PBennett wrote:

Hi Paul,
When I read that Jim was not feeling well, I thought I would pass on a brief story that my late father, Larry Bennett, told me of the times he played at the Hickory House with Jim... One time, as a young chef, I had asked my father what was it like to be a jazz musician in NY in the 40’s. He smiled and smirked and then simply said “the steaks used to throw their hotel keys up on the stage for us.” What more had to be said…
Hope Jim feels better soon. Regards – Son of a Bass Fiddle Player

What an amazing story! I will soon be printing the new forum entries and sending them to Jim! He loves reading them all. Keep posting and supporting Jim!

Hi Jim,

I met you a couple of years ago in Stratford upon avon in the UK, where you held a master Class. A year or so later i had a lesson with you at Robin Payne's studio, followed by a second lesson when you came over to the UK again a couple of years later. I had a copy of Advanced Techniques for the modern drummer Volume II which you signed for me, I don't know if you remember me.

Firstly I would like to send you my very best wishes and hope you are recoverying. I thought you might like to know that i still regularly think about the lessons I had with you and each time I do I always smile and want to practice more, those lessons were some of the most inspiring experiences i've had in my life.

All the very best from your eternal student.

Mark

Hi Jim,
Just found your website, glad to hear you're still alive!
My dad Joe Sr is also still alive and living with my Mom in Yonkers. He's 95 and she's 90.
He still is driving his car and bought a computer (he added the additional 4 year warranty, still optimistic).
His email is . 914-237-8583.
Joey and I are still pretty busy despite the Dj's eating away at the business.
You were a big part of our early and current sucess.
We have a webpage CarouselEntertainment.com.
My Dad just found a pix of the 4 of us doing a gig in 1978.
I'll put it up on the site as soon as I get it.
I just retired from FDNY (20 years). Life is good.
Playing golf, now that I have time and was 1 over par on the front 9 the other day.
11 over on the back, (Oh well). You taught and got me started out at Sag Harbor.
Hope to hear from you,
Jimmy Cunningham

Jim, you are the MAN!

We need guys like you and Joe Morello to keep jazz drumming alive.

It's incredible that you're not a household name. Really a shame because you deserve it.

Thanks and keep drumming!

Dave

Hi Jim,

Let's get back on the road with Glen Gray.
Trust that all is well,
Happy 4th of Jully

Your Pal,
Billy Dennison
609-645-7226

What a wonderful privilege to be able to send a note to you, Mr. Chapin. I loved working my way through your book, and back when I was teaching my students did the same.

I have one question for you. In your bio you listed some of the great NYC drummers you were able to see live. I've always been fascinated by Chick Webb. But I've never seen a real analysis of his playing by someone capable of really studying and relaying what he did. Although of course a lot can be gleaned from his recordings, photos of him behind the drumset leave me puzzled -- they are all so different! And he predated a lot of modern techniques we take for granted, so some of what he did seems to have been of his own invention (gooseneck cymbal stands??? How on earth do you even play on those???). The live aircheck from 1939(?) of Liza with Roy Eldridge is utterly astonishing and I'm not even sure I could faithfully transcribe it. I'm curious to hear your memories of Chick, since you are such a real master of the drums and take its intricacies so seriously... I think you could shed light on his playing in ways that nobody else could. Might you give it a shot?

Best wishes,
Scott

I will be 39 in march, and I just bought my first drum set. I will be searching the internet to study your lessons. I enjoy your enthusiasm that you have for drums in the recipe's I have watched. Oh yeah. Will the Moeller technique work with someone that has smaller hands?

From Guy Gelso
I spent many wonderful lessons with Jim in New York at the old Long Island Drum Centers. His lessons on the Moeller stroke are the reason at 57 I still play relaxed & pain delicious after all these years. We became friends, and I treasure that friendship as one of the highlights of my drumming career.

I remember after lessons one day he said am I going to the Dave Wechl clinic in Manhatten and I said yes and he asked if he could hook up and go see it together.

There we were in the room filled with some of the top drummers in the NY area and Dave took the stage, the first thing he did was acknowledge Jim was in the house, and was one of masters of drumming and everybody in the room could learn some valuable things from him and his books. Everbody was in awe of Jim asking him questions on his techniques all night.

