in October of 1996, Zildjian and DW sponsored Tony’s only clinic tour. Tony and I traveled throughout the US for two weeks and it was incredible to watch him from a few feet away every night.
Read moreStarts Today: Drumhead Live! 2 days & 20 drummers!
SATURDAY, NOV 21
Steve Gadd (solo & w/ the Steve Gadd Band)
Virgil Donati
Peter Erskine w/ the Lounge Art Ensemble
Gary Husband
Brian Frasier-Moore
Toss Panos & Satnam Ramgotra
Clayton Cameron & Jason Sutter
Pedro Segundo
Kanade Sato
SUNDAY, NOV 22
Simon Phillips (solo & w/ Protocol)
Todd Sucherman
Aquiles Priester
Victor Indrizzio w/ BIL
Dave Elitch
Senri Kawaguchi
Steve Michaud
Butch Norton & Michael Jerome
Steve Gadd Band Live! Nov. 7th
Ed Soph: Exploring Improvisation and Developing Your Voice
It’s been a distinct honor and privilege to write about the recent Drum Channel video series presented by my former teacher, Ed Soph. I studied with Ed for more than four years while he was teaching at The Creative Music Studios in Wethersfield, Connecticut.
Read moreBilly Drummond: Remembering Tony Williams
Tony then asked me if I wanted to know how he got that cymbal - Of course I said yes, absolutely. He told me that Max Roach had taken him to the Gretsch Factory in Brooklyn to pick out a set of drums and cymbals… That's how he started with K- Zildjians.
Read moreViola Smith 1912 - 2020
Did you know Louie Bellson said that he began playing the double bass drums only after watching Viola do it?
Read moreDrum History Podcast - Episode 7 - Gene Krupa: The Father of Modern Drumming with Brooks Tegler
We explore the entire life of the legendary Gene Krupa! I speak with Brooks Tegler about Genes beginnings in the early 1920's through his false conviction in 1943, all the way up to his death in 1973. In addition to being being such a revolutionary musician, Gene was a true gentleman and had a very rich and interesting life. Gene is responsible for many innovations in drumming that took the drum set from the "trap drums" of the early 1900's to what we now consider the modern drum set. Brooks Tegler is an expert on the subject of Krupa and his equipment and I'm honored that he took the time to share his knowledge with me!
Read moreRest in peace, Fluke Holland, drummer for Johnny Cash and Sun Records
W.S. “Fluke” Holland, longtime drummer for Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins and the original drummer in Cash’s famed Tennessee Three backing band, died Wednesday at the age of 85.
Dubbed the “Father of the Drums” by Cash, Holland died at his home in Jackson, Tennessee, following a short illness
Read moreJohn JR Robinson: Remembering Tony Williams
Back at Berklee College of Music in 1973, I had become friends with Steve Smith. Of course, we came to a common denominator – Tony. Steve and I talked about muscle cars. Steve was driving a 1968 Camaro back then. He asked me to meet him in front of the 150 Massachusetts Avenue building around 7:00 pm or so. I got into his car and immediately felt like I was at home - a muscle car, 12 pack of beer, and Tony playing on Steve’s car stereo!
Read moreSkip Hadden: Remembering Tony Williams
Several years later I had the opportunity to work at the same club as the Tony Williams Lifetime when they were touring and playing the music that was on the “The OLD Bum’s Rush,” recording. He already had the big yellow Gretsch kit by this time with the 24” bass drum and multiple toms. Each night over the course of the week the band gelled better and on the final night it was truly amazing. The entire night was smoking; one tune would have been worth waiting the week to hear, let alone the whole night.
Read moreSung and Unsung Heroes: Brian Dunne
Holding everything together at “Live From Daryl’s House” and keeping it “in the pocket” (with his baseball cap always on backwards), is the rather quiet and unassuming Brian Dunne on drums, who, for more than seven years, has been the rhythmic force behind “Hall & Oates”.
Read moreMike Clark: Words of Wisdom - Chapter 23
“I was just thinking about all the great jazz artists that didn't get a break -- and are still bringin' it and growing. They are heroes in my book. I was lucky to get a bit of love that has lasted me a lifetime”.
Read moreFrankie Banali dead at 68
Not being a “metal guy”, I am not very familiar with Frankie’s drumming. As I search around the internet for some insight into Frankie Banali’s drumming and history - something more than the Rolling Stone or Billboard obituaries -I ran across this quote on DrummerWorld.com. “I remember him telling me that his day wasn't complete if he didn't listen to Elvin Jones, Art Blakey, Roy Haynes or Tony Williams. He was a huge jazz fan, which many people may not know.” Frankie
Read moreRIP Charli Persip
Charli Persip, whose career as a leading jazz drummer included close associations with Dizzy Gillespie, Randy Weston and many others — along with nearly 40 years at the helm of his own big band, SuperSound — died at Mt. Sinai Morningside in New York City on Sunday.He was 91. His daughter, Jean Elliott, confirmed his death.
Read moreSung and Unsung Heroes: Meytal Cohen
n 2015, with the help of a crowdfunding campaign, Meytal was able to release her first album, “Alchemy” which peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.
Read moreJoe Corsello: Remembering Tony Williams
In September of 1964, I was admitted to the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts where I began my musical studies with some amazing teachers, one being Alan Dawson.
Read moreMike Clark: Words of Wisdom - chapter 22
“I went to a Steve Gadd clinic at The Drum Hang the other day and found him to be a very open and nice cat… Not defiled like yours truly - but hey, I'm workin' on it!”
Read moreJoe Porcaro passes away at age 90.
“The Porcaro Family is heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Patriarch, Joe Porcaro. Surrounded by his wife Eileen and his family, Joe passed peacefully in his sleep on July 6 at 11:37 PM. Please allow a few days before reaching out with phone calls and texts. Given the enormous amount of people who Joe considered family and whose lives Joe has impacted, it would be overwhelming to respond just now. Please know that we so appreciate your love, thoughts, friendship and can’t wait to celebrate his amazing life with all of you."
Read moreTerry Silverlight: Remembering Tony Williams
When I was fourteen years old, I played drums on my first recording led by my brother Barry Miles that included Pat Martino, John Abercrombie, Lew Tabackin, Victor Gaskin and Warren Smith. The music Barry had written was different than anything I had heard until that point, so there was no choice but for me to figure out what and how to play something that would be the right fit, in my own voice. Knowing that Tony Williams had done that being so young, it inspired me to try and make that happen for myself.
Read moreMike Clark - The Post Bop Drum Book
Legendary jazz-funk drummer Mike Clark presents his latest Hudson Music initiative - ‘The Post-Bop Drum Book’. Numerous topics include be-bop and post-bop drumming, advanced independence, developing the ride beat, phrasing, using the hi-hat as a fourth voice, and triplet variations are explained. Mike provides a totally complete overview of contemporary jazz drumming with performance concepts… Coupled with the impeccably written transcriptions of Towner Galaher… This is a must-have book for all serious drummers.
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