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Ulysses Owens Jr.

Documented by Drum Faster

A three-time Grammy winner, Juilliard and New School faculty, and the drummer who taught Drumeo's first 30-Day Jazz course. Big-band chops, exceptional brushes, and gospel weight on the backbeat — over a Gretsch kit and dark hand-hammered Zildjians.

Read our full Ulysses Owens Jr. feature →

2024 — The Generation Y years

Traditional jazz sizes rather than anything oversized, and cymbals from the dark, dry, hand-hammered end of the Zildjian range — which is what you want if you are catching big-band ensemble figures one night and playing brushes behind a singer the next.

Bass drum — Gretsch kit Floor tom — Gretsch kit Rack tom — Gretsch kit Rack tom — Gretsch kit Snare — Gretsch 14" snare 14"Hi-hats — Zildjian K Constantinople Hi-hats Crash — Zildjian K Constantinople 18" Crash 18"Ride — Zildjian K Constantinople Ride
The 2024 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.
Gretsch kit traditional jazz sizes ⤷ who plays this
Gretsch 14" snare ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian K Constantinople Hi-hats ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian K Constantinople 18" Crash ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian K Constantinople Ride thin, dry, defined stick sound and a short wash ⤷ who plays this
Evans heads ⤷ who plays this
Dragonfly Percussion Ulysses Owens Jr. signature beater a beautifully niche thing to have your name on ⤷ who plays this
Brushes one of the best current brush players working ⤷ who plays this

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