Upon moving to Nashville, Tennessee, Tim spent nine years playing with pioneering country rock band POCO. - Recording ‘POCO LIVE’ from the Bottom Line in New York City. He also toured with Brenda Lee, and legendary bass player and Funk Brother (the late) Bob Babbitt. Tim’s tour de force was drumming on the Multi-Platinum, Grammy nominated, Dove Award winning, self-titled debut album from “Jars of Clay” produced by Adrian Belew.
Read moreMike Clark: Words of Wisdom - Chapter 16
Guy walks in off the street and starts playing brushes on a newspaper he threw on top of the piano and plays with the duo, He was as good as anyone I have ever heard, and no one knew who he was. He got into a cab and drove off... Love New York City !!
Read moreThe P-p-p-power of Love
I'd like to dedicate this post to the memory of Jim Blackley, the man who I will always call “teacher”.
I recently spent a lesson with a youngster listening to a Katie Perry tune. This fellow was just beginning to be interested in music, and the tune really spoke to him. I like to work with real world examples, so we listened to the tune and talked about it. I pointed out things the drummer was doing that were things we'd been working on. For his next lesson, I prepared some exercises that he could play along to the tune. We spent maybe 10 minutes on the drums that day, but it was one of the best lessons ever because he got it, and he got it because it meant something to him.
Read moreWFL U.S. Navy Special Concert Snare
This month’s installment of Vintage Happiness is on a drum that has a great history as well as a bright future. About 2 years ago, my youngest brother made the rank of Chief in the US Navy. I wanted to congratulate him for his commitment to our great country in a special way, as he is also a drummer. And what better way than with a drum that was once owned by the United States Navy.
Read moreButterscotch Pearl finish on a 1940s Ludwig & Ludwig 6.5 x 15 snare drum
There isn’t a surplus of information concerning these elusive Butterscotch drums. There are only two complete kits known to exist and possible just a hand full of snare drums as of this writing. A theory is that Ludwig received a bad batch of Black Diamond Pearl wrap and proceeded to use the wrap regardless of the discolorations. The finish was later coined “Butterscotch” by collectors.
Read moreWhen a Restoration Goes Bad .... or.... This is how I wrecked a Rogers Dyna-Sonic
Whether we are willing to admit it or not, I think perhaps most of us at some point in time, have ruined a drum. With some, it was long before it was vintage. The need to make something playable, to fix something that was broken, to add something we needed at the time. Adding a mount, but not bothering to sufficiently plan out its placement, and in so doing created something that not only did not work, but, by its very nature, put an undue burden on the set. Changing mounts with “other” parts, drilling extra holes, making changes that for the moment, made the drum usable. However, at the same time, marring a beautiful drum with ugliness.
Read more1930 LEEDY 5 x 14 NOBBY GOLD “THUNDERBIRD PATTERN” BLACK ELITE “FULL DRESS” MODEL (Cat. #2720)
My good friend and local drum collector Jimmy Sisson found this gem of a drum in a little “Ma & Pa” store in San Jose, CA. Jimmy called me and wanted to show me his new find so I said “come on by”. After seeing the drum and complimenting him on his new acquisition I went into my drum collector mode and I asked him if he wanted to sell the drum to me. Although Jimmy really wanted me to see the drum he also knew that I would want to buy it...he was right! We made a great deal and here we are. This is a good ending for everyone; the store owner got the drum for a low price, Jimmy got it for a great price and I was able to double his money plus 200.00.
Read moreLudwig Psych Red Rock Duo
The set in this article that I own is a special set for several reasons. It has a lot green present, it was made on Dec 12th 1968 (which still falls in the psychedelic years) and it is a catalog correct Rock Duo from the Ludwig catalog. Ludwig offered two factory catalog double bass sets; The Blue Note consisting of two 22" bass drums, 12,13,16,18 toms, matching jazzfest snare, canister throne and bongos. The Rock Duo is the smaller cousin featuring two 20” bass drums, 12,13,16 toms and a supraphonic 400 snare drum.
Read more1930s Engraved Leedy Broadway Parallel
This is an awesome drum find. It is really amazing to find a survivor drum like this in original unmolested condition. Everything is there. The tension rods, washers, even the snare wires are original. This is truly a work of percussion art. It is a 1930s black nickle over brass 6.5"X14" engraved shell Leedy Broadway parallel with gold plated engraved hoops and hardware. I can't even imagine how beautiful this drum must have been when it was brand new almost 90 years ago.
Read moreReview - New BopWorks drum stick models
Bopworks has two new stick models you are going to want to check out. Bopworks' largest stick ever at 16 1/4", the Rhythm and Groovz, has a 5B style thickness (.590) on the shaft. The long 7" taper starts halfway down the stick and ends in a medium smallish, yet tip. This new model gives you a larger stick feel with great cymbal control. The Memphis R&B model features a taper slightly longer than 5 of its 16 inches overall length combined with a 5A diameter of .570. Lots of "heft in the hand" to go along with the long taper.
