With the sudden passing of Gregg Allman – Two of my long-time drummer friends…Bob Girouard and Gary Stevens...messaged me these personal letters about Gregg and the Allman Brothers Band. Both are so heartfelt, they brought tears to my eyes. With Bob and Gary’s permission - I am sharing them with our Not So Modern Drummer readers.
Read moreRecollections: Buddy Rich - Chapter Six
Not So Modern Drummer continues to celebrate the legendary Buddy Rich in 2017, recognizing the 100th anniversary of his birth. Providing their personal commentary on Buddy are: Harry Cangany, Marko Djordjevic, Billy Drummond, Jeff Indyke, and Steve Maxwell. ".....but, the videos don't even come remotely close to seeing Buddy in person. Johnny Carson (the king of late night) said it best. Johnny was an amateur drummer and loved Buddy. In remembering Buddy, Johnny related a story of how Buddy always cranked it up even higher on nights when other famous drummers were in the audience. He talked about Buddy appearing in a club in LA, and on this particular night there were maybe ten guys in the audience who were well known drummers, and Buddy knew they were there. Johnny said that by the end of Buddy's big solo, it was so completely amazing that these guys were openly crying." - Steve Maxwell.
Read more2017 Connecticut Vintage and Custom Drum Show Report
Rick Smith’s annual vintage and custom drum show at The Sphinx Shriners Center in Newington , Connecticut was another huge success. On Sunday, April 23, 2017, a very large crowd of drummers and percussion enthusiasts were enjoying the standing room only clinics in the large auditorium by Joe Corsello, Adam Nussbaum, and Mark Schulman. While many others were busy checking out the two floors of over 40 dealers in the adjacent building.
Read moreMike Clark: Words of Wisdom - Chapter 14
"Somebody just reminded me of when I used to work with Oscar Brown Jr. He wanted fair treatment for all people knowing full well who was getting shafted the most, and of course this was his biggest concern. However he was inclusive when it came to brotherly love I can tell you that! He also knew how to play the stock market… On a side note he gave me a few good tips, and I made a little extra taste!"
Read moreRecollections: Buddy Rich - Chapter Five
Buddy. One word says it all. Icon, household name, a celebrity with a comics wit, a virtuoso unequaled. He was a force of nature to behold. He commanded the best out of his musicians because every time he sat down behind the kit he was the best in the world. Quite simply, no one drove a big band like he did. Beyond his soul shattering technique, it was just the time feel—the drive that he had that was like nobody else. His time felt like a cigarette boat with the front end hiked up in the air cruising on the water at a ferocious speed. At the same time utmost musically always prevailed and he could be just as sensitive too. His astonishing brush playing clearly demonstrated this.
Read moreRecollections: Buddy Rich - Chapter four
Not So Modern Drummer continues to celebrate the legendary Buddy Rich in 2017. Recognizing the 100th anniversary of his birth… Providing their personal commentary on Buddy are Bob Girouard, Rob Gottfried, Jack Scarangella, and Gary Stevens.
Read moreKim Plainfield has passed away
Kim Plainfield, master drummer, educator, and author passed away suddenly this past week. Almost immediately, the very sad news sent shock waves throughout the drum world. Kim’s death had social media on fire. Numerous condolences and accolades kept pouring in with no end in sight. Kim’s students, close friends, and colleagues at The Berklee College of Music in Boston, and The Drummers Collective in NYC, are still attempting to process such a terrible loss to the musical community.
Read more50th Anniversary of legendary Western Massachusetts Band, FAT: Rockin' The Iron Horse
(Editor's note; There have been many infamous local bands that should have been famous. I was in several that should have had hits on the radio but just didn't see the stars align. To get these bands together fifty years later for a reunion is quite an undertaking. Here is the story of one of them, whose members separately and together went on to greater heights in the music business, including playing in Steppenwolf.)
