Features
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.
Talking Heads’ Remain in Light
A hybrid of rock, funk, African, and dance music, their fourth studio album, 1980’s Remain in Light, has often been cited as the pinnacle of their musical experimentation.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Brian Chase
Brian Chase should demand your attention. He is the rare musician who’s as much at home drumming behind the ecstatic yawp of punk legends the Yeah Yeah Yeahs as he is jousting with the cream of New York City’s improvising coterie.
Josh Groban’s Kaz Rodriguez
Take a perusal of London-based drummer Kaz Rodriguez’s social media videos, and it quickly becomes evident that he cannot be easily pigeonholed.
Ani DiFranco’s Terence Higgins
Terence Higgins somehow manages to balance projects with Ani DiFranco, Don Was, George Porter & Ivan Neville, John Medeski’s Mad Skillet, and Tab Benoit
Drum Wisdom: Bruce Becker
Bruce Becker is an L.A.-based teacher regarded as a guru of the mechanics of drumming. His colleagues refer to him as “Yoda,” “the Master,” “the Technique Guy.”
The Moody Blue's Graem Edge
The Moodies were (and still are) technologically advanced for the times—any times—and because of that, in those early days, their music was sometimes construed as pretentious.
Blues Drummers: Part 2
Blues legends S.P. Leary and Fred Below, Stevie Ray Vaughn's Chris Layton, Jimmy Johnson's Fred Grady, and Robert Cray's David Olson.
Joe Smyth — The Big Break
Through talent, fate, or whatever, he's now playing drums with one of the most popular country/rock bands performing today, Sawyer Brown.
Panama Francis
In a career that has spanned half a century, Panama Francis has made his mark as both a big band and a rock 'n' roll drummer.
Smash Palace’s Harry Lewis
His movements were overemphasized, and his sound cut through like a cannon. Also, although his concentration was intense, he offered direct eye contact with the audience.
Modern Jazz Quartet's Connie Kay
Lyrical, intelligent, compositionally balanced, and swinging as well, MJQ's music crossed over to audiences other than just jazz fans.
Jerry Kroon - Nashville Studio
This interview should be required reading for anyone contemplating moving to Nashville to attempt to break into the studio scene.
Barrett Deems—World's Fastest Drummer
Inside Randolph Square, Barrett Deems did indeed propel a quartet of Chicago musicians with a clean, swinging performance—effortlessly.
