Presented by local jazz drummer and music educator Alex Platt, we will focus on the history of jazz leading up to the post-bop era, the evolution of modern jazz beats, and the critical role of the ride cymbal in time-keeping. Various nuances of these beats, and the sociocultural influences surrounding them, will be discussed along with real-time demonstrations and video examples. Ear protection is advised for those with sensitive hearing. Taking notes is highly recommended!

Alex Platt

Alex Platt began playing the drums at the age of 10, began gigging professionally at the age of 13, and along with his prodigious younger brother Adam Platt (piano), started his career early in life opening jazz festival shows for international jazz stars like Ahmad Jamal, Diana Krall, Giacomo Gates, Lew Soloff, Mose Allison, Danny Gottlieb, and many others. He went on to study with drum legends Joe LaBarbara, Mike Clark, Tootie Heath, Rick Latham, Dave Elitch, Jeff Hamilton, and received his performance degree in Jazz and African-American Music from the California Institute of the Arts in 2001.

He has performed and/or recorded with jazz artists such as trumpet legend Jack Walrath, bassist Bob Bowman, Oranyon Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, Brad Rabuchin, trumpet virtuoso Jens Lindeman (Royal Canadian Brass), Grammy Award-winning saxophonist/pianist/arranger Matt Catingub, Grammy Award-winning concert percussionist David Johnson, as well as Cole and the Thornes (winners of the American Songwriter Award 2026) country artist Stephanie Quayle, soul/funk impresario Big Joe Hurt, Persian legends Bahram Bajelan and Mehrdad Arabi, Jake Faulkner and Zac Sokolow of The Americans, Christian Lee Hutson, and many others. He has served as faculty at the world-renowned Stanford Jazz Workshop, and has also been co-nominated for a regional Emmy award on the PBS show “11th and Grant.”