, and musician. Over his career, Ralph has released numerous records, showcasing his creative and dynamic approach to jazz. Early in his career, Art Blakey personally selected him as the second drummer for the legendary Jazz Messengers, and Ralph continued performing with the band after Blakey’s passing. “Respect for Truth” is an homage to Art Blakey. This tune is inspired by the grounded sound of the Hubbard-Shorter period of 1962-63, embodying a high-energy and post-bop character. I chose this piece because of its style and it honors one of jazz drumming’s legends.

2. Something Different during my time as a master’s student at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, I researched a lot of music composed by jazz drummers, exploring not only the music itself but also how drummers approach composition. I discovered that many of them begin with a melody, bass line idea or an harmonic framework. But some of them start with the drumset instead, more specifically from a groove or a comping idea. This inspired me to experiment with starting a composition from the drums to see how it might shape my music. “Something Different” is an example of this approach. I began with a groove idea—actually, an exercise—and built it into a full song. For the first time, I created a piece that was rhythmically more complex than my previous work. This track has become a new starting point for my vision as both a composer and drummer, and I felt it was the perfect song to include on this record and I found it the perfect title for this album.

3. Trieste is a composition by jazz drummer Paul Motian, first introduced in 1982. Motian has played this tune in different ways and with different projects. I encountered the piece for the first time through Branford Marsalis’ quartet, and I instantly fell in love with it. In addition to its musical allure, “Trieste” shares its name with an Italian city to which I feel a personal connection. The composition features a lyrical melody set against a complex yet beautiful harmony, a hallmark of Motian’s style. Trieste has become the ballad of the record.

4. Indigo Dreamscapes is a song from Jack DeJohnette. He is not only renowned as a great drummer but also as an amazing pianist and composer. His unique ability to play both instruments enables him to create compositions rich in melodic depth and rhythmic complexity. “Indigo Dreamscapes” is one such piece, where DeJohnette blends his jazz drumming background with elements of electronic and acoustic fusion. Arranging this composition for a guitar trio proved challenging. Jim came up with the brilliant idea to reconnect with the original version by applying effects to the theme, and I absolutely loved it. The final result of this song is a jazz-funky and energetic interpretation.

5. Hey, It’s Me You Are Talking To is a composition by American drummer and composer Victor Lewis, widely recognized in the jazz world and often considered almost a standard. Many artists have interpreted it in various ways, making it perhaps the most frequently performed tune written by a modern jazz drummer. I wanted to include this piece on the album to offer our own interpretation of it. Moreover, as a well-known composition written by a drummer, I felt it was important to feature it on the record

6. Muphkin Man is a composition by one of my favorite jazz drummers, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts. When I first discovered Jeff as a drummer, I was completely blown away by his distinctive style. His playing is full of energy, precision, and groove, yet always deeply musical. When I discovered that he was also a composer and had released albums as a bandleader, I tried to collect all his CD’s. Jeff’s compositions reflect the same qualities as his drumming: groovy, rhythmic, complex and yet highly melodic. “Muphkin Man” is a perfect example of this. It’s a slow, soulful tune that tells the story of a particular type of person. With a relaxed, unpretentious attitude, this character’s cool demeanor and impressive skills make him effortlessly stand out from any crowd. For me, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts has been a constant source of inspiration—not only as a drummer, but also as a composer and bandleader. Including one of his compositions on my record felt essential, as his work has had such a profound influence on my musical journey.

7. Sypri is a song composed for my first two cats in Holland, Pripi and Syppie. I began writing the piece by capturing the character of Pripi, and I still vividly remember her climbing the stairs of our apartment in The Hague with wild energy—that’s what inspired the intro. But Pripi also had a sweet side. When she passed away, we adopted Syppie as a kitten. Like Pripi, Syppie had that same mix of wildness, sweetness, and curiosity. The theme of the song is dedicated to her. Though the idea for this piece originated from a rhythmic perspective, it ultimately reflects the energy, as well as the sorrow, of my cats.”

8. Stick to Mallets is a drum solo that was improvised in the moment. I wanted to end the album with a track composed and played entirely on drums. It felt fitting to close the album this way, as drums are the heart of this project—starting and ending it all.

Enjoy the record!