Tony Williams

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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TONY WILLIAMS : FRED

Few musicians reach such iconic status that their first name alone—Billy, Vinnie, Dennis—is enough to identify them. Tony Williams, one of the earliest drummers to achieve this, stands out among them. His influence on drumming is profound, impacting not only…

Transcription by Marc Atkinson
Jul 1, 2024

Why Influencers Matter

The Drummers Who Forged Charlie Watts’ Style As a teenager in early ‘50s London, Charlie Watts discovered the American jazz art form and was transformed. He became obsessed with anything and everything regarding the American jazz movement—including the fashion and…

By Mike Haid
Oct 29, 2021

Interview with Jazz Musician Tony Williams

Just what is a Tony Williams? Many of his admirers have described his style as: “Free,” “He doesn’t really play rudimental things,” “He’s loose,” “There’s something out of the ordinary about what he does,” and, “It’s different.” If those descriptions…

By Aran Wald
May 17, 2021

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…

Modern Drummer
Feb 26, 2021

Avenues to Excellence

15 MD Cover Artists Reveal the Big Ideas That Put Them on the Road to Success The abundance of educational material online, as well as great teachers to mold your passion and enthusiasm into technique and musicality, are massively beneficial…

Modern Drummer
Aug 28, 2020
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Tony Williams at a Jazz Crossroads

During his years with Miles Davis, beginning in 1963 at age seventeen, Tony Williams radically changed jazz drumming.

by Jeff Potter
Aug 26, 2019

Star Power

History tells us that the first drum star was Gene Krupa.

Modern Drummer
Jun 28, 2019

What’s Your Favorite Tony Williams Album?

In this month’s Jazz Drummer’s Workshop, the Brooklyn-based drummer and educator Mike Alfieri demonstrates ways to develop unique ride patterns inspired by the jazz great Tony Williams. To coincide with the piece, we asked our readers and social media followers…

Modern Drummer
Dec 27, 2018

Roy Haynes, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jack DeJohnette

It was a jazz drumming summit of epic proportions. Roy Haynes, the last of the great drummers of the bebop era; Jack DeJohnette, the most recognizably artful and exploratory drummer of modern times; and Terri Lyne Carrington, TO READ THE…

Documented by Ken Micallef | Photos by Paul La Raia
Mar 29, 2018

The 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time

Whose playing endures through the decades? Whose music do we reach for when we want new ideas? When we want to practice? When we want to laugh? Who inspires and delights us most? TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO…

Entries written by Adam Budofsky, Michael Dawson, and Michael Parillo
Feb 1, 2018

Studies In Style: Part II - Tony Williams

Tony Williams joined Miles Davis in 1963, setting levels of drum technique, musicality and interaction which are models for drummers today. On Miles’ Four and More, the tightness of the rhythm section seems to give Tony the confidence and the…

by Howard I. Joines
Nov 8, 2017

Tony Williams’ Concepts

Developing Tension and Release

by Matt Fisher
Aug 30, 2017
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“Walkin’”

Tony Williams’ Technique, Language, and Innovations

by Ruben Bellavia
Aug 30, 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
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