jazz

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.

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Denny Seiwell

His new, Grammy-nominated album represents a major return to his roots as a jazz artist. “That’s why we call it Boomerang,” says the drummer, whose first rock ’n’ roll recording was Paul McCartney’s hit 1971 album, Ram. “A boomerang comes…

Story by Bob Girouard
Dec 27, 2018

Roy Haynes’ Phrasing

Modern Interpretations and Variations

by Mike Alfieri
Oct 30, 2018

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra's John Riley Chats With VJO Sub Paul Wells

When you take over the drum chair associated with a bona fide legend, there’s a huge responsibility to get it right. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN

Modern Drummer
May 3, 2018

What’s Your Favorite 1970s Jazz or Fusion Drumming Album?

This month, as we delve into the music and drumming of 1978, we asked our readers and social media followers to name some of their favorite records from the entire decade. Here they weigh in on great ’70s jazz and…

Modern Drummer
Apr 25, 2018

Rhythmic Conversions - Part 5: Brazilian Grooves and the Half-Note Triplet

In this lesson we’ll superimpose a new tempo over an existing pulse using a half-note-triplet subdivision. We’ll then manipulate the subdivision to create Brazilian grooves in the new tempo. I recommend that you practice these patterns with a metronome and…

by Steve Fidyk
Oct 31, 2017
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The Importance of the Offbeat

Tracing Its Use in Rock, Pop, and Jazz

by Peter Erskine
Sep 27, 2017

Jazz in the 21st Century

Many scholars argue that jazz, which was first documented on record one hundred years ago by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, is America’s greatest musical gift to the world. I couldn’t agree more. I mean, what other art form encapsulates…

by Mike Dawson
Aug 30, 2017

Playing Melodically

Part 3: Stickings and Interpretations

by Peter Erskine
Jun 28, 2017

Playing Melodically - Part 2: Freddie Hubbard’s Solo on “Make It Good”

Last month we took a jazz melody, Charlie Parker’s “Billie’s Bounce,” and implied its melodic rhythm on the snare. This month we’ll phrase trumpet great Freddie Hubbard’s solo on “Make It Good” from the 1967 Duke Pearson album The Right…

Peter Erskine
May 31, 2017

Swing Interpretations - Modern Groove Applications

There's an interesting relationship between two-note (binary) and three-note (ternary) subdivisions that can help you develop better vocabulary and feel on the drumset. To understand this relationship, play an 8th-note triplet with your right hand while playing a straight 8th-note…

Stephane Chamberland
May 31, 2017

Playing Melodically - Part 1: “Billie’s Bounce”

In this new series I hope to present my thoughts and pass along some experience and insights on playing jazz. These lessons will largely deal with the symbiotic relationship between playing what the mind hears versus what the hands and…

Peter Erskine
Apr 26, 2017

Vic Firth - Modern Jazz Collection

The Modern Jazz Collection is another collaborative effort, but this time the company forwent signatures for simple monikers (MJC1, MJC2, MJC3, MJC4, and MJC5) to increase appeal among all drummers. Let’s check them out! TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE…

Michael Dawson
Apr 26, 2017
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Beyond the Noteheads - Part 3: Varying Your Transcriptions

This month we’ll apply variations to some of the transcribed phrases from Part 2 of this series (March 2017). This process truly has no limits. I find that being opened-minded to practicing transcriptions with this method helps energize my practice…

Steve Fidyk
Mar 29, 2017

Ziv Ravitz

The leader and accomplice to jazz heavies Shai Maestro, Omer Avital, Joe Lovano, Esperanza Spalding, Ben Monder, Avishai Cohen, and many others obeys one master: the urgency of now. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN

Jeff Potter
Mar 29, 2017
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