William “Matt” Matthews Birthday Drum Shed at Ram In The Bush Christian Center, Memphis

Just before I got off work, I got a text from my homeboy Otis Logan that a drum shed was being held Wednesday night May 22 for William “Matt” Matthews at Ram In The Bush Christian Center, so after dinner I headed over there to check it out. “Drum sheds” or “shed sessions” are common in the world of Black gospel music, where they fill a number of functions. First they are recreational, as evidenced by the number of people that have them on their birthdays or other times of celebration. They are also educational, allowing drummers (and the accompanying keyboardists, bassists and guitarists) to learn from each other by listening and watching. Finally, they are competitive, although generally in a friendly and non-confrontational way. Such competitions amongst musicians have deep roots in African-American history.
Sheds generally consist of between three and five drummers at a time on as many drumsets, although there may be more drummers present, and these frequently trade places so that everyone gets to play. In some sheds, there are only drums, but it is far more common for there to be a keyboardist or organist, and sometimes even a bass player or guitarist. If these are present, they often start a groove, and then the drummers will trade solos and licks in a set order according to four or eight bar phrases. A big part of the shed experience too is the crowd of onlookers, who interact with the drummers and yell encouragements to them as they play. Altogether, sheds are a fun musical experience, but they also tend to be clandestine and are often held at churches or even private residences, and happen randomly without a lot of advance warning. When they occur in Memphis, they highlight the amazing musical talent that our city has.