This is Chapter 17 in an ongoing series of conversations, quotes, commentary, and updates with drumming legend Mike Clark. Mike’s keen observations provide numerous insights into ‘all things music’. I ask Mike to just tell it like it is…This includes the good, the bad, and everything else in between.

Not So Modern Drummer features the true-life adventures of Jack Scarangella in our new ongoing series.

After Gordy’s presentation Joe Morello said…

“I’m so glad you did this! Billy Gladstone was messing around with this when I was studying with him, but he never documented it. I think you took it further than he did!”

After organizing projects released under group names - Nuttree, Another Nuttree & BANN - in past years… Here’s the first one under Adam Nussbaum's own name - The LeadBelly Project  w/ Steve Cardenas, Nate Radley & Ohad Talmor The CD was just released on February  23rd on Sunnyside Records  http://sunnysidezone.com/album/the-lead-belly-project

He has spent the last 30 years performing Solo Drum Music for Sold Out Audiences all Around the World, from India to Japan, from Europe to North America.

Mickey Jones, drummer for Bob Dylan, Johnny Rivers, Trini Lopez, and The First Edition with Kenny Rogers…Passed away on February 7, 2018 after a long illness.

Mickey was also a prolific television actor, appearing on ‘Home Improvement’, ‘Baywatch’, ‘T.J. Hooker’, and ‘Justified’ – coupled with numerous Hollywood film roles. Jones also earned seventeen gold records during his extensive musical career.

“He’s a great jazz drummer—and he hasn’t lost any of the stuff that he brought from Oakland. So now he’s totally free to do both, and he does. The solo he played on the album Thrust, on the song “Actual Proof,” is one of the best drum solos on any of my albums. So many people have remarked about that solo, saying, ‘Incredible.’

-Herbie Hancock

Ryan Brown’s gift is in his undying passion for all things Zappa. He has been a fan of the music from his earliest formative years behind the drum set. It is obvious upon hearing him perform that he has dedicated many hours to learning the Zappa repertoire. Dweezil’s band draws from all eras of Zappa, from Freak Out through Roxy and Elsewhere and One Size Fits All, up to Zappa’s later material in the 80’s. They even stop off at some 200 Motels along the way. The repertoire is constantly being expanded with new material for every tour. The exuberance of diving deep into the Zappa vault is seen in Ryan’s face when he performs classic and somewhat obscure numbers such as Holiday in Berlin and Rollo. These are tunes for the hardcore fans, of which he is perhaps the biggest.

Starting his career in the 1950s, Hal Blaine is best known as the drummer and founder of the legendary ‘Wrecking Crew’. He has recorded with numerous iconic artists such as Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, and many more. He lent his artistry to Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" productions, creating one of rock and roll's most recognizable beats. However, Blaine's talent does not stop at the conventional drum set. Some of his best-known songs include him drumming on water jugs for the Beach Boys' "Caroline, No" and dragging tire chains across a concrete floor for Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

 Tris Imboden has announced he is leaving Chicago after more than 27 years due to family concerns. The band’s percussionist, Walfredo Reyes Jr. will take over as their new drummer. Tris, who replaced founding drummer Danny Seraphine in 1990, recently broke the news on his Facebook page.

At the risk of being accused of practicing sorcery, I assume you are a drum history buff. If, on the off chance, like me, you are also a movie buff and the subject of tonight's “Movie Quiz” meeting is Taxi Driver, I have great news. Simply reading the remainder of this article, you will impress everyone in the room and be the envy of all your colleagues. Are you ready?

Not So Modern Drummer continues to celebrate the legendary Buddy Rich in 2017. Recognizing the 100th anniversary of his birth… Contributing their personal recollections and commentary on Buddy Rich are Billy Arnold, Jason Bittner, Sue Hadjopoulos, and Rick Shlosser… With additional comments by Not So Modern Drummer owner and editor – George Lawrence

Not So Modern Drummer continues to celebrate the legendary Buddy Rich in 2017. Recognizing the 100th anniversary of his birth… Contributing their personal recollections and commentary on Buddy Rich are: Greg Caputo, Ned Ingberman, Billy Klock, Chet Pasek, and Vic Thomas… With additional comments by Not So Modern Drummer staff writer – David Barsalou

.....He was also hanging with Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and Lonnie Brooks. Miles Davis sat Jack down at the piano to play him a song. He played ‘Pinball Wizard’ with Pete Townsend’, and ‘Time Has Come Today’ with the Chambers Brothers, and gigs with Matt "Guitar" Murphy. Touring with Blood, Sweat and Tears and David Clayton Thomas, The Band, and Paul Butterfield. Recording sessions with Felix Cavaliere, James Greene, Laura Nyro, Cissy Houston, Luther Vandross, Joe Farrell, and Leslie West.

