The following etude is a primary example of the idea that things sometimes look simpler than they are. It’s comprised of just quarter and eighth notes, but you have to concentrate in order to play from start to finish without stopping and, of course, without making a mistake.
Read moreLeedy & Ludwig Zebra finish
The ad is from the Sept. 10, 1952 issue of Downbeat Magazine
Read morePick Your Target
One thing that I always admired about Buddy Rich was the way he set up figures. He had a way of announcing and drawing attention to horn lines that was absolutely beautiful.
Read moreMy Three Black Beauty Snare Drums
In 1977, Ludwig revived the legendary Black Beauty. Apparently, the drum was named by Paul Whiteman, conductor of the first performance of “Rhapsody in Blue” in New York’s Aeolian Hall. The drummer was George Marsh. He was playing his Ludwig and Ludwig Deluxe which Whiteman described as a “Black Beauty” because of its sleek black appearance and brilliant sound.
Read moreBuddy Rich’s “Birdland” Album Will Be Re-Released
A special limited edition version of Buddy Rich’s best-selling live album ‘Birdland’ will be released July 21, 2023 featuring an exclusive translucent red vinyl.
Read moreFounder John Aldridge checks in
Wow! I hadn't realized how long its been since I wrote anything up here. A short update: I'm still with REO Speedwagon, drum teching a mostly electronic kit (except the cymbals).
Read moreThe Paradiddle Bible and the Humble Single Paradiddle - Part 2
Linear paradiddle exercises between the cymbal, bass drum, and snare drum.
Read moreAre you talking to me?
We’ve all at one time or another been advised to "just listen” and we would be told the answer to whatever it is that’s is confusing us..
Read moreJoe La Barbera: Remembering Tony Williams
When Miles came to Boston to play Lennie’s on the Turnpike in 1967 my brothers and I were there. The band now included Wayne Shorter and Joe Henderson on tenors plus Eddie Gomez filling in
for Ron Carter. Needless to say, they blew the walls down. At one point Tony had played so hard that Miles jokingly threw a towel at him to wipe his face.
Read moreJim Catalano – Personal Reflections on a 36-year Career with the Ludwig Drum Company
Jim delighted a packed audience at the 2022 Chicago Drum Show by giving a clinic sharing his personal experiences throughout almost 4 decades in the drum business. I have transcribed Jim’s clinic below for those who were not able to attend and hope you will enjoy Jim’s wonderful anecdotes and shared life lessons
Read moreMy Yellow Orange Kit
a deal was struck with the Jacques Capelle company to produce drums under the Orange name. Capelle was founded in Paris in 1908 and was already well known for their uniquely designed bass drum pedals and hi-hats, which are still very desirable among collectors.
Read moreDW Timeless Timber Maple 7 piece for DrumsForCures’ charity #40/100
Reduced to $12,600. Proceeds will benefit DrumsForCures :: DRUMSTRONG.org 501c3
Read moreAt DrumSellers.com! Vintage Sonor Lite drum set
Ken Lovelett, owner of American Percussion Instruments has posted for sale this gorgeous and rare set of Sonor Lites in small (bop?) sizes at www.drumsellers.com.
Read more1920s Leedy Elites Family Portrait
Certain shell depths are more rare than others. The 5 x 14 is the most common size. It is a toss-up between the 4 x 14 and 6 x 14 as to the 2nd most rare of the Elite sizes, but the rarest of all is the 7 x 14 Elite.
Read moreAnnouncing the Winner of the Gus Moeller Drum Stick Give Away
The winner of the pair of the July Gus Moeller Drum Sticks Give Away is Laura Kerr of New Mexico.
Read more1970s Wooding Cristalline Kit
Wooding drums were produced by Hollywood Meazzi in Italy. Meazzi made several lines of high-quality drums during the 1960’s and 1970’s. At one point, their endorsee roster included Max Roach, who had his own signature kit. Jack DeJohnette and Billy Cobham also had Meazzi kits.
Read moreOccam Was Onto Something (w Simon Phillips videos)
(editor’s note; It is clear from this image that William of Ockham invented the traditional grip 1000 years ago)
Micro Practice
We do ‘micro practice’ all the time. We work on a single thing: single strokes, double strokes, lines from Stick Control and the like. Why? Because it works. Reducing our focus to a single item reaps big rewards. When learning a new figure, I will often take a 2-beat or even a 1-beat section and work on it exclusively. Then, when I tackle the whole thing, I’ve got a good handle on each part.
Playing Time vs Playing Within The Time
My first introduction to Tony Williams was the Miles Davis album 'Miles in Europe.' Inconceivable to me that Tony was keeping time. He was playing his 'parts' (yes, plural) 'within' the time. (And killing it!) Elvin Jones with John Coltrane? More plural 'parts' within the time. (And more killing!) Max Roach played pstterns and melodies. Jimmy Cobb often played straight quarter notes on the cymbal. To me, that was his part in the music. And so on.....
Read more1929- L&L Super-Sensitives--family portrait
Family portrait time here at Curotto Acres. Ludwig & Ludwig Super-Sensitives were around from 1929 to 1935-36. They do not appear in a Ludwig catalog past 1935 but I have heard of a few wood examples from the early 1940s.
Read moreStaccato kit in Bop Sizes ; rare?
I recently bougth a Staccato kit in bop-sizes. I've researched the he** out of this but cant find much. Reach out to the family of Pete T, with no Lucky, and wrote to Micha in Germany as he is supposed to be a wizard. No luck there either.
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