Dom Famularo: Remembering Tony Williams

October 12, 2021 David Barsalou

Several months before he passed in October of 1996, we played The Florida Drum Festival to 2,000 drummers. Tony was at the top of his game... Expressive, powerful, creative and you always expected the unexpected. We had the chance to talk for a while before his performance. He had an album coming out, 'Young At Heart' which he was excited about. He talked about wanting to be known as a composer and an individual artist. I told him, you are already there! Tony really appreciated that. He was, and still is such a powerful force in drumming and music.

1936-39 LUDWIG 6.5 x 14 “BUTTERSCOTCH PEARL” (uncatalogued) SUPER-LUDWIG MODEL

October 11, 2021 Mike Curotto

This seems to be an uncatalogued finish as it is nowhere to be found -- that I know of -- in any Ludwig literature. I have seen 1 or 2 other Ludwig Butterscotch Pearl snares and I also own a Duplex Spirit of St. Louis in this finish so I personally know that this finish exists. So my best guess is that this is an uncatalogued or special order finish. As always I welcome any other information that may be out there regarding this finish.

Ruffs & Rolls

October 11, 2021 Mat Marucci

Mat Marucci's performing credits include jazz greats Jimmy Smith, Kenny Burrell, James Moody, Eddie Harris, Buddy De Franco, Les McCann, Pharoah Sanders, and John Tchicai among others and has numerous critically acclaimed recordings to his credit as both leader and sideman.  Mat is the author of several books on drumming and has written numerous articles on drumming for Modern Drummer and Downbeat magazines. He is an endorser for Zildjian, Vic Firth, Remo and formerly both Gretsch and Mapex.Mat's latest books with Mel Bay Publications are 'Mastering The Snare Drum' and 'Essential Snare Drum Exercises' (both reviewed on Not So Modern Drummer) and 'Jazz Drumming Essentials....And More.' His music and discography can found at Spotify.com and Reverbnation.com and can be heard on most streaming platforms. — Mat Marucci's performing credits include jazz greats Jimmy Smith, Kenny Burrell, James Moody, Eddie Harris, Buddy De Franco, Les McCann, Pharoah Sanders, and John Tchicai among others and has numerous critically acclaimed recordings to his credit as both leader and sideman.

Mat is the author of several books on drumming and has written numerous articles on drumming for Modern Drummer and Downbeat magazines. He is an endorser for Zildjian, Vic Firth, Remo and formerly both Gretsch and Mapex.
Mat's latest books with Mel Bay Publications are 'Mastering The Snare Drum' and 'Essential Snare Drum Exercises' (both reviewed on Not So Modern Drummer) and 'Jazz Drumming Essentials....And More.' His music and discography can found at Spotify.com and Reverbnation.com and can be heard on most streaming platforms.

We all know the standard short rolls included in the “Standard 26 American Drum Rudiments” and the Percussive Arts Society’s “40 International Rudiments” which are the 5-Stroke Roll, 7-Stroke Roll, 9-Stroke Roll, 10-Stroke Roll, 11-Stroke Roll, 13-Stroke Roll, 15-Stroke Roll and 17-Stroke Roll. But what happened to the others that are missing: 8-Stroke, 12-Stroke, 14-Stroke and 16-Stroke Rolls?

New book about the History of the Kent Drum Company by Dennis "Mouse" Brown

October 11, 2021 George Lawrence

Kent occupies a small but interesting corner of the vintage drum world. The drums were manufactured from 1946 to 1977 in Buffalo, NY. Bill Kent said, “The inspiration and the purpose of Kent Drums was to give the youth the opportunity to be able to have an affordable drum outfit which was known as a starter set.”

Should We Bring Back The Internal Tone Control?

October 11, 2021 Richard Best

“After the rock heyday of the ‘60s, internal tone controls began to fade away and are now rather hard to find. (A lot of the vintage drums I’ve seen have had them removed -- and too often lost. Contending with ring is always an issue for many drummers, so let's examine the field of available 'damping'* options.”

Mike Clark: Words of Wisdom - Chapter 26

October 11, 2021 David Barsalou

"I love the hi-hat…Since childhood it’s had me in its clutches!"

Richard Katz's Vintage Ludwigs on exhibit at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix

October 9, 2021 George Lawrence

Ludwig 12x22 bass drum 2 (round furniture pads to protect tom rims).jpg

This past Spring Rich Katz hired me to do an appraisal of his drum set and collection that he donated to the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. It is currently on display there. I do appraisals of drums/cymbals/percussion instruments for tax and insurance purposes, as well as for determining resale value. I charge between $100 and $500 for appraisals depending on the number of instruments and the amount of documentation and notarizing desired. For insurance and tax appraisals I base values not on current market value or collector value, but on replacement value which tends to run higher. For resale appraisals, I base the value on current market prices. I thank Rich for bearing with me in getting his appraisal finished and for letting me show his instruments in this article. Nice pictures, Rich!