On the way home Jim says, "That's why I go to those things so the young ones can pump me up a bit". And he clearly meant it in a joking, humble way. A way of making light of his embarrasment at being singled out like that.

Jim, I love you and want you to know I think about you all the time and am always keeping up on your health/life.

Keep on playing 'till the cows come home, my friend, and when you can't anymore I will do it for you in your honor...Guy

Hi Jim! I am an Italian drummer and I am in new york for a while! One of my dreams is to take some private lesson from you!! Please let me know if it's possible! I look forward to hearing from you!

Antonio!

When I heard that Jim was not feeling well, I wanted to take a minute to say what Jim has meant to me.

I have never gotten a chance to meet Jim. But I picked up his book as a boy and now many years later, everything I do on the drum kit goes back to the lessons I have learned from Jim's books , his recipe and seeing him with Dom. He has been an inspiration to many who have known him persnoally or just through his work. Hope you feel well soon Jim, God speed and know that you are well-loved by all those whose lives you have touched.

Hi Jim,
Thanks for your books, I have volume 1 (since long time) and 2. They are great.
I wish you a succesfull recover and a good health.
Greetings from Amsterdam

I can never play or practice without thinking and thanking Jim for all that he has shared.

Words cannot express the loss I feel.
have been in frequent contact with Jim until the near end last week.
He was the "Father of Drumming" in my life and I was his "daughter of drumming."
I do not know how far I would have gone in music had it not been for his continual encouragement to battle the numerous gender biases I encountered I always had to prove my playing and that worked quite quick as soon as I sat down to a kit and did not play like “a steak.”
As of yesterday, I found out Jim bragged on me a lot. Such news reminded me of how any proud poppa speak of one on one of his "children." I realized last night I cannot call Jim anymore and hear his anxious greeting,” Are you still playing?” and his closure, “I love you”
Drumming was the spark which ignited Jim’s soul enabling it to radiate as bright as the brightest turnips in the heavens. As of July 4th, 2009, Jim Chapin joined the ranks of the luminescent creations of the heavens now glowing radiantly down upon us.
I love you as my friend, mentor and teacher, Jim. You will be greatly missed.
-Julie Grocki

This message is to Jim's family.

I am one of probably several thousand drummers who were familiar with Jim Chapin in the context of his life's work, and I wanted to share our heartfelt condolences on their behalf. For every one of us that shares how much Jim influenced our lives, there are hundreds more who are feeling it, and putting it into their playing.

Most of us never had the pleasure of knowing him personally, and relatively few of us had the opportunity to see him live. But so much of what we do every day is influenced by his tremendous accomplishments as a drummer, teacher, advocate and enthusiast. He is one of the giants that all of today's players are building on the shoulders of, whether they are aware of it or not.

I am one of the lucky ones who had the pleasure of seeing and hearing Jim at the First Annual Buddy Rich Memorial scholarship Concert back in--what was it--1990? I wouldn't trade that gift for anything.

My heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Jim Chapin, and the family that brought such love to a man who deserved every bit of it. What a tremendous life well-lived. I will do a cilantro scatting while I play, in his honor.

Kind Regards,
Scott Will

My name is Mike Bocchino. I'm 54 years old and I was a student of Sam D'Amico here in South Philly. Sam was a student of Mr. Chapin's and they remained life long friends. Sam studied with "Jim" back in the 50's. Once a week he would take a bus from Philly to Manhattan then a subway to Jim's apartment. That's dedication to your art.
Sam's office wall's were lined with pictures of musician friends and when looking around one day last year I asked Sam when he saw Jim last and if I remember right it was sometime in early 2000's. Sam passed away this pass fall of 08 and I'm not sure if Jim ever heard about it.
Sam truly loved Jim and of course every student of Sam's eventually got to study Mr. Chapin's books. I started studing with Sam when I was 12 and I was 17 when Harry Chapin's song Taxi came out. I'll always remember how much of a kick Sam got out of telling me that Harry was the son of the man who's books I studied and his friend and former teacher.
No matter the level of our playing we should all always take pride, I especially do with the older I get, that we are old school trained drummers and part of a continuation of a true technique.
Thank you Jim and thank you Sam.