Legendary drummer Mike Clark’s latest CD titled ‘MIKE DROP’ is another powerful example of just how incredible a player he is. Featuring Michael Zilber on saxophones, Matt Clark on piano, with Peter Barshay on bass…It was recorded at Oakland, California’s 25th Street Studio where the sound and clarity is amazing… According to Mike, most of the tunes were first takes - just the way he likes it.
Read moreIn Memoriam: Morris “Arnie” Lang (Feb. 2, 1931 – July 5, 2021)
Morris Arnold Lang, known to his friends as “Arnie”, passed away recently following an unfortunate accident. Arnie was a talented musician, educator, prolific writer, and craftsman (Lang Percussion), devoted husband and father. In his nine decades on this planet, he gifted us with the legacy of his music, educational books/videos, many students, family, friendship, and amazingly crafted drums in the spirit of Billy Gladstone. While one always wishes for more time with such wonderful people, we are reminded how blessed we are to have lived in his presence.
Read moreJim Kersey: Remembering Tony Williams
Later in 2006, I would start drum lessons with legendary drummer Joe Porcaro in Thousand Oaks CA. Joe had many of Tony Williams’s transcriptions, and even had a story about his son Jeff and Tony recording together at Capital Records studio, saying, “Tony hurried in at the last minute, did the session and left soon after to catch a flight.” On Les Dudek’s ‘Zorro Rides Again’ , Tony’s sound is unique and identifiable - K Zildjian cymbals, Gretsch drums in 24" bass drum, 18' 16" 14" floor toms 14" 13" mounted toms, and 14" snare drum with Remo Black dots on all the toms and snare. His new signature sticks had dimensions similar to a 2B.
Read moreClassic Drummer & Vintage Drummer Magazine back issues at DrumSellers.com
The collection of all the Classic Drummer/Vintage Drummer Magazines still in print is available through Not So Modern Drummer at DrumSellers.com. All 17 of the print issues still in stock are available from former editor/owner Billy Jeansonne for a very low price $34.95 - plus $5.95 shipping. That’s about $2.40 an issue!
Read moreDon Mcaulay sells items from Gene Krupa's drum collection.
“Hey George. Hope you and yours are doing well. I was prepared to approach drum magazines and other publications about this historic discovery that I found for my boss, Charlie Watts in which he gave me a portion of the items as my commission. I have decided to sell some of these pieces. But the same week I finished the website the entire world went straight into lockdown.. So I’ve been waiting until the time seems right, which seems like a month from now? Would you like to show this story on NSMD? Ideally I want to present this in all the appropriate magazines at the same time so the word gets out all at once and every collector has the opportunity to purchase. check it out!”
Read moreJack Scarangella: Remembering Tony Williams
“Tony Williams was also a big Buddy Rich fan. At the Grammy awards Steve Peck, Buddy’s tour manager said, Tony was beaming at Buddy from behind the stage. Miles Davis also claimed that Buddy was a ‘prince of a drummer’ and that “there isn’t a drummer alive who doesn’t have a Buddy Rich lick in them”.
Read moreMike Clark - Words of Wisdom - Chapter 25
Another new chapter in our ongoing series of conversations, quotes, commentary, and updates with jazz/funk drumming legend Mike Clark… Mike’s keen observations provide numerous insights into ‘All Things Music’. -- Mike always just tells it like it is.
Read moreShawn Meehan: Remembering Tony Williams
By the time the Quintet had taken the stage, most of the crowd had left, not willing to endure the weather. I stood amongst a small group of die hards at the front of the stage. It was a torrential downpour at this point. Herbie Hancock had drops of water dripping from his sleeves and onto the piano. I seem to remember it was during Pinnochio when Tony started dropping bombs on the bass drum that the crackle through the PA became more pronounced with each bomb. Eventually the PA went completely out! The band kept on cooking as though nothing had happened. We were listening to them acoustically.
Read moreMr. Nelson's Opus - A Tribute to Life Long Drum Teachers
Normally I write articles on vintage drums or drum history as I have a love for that stuff. I felt this article would be a great chance to pay tribute to those individuals that have taught drums for many years.
Read moreMike Clark Words of Wisdom - Chapter 24
“One of my friends leans towards a 1950’s type of playing… I’m sort of the 1960’s. We were kind of going back and forth about this. He’s in the Jurassic Period, while I’m in the Cretaceous.”
Read moreRalph Peterson Jr., Drummer Who Re-Enlivened Hard Bop, Dead At 58
Ralph Peterson Jr., a drummer, bandleader, composer and educator whose lunging propulsion and volatile combustion were hallmarks of a jazz career spanning more than 40 years, died on Monday in North Dartmouth, Mass. The cause was complications from cancer, his manager, Laura Martinez, tells NPR Music; Peterson had been living with the disease for the last six years. He was 58.
Read moreDuffy Jackson, Ebullient Drummer with Lionel Hampton, Count Basie and Others, Dies at 67
Duffy Jackson, a drummer whose swinging exuberance propelled him from child stardom to a prolific career behind Lionel Hampton, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne and many others, died on Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn. He was 67.
The cause was complications from hip surgery, Sandra Anton, his first cousin, tells WBGO.
Read moreBruce Klauber on "The Poetic Thoughts and Verses of Louis Bellson"
Things affected him, and if he ever drew attention to himself, it was done peacefully and gently. Louie called this one "A Man and His Drums."
"I quietly, with Peace and Love, roar like the thunder in the sky and sound the heartbeat of life."
Read moreThomas De Sena: Remembering Tony Williams
On the day of the clinic I was looking out the front window of Creative watching as a Ford Econoline van pulled into the parking lot… Through the rear windows I could see Tony, his bass player, and a set of Canary Yellow Gretsch drums thrown in the back with No Cases !! OMG, I was star-struck - but it was kind of amusing because Tony’s drums were always bigger than life to me – And there they were just lying in the back of a van.
Read moreAdam Nussbaum: Remembering Tony Williams
ot So Modern Drummer continues to celebrate the life and music of legendary drummer Tony Williams in our new ongoing series. Chapter Eight presents the recollections of Adam Nussbaum.
Read moreJohn DeChristopher: Remembering Tony Williams
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.
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