Eric Roy - The Power Of Inspiration

October 6, 2021 David Barsalou

Recently, Eric was the subject of a podcast where he discusses ALS. He explains how the disease is common in his family, and how it attacks the body. Eric also mentions recent medical trials which have shown some promising results... But more research and funding is required. During these challenging times, Eric and his family need our support and have started a GoFundMe page. Funds collected will provide additional medical care, and medications not covered by insurance. Any donation would be greatly appreciated.

Gretsch is looking for a home for an inventory of vintage 70s' Slingerland Timpani parts and pieces

September 7, 2021 George Lawrence

The Gretsch company, which is headquartered in Pooler, GA, published a Request for Proposal to find a home for an inventory of vintage 70s' Slingerland Timpani parts and pieces

Homage to Charlie

September 1, 2021 Kurt Ekstrom

I never met Charlie or any other of the Rolling Stones but I feel fortunate as I was able to indirectly help put a rare WFL drum Charlie owned back to original shape. Charlie acquired a late 30’s WFL twin snare drum that had off-set lugs and the type of strainers that often broke at the tip. Charlie’s drum had one broken strainer and his tech, Don McAulay was looking to find a replacement strainer

Wood and Weather Drum Shop

September 1, 2021 David Barsalou

Joe's new address is a large two story building housing an enormous array of vintage snares, sets, and cymbals literally stacked up from floor to ceiling... It reminded me of the first time I walked into Charley Donnelly’s Newington, CT Drum Center in the mid - 1970’s -- Only on a much larger scale.

Richie Morales: Remembering Tony Williams

August 31, 2021 David Barsalou

…the tricky syncopation and meter change in the seventh bar, the minor blues form and the improvisation of the piece still blow my mind to this day and served to open my young ears to form and melody in Jazz. Tony’s cymbal sound of the period is so organic it doesn’t even sound like stick on metal to me. His orchestration of phrases across the whole set, the use of the bass drum as an extra tom voice, the shift of the primary time keeping to stepped 1/8th notes on the hi hat, splashes of colorful cymbal work, all new to my ears, and everybody else’s too. Like so many other musicians I fell under the influence of Anthony Tillman Williams.

Reproduction of the "Elvis Set' on display at Memphis Drum Shop

August 31, 2021 Jim Pettit

Just in time for Elvis Week in the middle of August. From the Jim Pettit collection. Refurbishing by Aaron Mlasko.

Direct Mail Advertising from Not So Modern Drummer

August 31, 2021 George Lawrence

NSMD has a mailing list of thousands of active, vintage and contemporary, drum and accessory buyers and, over the summer, they created highly successful campaigns for companies such as Drum Channel, Hudson Music, Cympad, Famous Drums, TRX Cymbals and several others.

Stipelgold drums from different mothers

August 31, 2021 Mike Curotto

I got these three snare drums a while back. The 1926 Ludwig & Ludwig drum catalog introduces “Genuine Stipelgold” to the drum market. As collectors we have seen the only “Stipelgold” finish on Ludwig drums but here are three mystery “Stipelgold” snare drums from different mothers (companies).

Charles Connor, architect of the rock and roll drum beat, passed July 31, 2021

August 31, 2021 George Lawrence

Charles Connor explains how he and Little Richard created the straight eighth rock and and roll beat.

…Connor then joined Little Richard in the studio to record the classics “Ooh! My Soul,” “She’s Got It,” and “Keep-A-Knockin.'” His iconic drum intro to the latter song was recreated by John Bonham on the Led Zeppelin classic “Rock & Roll.”

Gene Krupa: A Tribute

August 31, 2021 admin

And he had chops. Bellson says, "I would say that Gene was a great influence on every drummer. He brought drums to the foreground. Before his time, it was, 'Oh well, we've got 17 musicians and a drummer.' When he came into the picture, drums became a solo instrument. He added that great integrity to the drum section. When you see a drum soloist, even today, Gene is responsible for that."

Charlie Watts :-(

August 31, 2021 George Lawrence

When I received my first snare drum in the sixth grade I played along to the 45 rpm single record of “Satisfaction” incessantly. I still, to this day, think it is the best rock and roll drum track ever recorded…and it’s nothing but quarter notes on the snare drum and bass drum! Unrelenting, pile driving, perfect timing, tempo like a metronome, simple quarter notes. It’s so simple that you wait in anticipation of a little variation -expecting him to break face. But NO.

From Editor George Lawrence

August 31, 2021 George Lawrence

“Always the students” Charlie Watts, Don McAulay, Jim Keltner

I have written a short piece in this issue about Charlie Watts and how he inspired and influenced me. A friend of mine, Jim Basile, said “Charlie Watts was the Mel Lewis of Rock. I can give no higher compliment. For those of you familiar with Mel Lewis, you'll understand completely. For those of you unfamiliar with Mel, you NEED to be.”

Sung and Unsung Heroes - Jen Ledger

August 31, 2021 Bruce Barber

Band members from Skillet discovered Ledger when they attended church services in the United States, where she was living at the time, and asked Ledger to audition for an open drummer spot in the band. She has been Skillet's drummer and female vocalist since 2008, beginning with their promotional tour for the album “Comatose”.

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