Departments
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.
Kikagaku Moyo’s Go Kurosawa
The drummer and vocalist for the Japanese psychedelic band (rough translation: “geometric patterns”) is a modest person with an attitude towards music making that runs counter to the Japanese obsession with technique and “correct” playing. No matter—he’s getting the job…
Bill Lordan’s From the Basement to the Coliseum
Those of us drummers who were raised during the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s and who came up locally playing in multiple bands at a time were dubbed “journeymen.” We’d play with rock, funk, and blues bands, country singers, jazz players—and…
Critique
RECORDINGS Photo by Rahav Segev Dayna Stephens Trio Liberty The leader/tenor saxophonist, bassist Ben Street, and MVP jazz drummer ERIC HARLAND succeed brilliantly in a challenging chord-less format. Eric Harland is frequently praised for his inventive orchestrations and interplay, among…
Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center
Wheaton, Maryland Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center has been in business longer than drum department manager Darren Zentek has been alive—this year marks the store’s sixty-second. Levin’s was initially located in the District proper, before moving just north of the…
Gerry Gibbs
His recent performance video may be untitled, but from a drummer’s standpoint, it’s saying a lot. Gerry Gibbs pays the bills playing various forms of jazz, and has swung his proverbial behind off with Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, and other…
When in Doubt…
I have no idea why, but as I sat here staring at a blank Word document, contemplating which angle to take for this month’s overview, the title of progressive drumming great Bill Bruford’s out-of-print transcription book, When in Doubt, Roll!,…
Steve Jordan, June 1985
I would go down to Boomers to hear Billy Higgins or Philly Joe, and they had this looseness. I wanted to combine that kind of looseness with the syncopation of Jack DeJohnette, but I still wanted it to be a…
Jaki Liebezeit: The Life, Theory and Practice of a Master Drummer
It’s no accident that the rhythm-centric music of the German band Can is still considered cutting-edge decades after they first came to prominence. As a new book makes clear, much of their iconoclasm originated with their fascinating drummer. TO READ…
Rubix Drums, London, England
Rubix is the newest drum retailer to open in London. It’s a drum store with a difference, whose proprietors are also trying to make a difference. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Reflections of My Life
Hi, and welcome to 1970! We editors really enjoy doing these theme issues, and we hope you take as much pleasure from them. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Peter Anderson with the Ocean Blue
Anderson’s driving and tasteful playing beautifully complements the veteran band’s sound, but he’s also been able to put his own rhythmic stamp on the songwriting process TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Patrick Hallahan on Vanessa Carlton's Love Is an Art
Patrick Hallahan’s fantastic work on Vanessa Carlton’s latest album, Love Is an Art, isn’t just another entry in an impressive and ever-expanding list of credits. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
New Releases by Mareike Wiening, Penna, Jerome Jennings, and More
New releases from Mareike Wiening, Penna, Jerome Jennings, Go, Nature Work, Human Feel and more. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
A Life Changed Forever
Modern Drummer readers immediately shared their heartfelt feelings with us when they heard about the passing of drumming icon Neil Peart. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