Bopworks is THE vintage stick company specializing in authentic reproductions of vintage stick models of famous jazz era artists and standard stick sizes from past eras. With their two newest offerings, BopWorks has applied some of the design elements of those vintage sticks into longer and thicker modern sizes. Paying homage to the R&B and soul music eras of the sixties, these sticks have very modern, standard size handles but utilize the longer taper and smaller bead that give the vintage models their great bounce and cymbal sound.
The main characteristic of both of these models is the amount of "flex" in the business end of the stick. If you are a 5A or 5B player who thinks it necessary to go to a skinnier or lighter model for softer playing, these might be the perfect alternative; a stick that has the same thickness in the grip area that you are used to but with a taper that starts further back on the stick - giving you a "skinny front end". Basically a 5A or 5B with more bounce at the tip. AND the smaller BopWorks tips are famous for the woody sound that they draw from thinner ride cymbals.
BopWorks sticks are made of quality hickory, are pitch paired, and are finished with a high quality, light varnish. They can be ordered directly from the website, from their dealer network, AND now can be ordered from Not So Modern Drummer in the the online store.
Below is a comparison image chart of BopWorks models.
Recollections: Buddy Rich - Chapter Seven
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
Read moreIn Memoriam - Remembering John Blackwell Jr.
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.
Read moreArt prints of famous drummers and drums
We use FineArtAmerica to sell, print, frame, and ship our art for drummers. The link to our gallery at that site is http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/notsomoderndrummer.html Our first collection is that of Michael DeGruchy Haslam, a Canadian artist who has painted some very cool caricature portraits of famous jazz drummers. He is painting all the time so check back often to see what's new. Other images will be available very soon. In the slide show below are his current paintings available to buy: Philly Joe Jones, Baby Dodds, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Kenny Klook Clarke, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Big Sid Catlett, Papa Jo Jones, Miles Davis/Sonny Rollins.
Read moreThe NEW! Rogers USA Bread and Butter Double Ended Snare Drum Lug
Rogers is back. Maxwell's Drum Shop is now taking orders for the new Rogers Dyna-Sonic. As the decals and brochure give us to know, Rogers intends to once again become a leader in the industry. At the beginning of the year when the RogersDrumsUSA.com website was “prematurely” launched for a few hours, the buzz it created on the Facebook groups was unprecedented. Hundreds of comments, dozens of threads, and reactions spanning everything from “Oh No!” to ecstatic elation. I was with the latter grouping of people.
Read moreMike Clark: Words of Wisdom - Chapter 15
"Never mind all my Jazz rants… Let's get down to the real stuff...Who did kill Laura Palmer?"
Read moreTom Staley: Full Circle - exclusive interview with original NRBQ drummer
What makes Tom a great musician? I think the fact that Tom can play other instruments and can sing and write songs, and produce a song in the studio, gives him the "big picture" of what a song needs. Once you approach a song from a producer's point of view, you begin to see that the drummer is only one piece of the puzzle. You begin to appreciate the other instrument's roles in the song, and how the drums must fit into that puzzle and has a specific role if the song is going to be great. That's the difference between a good and a great drummer. Tom is definitely one of the great ones”.
-- Rick Hart
Read moreMusic Stimulus, 68
A while back reading The Roots of Rock Drumming book, I researched the drummers interviewed in the book. Checking out some performances mentioned in the book, learning and trying to digest their contributions. Not long after that, we started messing with Austin Drummer Magazine, doing interviews with some local greats who gave impressive lists of music they went to school on to get their gigs. Since they were gracious enough to pass on extensive lists of music they learned from, I felt obliged to go at it like I was trying to get their gigs and soak up as much of their music as possible. The results were something I have to recommend you do for yourselves.
Read moreThe VOICE goes on forever - remembering Gregg Allman
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 more1953 Leedy & Ludwig Nite Club Outfit in Sparkling Blue Pearl
In the aftermath of WWII, which had totally disrupted Conn's drum divisions, it was decided to combine Ludwig & Ludwig with Leedy, creating the Leedy & Ludwig drum company. This new division became operational in 1951. Conn decided to discontinue the unprofitable Leedy & Ludwig division four years later in 1955."
Read moreWhat's This Worth? Walberg & Auge 1910 - 1920 Natural Perforated Snare and Perfection Carry-All Bass Drum
Sent in by Bill Smith of Lafayette, La. He wants some opinions on the value of these drums before he decides if he wants to sell them. I will post contact information if and when he decides to sell. Please post your opinions in the comments below or email me george@georgesdrumshop.com. Jeremy Esposito at Walber & Auge has already passed on them because he has four of them already!
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