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
Read moreNot So Modern Drummer Sales acquires distribution of Eccentric Systems Drum Company products
George Lawrence of Not So Modern Drummer and Lucas Jacobson of Eccentric Systems Drum Company entered into an agreement on November 26th for Not So Modern Drummer to handle sales, marketing and U.S. manufacturing/assembly of the Eccentric Systems products. Eccentric was founded by Lucas Jacobson, engineer, and inventor of the eccentric cam for the DW5000 bass drum pedals and designer of the DW9000 bass drum pedals and hi-hat pedals. Lucas later patented and manufactured his own products. The most well known Eccentric product is the Quick Torque Cam, an add-on to bass drum pedals that increases the drummer's comfort, control and speed.
Read moreDrummer Ben Riley Dies At 84
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.
Read moreThe DrumWrapper is back. Taking orders now.
The DrumWrapper, our exclusive drum covering laminate roller and press manual machine for drum manufacturers, custom drum builders, drum repair shops, and hobbyists is back in production.
Read moreLenny White Announces IYOUWE Musical Collective
"When I listened to the radio growing up, I heard all kinds of music. I came to realize that my music had no boundaries… and that is our mission. IYOUWE is a musical collective created by Lenny White to promote real music in an ever-changing cultural terrain."
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Recollections: Buddy Rich - Chapter Nine
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
Read moreLudwig Transition Badge Era Buddy Rich Model No. 980P Super Classic Drum Set
This month’s installment of Vintage Happiness highlights a set I had been after for some time. There are many white marine pearl kits out there. It’s a fantastic wrap and it’s classy no matter what drum kit it’s on. But I had a specific kit in mind for my WMP. It HAD to be a Ludwig Transition Badge Era Buddy Rich Model No. 980P Super Classic Outfit. The reason: The sound. I had played a kit many years ago and was just blown away. They were some of the best sounding drums I have ever played and the 50’s are my favorite era for Ludwig drums.
Read moreAdolph Grotzky’s 1928 Ludwig Drum Kit
In the world of vintage drums, there are those rare instances where an almost century-old premium drum kit survives the ages intact. Here is the story of one such time capsule, a stunning 1928 Ludwig Drum Kit with all of the cymbals, traps, drumsticks, banjo-style drum key, early 1900’s set list, and an enviably beautiful 6.5 X 14” engraved Black Beauty in De Luxe finish. This drum kit was handed down from grandfather to mother to grandson. What makes this kit so special is not just that it survived, but that we are able to hear the tale about the original owner and how it came to arrive one day at Jim Pettit’s Memphis Drum Shop. Craig Grotzky, grandson of Adolf Grotzky, was kind enough to share this classic American tale of survival through the terrible Depression Era as well as the important part this Ludwig drum kit played in their lives.
Read more1970s 5 x 14 POLMUZ BRASS/NICKEL PROTOTYPE “IRON CURTAIN” SNARE DRUM
“I have an interesting snare drum: it is 5" x 14" bare brass shell and hoops. It was made in 1970's in Poland by Polmuz - government owned musical instruments manufacturer. Best to my knowledge it is a prototype drum. I got it from a guy who used work for Polmuz as a brass wind instruments maker. He acquired it when they were closing in 1990's. As you can see the lugs look similar to Ludwig Imperial lugs. Hoops look like a copy of Slingerland hoops. I've never seen a drum like this before - being a user of Polmuz in 1970 myself. No Polmuz stamp/markings on the drum - that again makes me think it was a prototype drum. The condition is very good. It still has original Ever Play /Premier/ made in England heads and New Era made in England wires. Polmuz was working with Premier back than. Let me know if a piece of rock hardware from behind the Iron Curtain will be of interest to you. The full name of the company is Polmuz Warsaw Wind and Percussion Instruments Factory founded 1953 Made in Poland. Best regards, Marek Piotrowski”
Read moreBuddy and Louis on Billy Gladstone's Technique
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.”
Read moreLudwig Hollywood Kit in Citrus Mod finish
The late 1960s was the psychedelic era. Without trying to explain what psychedelic means I will just present the finish on this drum set to illustrate it. Wild and weird colors became part of what it was all about. Ludwig Drum Company produced three drum finishes that were truly wild and weird looking. The three were Psychedelic Red, Mod Orange, and Citrus Mod. This kit is a good example of Citrus Mod, the rarest of the three finishes.
Read moreDrums For Houston campaign OCT. 2017
Josh Hallock left Nashville today with a full trailer load of gear for drummers in Houston who had lost their instruments in the Irma hurricane and flood. The items were donated by various members of the Nashville Drummers Facebook Group and the Berklee College of Music Percussion Department.
Read moreGrady Tate, prodigious jazz drummer and noted vocalist, dies at 85
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.
Read moreAre You Looking At Me?
Society has rediscovered only in the last few years the importance of mentors. There's always something to be gained from having someone more experienced to look up to. And if that person is hip to the “pay it forward” concept, there will be two of you looking out for your progress and your career. This can be a great morale booster.
Read moreMarc Patch Drum Guide - A Guide To Drum Brands Past And Present
This is a directory of over 700 brands of drums from all over the world, past and present. Along with the brand name is the era of the brand, the country of origin, and the official or unofficial websites or book titles for a reference. It is not a reading book but a reference list.
Read moreA Rare 1929 L & L Super Sensitive w "inlay" decals
The wood Super-Sensitive with the decals that resemble inlays is an extremely rare drum. Back in 1985 I sent a picture of my drum like that to William F. Ludwig II and he called to give me some info on it. Those drums were made in 1929 when the Sensitive strainer was introduced. Supposedly, only 29 were made with the decals. Yours makes only the fourth one I've seen in all the years that I've been interested in vintage drums. That one is worth around $1500-$2000 but given your particular genre of playing, I would assume it's more valuable to you as an instrument. Just in case you ever need them, Mike Curotto has reproduced the internal (upper) snares for that strainer.
Read moreFelicia and the Rat
Illustrator, composer, drummer and story teller Mauro Magellan publishes a wonderful children's musical story book and companion videos about a lowly Rat who wants to play drums for the Elite Cats! Perfect Christmas gift for kids. Suitable for adults too! In hardcover and softcover with free MP3 down loads. Order Here
Read moreSlingerland's Special Solid Color Auto Lacquer Radio Kings
During Slingerland’s pinnacle time of manufacturing a drummer could actually request a special color order that they envisioned. Some of these orders produced were for a "mono" or one solid color lacquered painted finish. These unique finishes were much more uncommon to find on Slingerland drums of this vintage era. Here are four examples of Slingerland Radio King snare drums produced with "Solid" lacquer colored finishes.
Read moreRecollections: Buddy Rich - Chapter Eight
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.
Read moreDrum Yoda: The Voice of "Doom"
We were sitting around discussing our usual topic: drums. When we got around to the topic of tuning, the more senior drummer among us (defined as someone who'd actually had some real gigs) said: "A drum should go Doom."
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