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Modern Drummer is the world’s most widely read drum magazine, is dedicated entirely to the art of drumming and caters to the needs of amateur, semi-pro, and professional drummers.
Give the Drummer Some!
Hi, everyone! Welcome to the April 2021 issue of MD. I was hoping by the time I would be writing this editorial we’d be back to some sort of normalcy. Unfortunately, such is not the case yet. Fortunately, day-by-day, it’s…
Who Are the Hippest Drummers to Watch in 2021?
It looks like Daru Jones is the right answer. — Sam Brewer Ruy Adrián Lopez-Nussa is definitely a drummer to watch. He and his piano-playing brother have blended Cuban music with jazz improvisation and the dynamic compositional elements of orchestral…
RECORDINGS
Forty-four-year-old German-born drummer/composer Jochen Rueckert has released five swinging and visceral jazz records—all with top New York City players, and all tinged with the drummer’s left-of-center approach. Stars and Garters—which refers to awards and medals—is yet another Rueckert jazz side-swipe…
Milford Graves 1941-2021
John Zorn once called Milford Graves a “20th-century shaman.” It wasn’t just because the pioneering free-jazz drummer created an extremely personal approach to drumming that included ferocious explosions of churning beats across his entire kit, complementary vocalizations, and mid-performance narratives.…
“Rocking with a Radio King”
Calgary teen isn’t precious about gigging with his 1960 Slingerland kit. Taylor Miles is just 15 years old, but he has already earned veteran status with his band, Exit Division. The Calgary, Alberta, alternate-rock group has played tons of gigs…
How It Feels to Be Something On
Sunny Day Real Estate From the cover art alone, you get the sense that something was burning at Sunny Day Real Estate’s core when they released How It Feels to Be Something On in September 1998. The sun image on…
Ed Shaughnessy
For those fortunate enough to have grown up somewhere between 1965 and 1991, whose parents allowed them to stay up until 11:30 at least to hear the famous downbeat to Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, drummer Ed Shaughnessy had to have…
Quiet Riot’s Frankie Banali
Frankie Banali was born in Queens, New York, to Italian immigrants Jack and Martha Banali. In 1975, he moved to Los Angeles, where he spent years honing his craft with many bands on the local scene. In time, he went…
Vinnie Colaiuta on Bromberg Plays Hendrix, Session Work, Retirement, and More
Legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix passed away fifty years ago. This seems unimaginable, as his music, message, and influence are just as powerful and relevant today as they were during his few short years leading a musical revolution for freedom of…
CRITIQUE
RECORDINGS Oz Noy Snapdragon The exploratory guitarist and composer calls upon three drumming legends to cultivate this colorful crop of groovy, multicultural material. This smorgasbord of styles and sounds on Oz Noy’s Snapdragon—jazz, R&B, funk, rock, Latin, boogaloo—provides a bounty…
Trixon: Reborn!
This vintage white marine pearl Trixon kit comes to us from Chicago-based reader Jim Murray, who explains that the set was custom-built for him by superior craftsman Bain Creasy, of Huntington, WV, who has been restoring drums for over fifty…
I’ve learned probably the most from bass players -Tony Williams
I’ve learned probably the most from bass players. Drummers have to work closely with bassists, and I’ve been trying to understand bass players. It’s not just playing your instrument, getting off on how good you are alone. It’s also seeing…
Reset, Reflect, and Revive
Welcome to the March 2021 issue of Modern Drummer. Historically, this is the issue that we create and ship to the annual Winter NAMM Show. Like pretty much every live event planned for 2020 and beyond, however, the in-person 2021…
What are your drumming resolutions for 2021?
Develop my feel, deepen my pocket, and continue composing.Andrew Romanowski This year I hope to finally finish writing my first book!Andy Thurston Better timingandredurandofficial To make way more drums and to supply as many artists with drums as possiblepauledrums Practice…
