From The Past
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.
The Legendary Chick Webb
A Profile in Courage For this month’s From the Past article, my focus is on the great Chick Webb, an astoundingly fine player and bandleader from the mid 1920s and ’30s. Chick was a special person who had to overcome…
Gene Krupa
For this series, we’d be very remiss if we didn’t discuss the great swing drummer Gene Krupa. Gene was one of the most prominent people to bring drums to the forefront in an ensemble. Prior to him, the drummer’s role…
Barrett Deems
The Self-Proclaimed “World’s Fastest Drummer” This month I’d like to talk about the great Barrett Deems. Barrett wasn’t as much of a household name in the big band world as Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, or Louie Bellson, but he was…
Joe Morello
Chops Master and Musical Poet Joe Morello inspired thousands of drummers during his long career, which spanned from 1957, the year of his first recording session with Dave Brubeck, to 2011, when he passed away. Morello’s legacy reached a wide…
Louie Bellson
Drummer, Composer, Bandleader, and Double-Bass Pioneer Last month we talked about the father of modern jazz drumming, Papa Jo Jones. This time we’re featuring one of Papa Jo’s disciples, the great jazz artist and drumset innovator Louie Bellson.Bellson was the…
Papa Jo Jones
The Father of Modern Jazz Drumming Papa Jo Jones was the epitome of swing, from his very early days with the Count Basie band in the ’30s until he passed away in 1985. His style, grace, and incredibly musical approach…
John F. Williams: Studio Pioneer
Greatness in music is greatness in character. No more fitting epitaph could pay tribute better than this statement on the loss of drumming great Johnny Williams. TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year…
George Wettling
Someday there may be a poll to elect The Greatest Jazz Band Drummer Of All Time. TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE 15% Digital Monthly Magazine 47 Years of Archives (500+…
From The Past — Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time...
For years, the ever-inventive drum equipment manufacturers have racked their brains. Design engineers have sweated over their T-squares. For what? Very simply, to win in the race for the great innovations—the winning ideas in design and manufacture, if you will.…
From The Past: Chick Webb
The story of Chick Webb is more than the story of a dynamic drummer of the swing era. It's the story of a gallant little man who overcame physical deformity, hardship and pain. TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN…
From The Past: Big Sid Catlett
Sid Catlett, to those unfamiliar with the name, was considered one of the greatest jazz drummers of the 30's and early 40's, and is still recognized as one of the most significant forces in the evolution of the art of…
From The Past - Profile Of A Legend: Dave Tough
Almost without exception, every drummer that has left a mark in the jazz world, will tell you that to some degree, they were influenced by Dave Tough. Who was Dave Tough? TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access…
