As Miles Davis said, "A drummer like Tony comes around only once in 30 years."
Read moreDan Britt: remembering Tony Williams
In Memorian: Ralph Humphrey
“Throughout his career — the live performances, studio recordings, method books, videos, drum-solo compositions, teaching — Ralph eschewed the usual trappings of success, and maintained his customary integrity and humility. He was an outstanding leader and soloist, with the sensibility of an ensemble player. He never flashed his superpowers, though he had many: flawless technique, stylistic versatility, laser focus, adaptability, eagerness to learn, calm temperament, dedication to his students, and professionalism at all times. His keen ear and obsession with tuning his drums helped make him one of the best sounding drummers on record.” -Ruth Underwood
Read moreSponsor: John Crocken Drum Sticks - hand crafted historic designs
i endorse Crocken Drum Sticks. No one else hand crafts sticks like these and nothing else feels like them. As Mr. Crocken says, they are fun to use. -George Lawrence
Read moreFrom The Editor
I was overwhelmed with the generosity of you subscribers who donated to NSMD during the first annual fund drive this past month.
Read moreGrowing Up In The Shadow Of Joe Morello: Part Three -- Remembering Joe Sefcik
As for Joe Sefcik, he was a bit intimidating if you hadn't practiced when you showed up for your lesson! You could feel his disappointment, but then he would show lots of patience, as any good teacher would, and get you back on track! -Rick Schlosser
Read moreIn Search Of (not with Leonard Nimoy) Vintage Drum Parts
My cousin, Dean Stewart who lives in Alabama, is a drummer and vintage drum collector (yes, the disease runs in the family). He’s looking for a number of parts.
Read moreLudwig Finishes of the Blue/Olive Badge Era
This study reviews data gathered from a representative sample of Ludwig Blue/Olive badge drums produced from very late 1969 (earliest date stamps are Thanksgiving week 1969) through about 1984.
Read moreThree Lang/NSMD Gladstone engraved gold Triumphal prototypes (#s 1, 2, 3) from 2004-2005.
Here are three Lang/NSMD Gladstone engraved gold Triumphal prototypes (#s 1, 2, 3) from 2004-2005. I purchased these from John Aldridge who was the engraver of these snare drums. John’s company at the time, NSMD Co., also supplied the shells for these drums.
Read moreBuddy Rich the Singer
…album titled Sing and Swing with Buddy Rich, recorded in 1955. This album is unique because Buddy is not the drummer (except for one out of the 5 songs,) rather, he sings on the full album. Buddy had not been featured as the lead vocalist in this caliber in the past. The reason he drums on one song is because there are no vocals.
Read moreA Significant Problem In Reading Rhythm
Having to read combinations of rhythm that are divided by two to a beat then three to a beat within the same bar can sometimes represent a significant problem for beginning students.
Read moreUpdate: my MIJ Lido Supreme 4 pc. jazz kit in "Fantasia Pearl" project
I disassembled, cleaned and refurbished this four piece drum kit made by Pearl in Japan. 12/14/20/14 .It’s one of the rarer MIJ sixties stencils - LIDO SUPREME - and one of the rarest and zowiest colors - fantasia pearl.
Read moreBrian Dunne: Live At Daryl's House
Brian Dunne has played on thousands of gigs since his high school days - yet, Brian’s greatest notoriety comes from his longtime affiliation with the hit television series, ‘Live At Daryl’s House’ which is presently recording a brand new season – Brian is once again playing with some of finest musicians on the planet. He credits his success to networking and lots of luck with each new gig leading to something else.
Read moreRIP Dino Danelli July 23, 1944 – December 15, 2022
Mr. Danelli, a protégé of the great jazz drummers Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, merged percussive virtuosity with a rock sensibility. Like Ringo Starr of the Beatles, he set the template for the rock drummer archetype: disciplined and precise, but with a flair that drew the crowd’s eye. He would twirl his sticks — a trick he learned from his sister, a cheerleader — and throw them in the air, before catching them without dropping the beat.
Read moreAll Tied up
I’ve found that many drummers have difficulty when a drum arrangement is full of tied notes. No doubt one of the reasons has to do with the lack of practice reading material with tied notes in drum books.The rhythm in the following etude is simple, but it’s replete with ties. Reading it perfectly at sight may prove challenging even for drummers experienced in reading charts
Read moreNAIVE OR JUST PLAIN STUPID?
I was actually unaware that there were tiny bottles of liquor for sale--I simply assumed they were free samples given to hotels for their guests as advertisements. Before going home I took all the small bottles from the fridge thinking I would give them to friends, and packed them into my drum case with the snare.
Read more3+3+3+3+2+2 = Four Three Stroke Rolls + A Single Stroke Four
Editor’s Note: Richard Best sent me this thing he’s been working on for his students. He’s calling it variations on the classic 3+3+3+3+2+2 rhythm. There are two rudiments within these patterns.
Read moreLudwig Finishes in the 1960s
Just how common are each of the wraps and finishes that Ludwig used during the 1960s? This study reviews data gathered from a representative sample of Ludwig Keystone badge drums produced from late 1960 through late 1969.
Read moreSimmons Mania
Alex played a monstrous set with the core of the set centered on Simmons bass drums and toms with an acoustic snare drum and an array of Paiste 2002 cymbals. I had thought the Simmons drums sounded pretty cool and unique when the album came out that March but that night at the concert, the sound of those Simmons drums coming from the PA rattled my teeth and just exploded with low end. One round house fill around the toms sent chills up my 15 year old spine and it was then and there that I knew I wanted a set.
Read more1920s Ludwig White Enamel Snare Drums
In 2020, I traded a few Slingerland snare drums for this 1923 – 1926 Ludwig All Metal Separate Tension snare drum. It was in rough shape and needed a lot of work.
Read moreRare 1952 Leedy & Ludwig Broadway Parallel Snare Anomaly
This drum is a leftover 1930s Leedy 6.5”x14”, “Broadway Parallel”. The finish is blue and silver Duco, and is equipped with a solid, 1-ply maple shell.
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