Not So Modern Drummer continues to celebrate the legendary Buddy Rich in 2017. Recognizing the 100th anniversary of his birth… Contributing their personal recollections and commentary on Buddy Rich are: Dan Britt, Bob Campbell, Skip Hadden, Bruce Klauber, and Andy Weis.

Tim befriended a number of New York musical heavyweights including Bernard Purdie, Chuck Rainey, Paul Griffin, and Hugh McCracken. Tim’s reputation as a drummer was also gaining ground. He began subbing for friend Bernard Purdie on numerous demos, and was an original member of ‘The Drummer’s Club’. This group shared the costs of storing drums and cymbals at many New York studios to save on cartage, and have the necessary equipment available for a recording session at a moment’s notice

Riley contributed to an estimated 300 albums, including more than a dozen cut with tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin between 1960 and ’62—most of them also featuring Griffin’s classic two-tenor hookup with saxophonist Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. In 1962 he made waves via his work with Sonny Rollins on the canonical album The Bridge, the saxophonist’s first release following his historic sabbatical.

Riley’s association with Monk began in 1964 with the album It’s Monk’s Time, also featuring bassist Butch Warren and saxophonist Charlie Rouse. Riley also recorded with the pianist in ’64 for Monk. and Live at the It Club, and appears on 1966’s Straight, No Chaser and ’68’s Underground.

Not So Modern Drummer continues to celebrate the legendary Buddy Rich in 2017. Recognizing the 100th anniversary of his birth… Contributing their personal recollections and commentary on Buddy Rich are: Donn Bennett, Steve Crabtree, Aaron Kennedy, Butch Miles, and Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz

Buddy Rich, “My roll is probably the best roll in the world outside of one other drummer and I’m not modest. The greatest drummer that I have heard in my life as far as rudiments and the roll is concerned is Billy Gladstone.”

Grady Tate, a crisp, swinging drummer who also enjoyed crossover success as a vocalist in a prolific recording career spanning more than 50 years, died on Sunday night at his home in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan. He was 85. His death was confirmed to NPR by Wendy Oxenhorn, executive director of the Jazz Foundation of America, which provides a range of assistance to musicians. No cause was given.Tate was one of the most versatile and in-demand jazz drummers of the '60s and '70s, appearing on hundreds of albums. His first major appointment was with the Quincy Jones Orchestra in '62. Among the artists Tate backed were saxophonists Stan Getzand Stanley Turrentine, composer-orchestrators Oliver Nelson and Lalo Schifrin, and organists Shirley Scott and Jimmy Smith.

Not So Modern Drummer continues to celebrate the legendary Buddy Rich in 2017. Recognizing the 100th anniversary of his birth… Contributing their personal recollections and commentary on Buddy Rich are: Carmine Appice, Les DeMerle, John JR Robinson, Tim Smith, and Ed Soph.

Drum legend and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bill Bruford, best known for his work with YES, King Crimson, Genesis and his prolific solo career, is releasing the definitive boxed set “Bruford 1977-1980: Seems Like A Lifetime Ago.” Scheduled for release on Winterfold Records on October 28th, pre-orders are now being taken for the Limited Edition 8-disc set, which features unreleased, remixed or remastered material & a signed certificate.

Omar Hakim, a master drummer who has played on countless hits, from David Bowie's "Let's Dance" to Daft Punk's "Get Lucky," has been named the new chair of the Percussion Department at Berklee College of Music. Hakim is one of the most influential and sought-after drummers of the past 40 years. Renowned for his versatility, Hakim has hundreds of albums to his credit, collaborating with scores of prominent artists, including Miles Davis, Madonna, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey, Chaka Khan, D’Angelo, and the late Bowie, who described him as "a fascinating drummer, with impeccable timing" and "always fresh in his approach." Hakim succeeds John Ramsay, who served as Berklee's percussion chair since 2008.

Nic Marcy's Austin Drummer magazine   summer 2017

Not So Modern Drummer continues to celebrate the legendary Buddy Rich in 2017. Recognizing the 100th anniversary of his birth… Contributing their personal recollections and commentary on Buddy Rich are: Gregg Bissonette, Dom Famularo, Michael Shrieve, and Steve Smith

Former long-time Prince Drummer, John Blackwell Jr. passed away of cancer on July 4, 2017 – He was 43 years old. 

His wife Yaritza conveyed the following message soon after his passing. "My husband incredible drummer John Blackwell Jr. passed the way peacefully in my company today. Thanks God for his life and thanks everyone for their support."John Blackwell’s death has prompted a large number of accolades from fellow drummers, and many others in the music industry world-wide.