Read moreMike Clark: Words of Wisdom #13
David Garibaldi and Mike Clark
I know a guy who said for $75.00 dollars, I won't trade fours, or solo. But for a $100.00 dollars- I will. The gig paid $75.00 - So when they gave him fours there was silence. The leader forgot and gave him a chorus.... Silence for 32 bars then he came back in at the top.
Read moreRecollections: Buddy Rich - Chapter Three
In the time before YouTube and VHS/DVD concert and instructional videos, it was very difficult to find any music to watch. If you couldn’t go see concerts, there were only a handful of TV shows that had bands, especially during the daytime when kids could watch. The Muppet Show with Buddy was the first real chance I had to watch a drummer and to understand how it is possible to make the sounds you hear on a record. This was monumental at that age—Buddy on The Muppet Show basically connected the dots for me about how to potentially achieve these sounds from hitting drums and what it LOOKED like to play drums.
Read moreTodd Sucherman: Beneath The Surface
The first Methods and Mechanics for useful and musical drumming was meant to be a galvanizing voice of reason to hopefully direct the next generation to the notion of employability. There was a lot of sensationalism with chops so it was important for me to direct useful musical ideas. Conceptual ideas about playing for the song – listening to the music – trying to get the song across - knowing what the lyrics are. You have to get into the song and become part of the storytelling process and I think those that do will have an easier time finding employment than others who look at it like mathematics or playing things just to impress other musicians.
Read moreRecollections: Buddy Rich - Chapter Two
Not So Modern Drummer continues to celebrate the legendary Buddy Rich in 2017. Recognizing the 100th anniversary of his birth. Providing their personal commentary on Buddy are Pete Cater, Greg Estabrooks, Gordy Knudtson, and Ted Mackenzie
Read moreRecollections: Buddy Rich, chapter one
Not So Modern Drummer celebrates the legendary Buddy Rich on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Providing personal commentary on Buddy are Mike Clark, Peter Erskine, and Gregg Potter
Read moreMike Clark - Words of Wisdom - Part 12
I was asked the other day who I liked out of the new modern type drummers. For me, Lenny White and Billy Hart are totally "modern" as they are master improvisers that don't sound like anyone but themselves. I never know what they are going to play.
Read moreReflections On Shelly Manne: Chapter 12
Peter Magadini - "You know, I used to hear Shelly play a fair amount in LA. He had a great ride feel (and sound) and a very unique way of playing the ride (different) say from Max Roach and Philly Joe Jones. He had the same style and motion as those guys (my heroes as well) but he had the fingers involved and when it got blistering fast it was only the fingers involved. That part I kept for myself too because it works great and you can keep very fast tempos going for a long time."
Read moreMike Clark: Words of Wisdom - Part 11
Here’s one for ya’ - Did Elvin Jones play behind the beat? I have talked to a few of the bass players who were on the gig for a long time and it was interesting to hear what they had to say...What do you think?
Read moreReflections On Shelly Manne: Chapter 11
Give a drummer a fish, and you feed them for a day. Give them a ride cymbal, teach them how to play it, and they’ll feed themselves for the rest of their lives.
Claire Arenius at Amherst College
Claire was on fire that night… Playing with an impassioned determination that reached the farthest rows, and beyond. Her finesse and sensitivity showed through on every tune. Whether using sticks or brushes, playing fast or slow - stylistically, it didn’t matter…
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Reflections on Shelly Manne: Chapter 10
A ride beat moves itself ever forward, like a bicycle rolling along. And this part of the phrase, like the circle compared to the line, is where both the "hardest" and "easiest" parts lie. When played with fluidity it is rolling; a beautiful study of motion, grace and power. When played stiffly, it's like a mechanical device. Boring. Metallic. Uninteresting.
Read moreReflections On Shelly Manne - chapter 9
Being able to lay out the time and seemingly doing nothing is indeed an example of what Mr. Manne speaks of in it being the easiest and most difficult at the same time. - Sergio Bellotti
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