February 2019 Issue – Volume 43 • Number 2
Articles in February 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…
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…
Tama Classic Stand Series
Sturdier versions of vintage-style, lightweight designs for more modern applications. A couple years ago, Tama revived the simple, compact, and lightweight design of cymbal stands from the 1960s with the flat-base Classic model. The company has since fleshed out an…
The Modern Drummer Guide to Reading Rhythms - Part 3
Part 3: 8th Notes and 8th-Note Rests
Lee "Scratch" Perry's Larry McDonald
Larry McDonald’s conga playing is a thread that runs through more than half a century of Jamaican music.
Amedia Jazz Legend and Vision Series Cymbals
Amedia is one of a handful of cymbal companies in Istanbul, Turkey, that employ centuries-old manufacturing methods done primarily by hand.
In Memoriam: Joel Smith
Remembering the hugely influential and multifaceted gospel drummer. Joel Smith, one of the most prolific drummers in the gospel music scene, passed away this past September 8 at the age of fifty-eight. Beginning in the mid ’70s, Smith carved out…
10 Reasons to Love Pete Thomas
Whittling down the list of worthy tracks to just the ten covered here was a difficult task.
Interpol's Sam Fogarino
Like few units before or since, New York’s Interpol truly truly embodies the city's sound and spirit.
The Vintage Double Bass Monster
The Brooklyn-based drummer and educator David Clive, who plays with the New York groups the Nawlins Funk Band, Carla V, and John Putnam and Used Blues, assembled this month’s featured vintage Gretsch beauty. Clive, who also teaches at the College of…
Props to the Drum Shops
When was the last time you visited a music store or drum shop? If you’re like me, you’re probably spending less and less time hanging and talking shop with other local drummers and musicians while picking up a new pair…
New Gear from Tama, Zildjian, Roland, Sabian and more!
Tama Starclassic Performer B/B Exotix Tigerwood Kit and S.L.P. Big Black Steel Snare Tama’s Starclassic Performer BB kit is now available in Gloss Natural Tigerwood and Midnight Blue Tigerwood finishes with Brushed Black Nickel hardware. Features include die-cast hoops and Star-Cast mounting…
Jack Stratton on Vulfpeck's Hill Climber
The multitalented group infuses nasty feels and refreshing sounds into a modern funk setting. Here their founding drummer sounds off on their latest killing outing. Since forming at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance in 2011,…
Scott Quintana with Kacey Musgraves
“Less is more” for the tasteful Nashville touring and session pro, as he accompanies a chart-topping modern country music star around the world.
Dave Elitch’s Getting Out of Your Own Way: A Multitude of Subtleties
Dave Elitch is not happy with all the false prophets out there. And with his new, super in-depth instructional course, he’s on a mission to tell all who will listen how to really take their drumming to the next level.…
Doc Sweeney RX Series Drumset
Doc Sweeney Drums specializes in building top-notch snares and kits out of exotic and domestic woods in solid, single-ply, stave, and now hybrid configurations.
Jawbox’s For Your Own Special Sweetheart
After emerging from Washington D.C.’s legendary late-’80s post-hardcore scene, Jawbox came of age on their 1994 major-label debut—thanks to the addition of powerhouse drummer Zach Barocas. Jawbox was under a great deal of scrutiny when For Your Own Special Sweetheart…
Beck's Chris Coleman
MD checked in with pop/R&B drummer Chris Coleman while he was on tour with Beck. “Beck is very meticulous about every sound that comes off that stage,” says Coleman, “but I couldn’t be more different from his drummer of the…
Bobby Z of the Revolution
No one could ever replace a musician as iconic as Prince. What we still can do, however, is celebrate his life and work with the musicians who helped make him who he was in the first place.
New Recordings from Donald Sturge Anthony McKenzie II, Dan Weiss, and more!
RECORDINGS Taking The Reins Donald Sturge Anthony McKenzie II Silenced One drummer’s unique and bold statement on topical events. On Silenced, accomplished drummer/composer Donald Sturge Anthony McKenzie II and an impressive cast of collaborators (including Nels Cline) navigate a series of…
Karriem Riggins
Drummer/producer Karriem Riggins is a speeding comet blazing across the hip-hop cosmos.
Percussion Kinetics Vector G1 Double Pedal
A strong, smooth option for double-kick players looking to make foot positioning more ergonomic. Percussion Kinetics developed the G1 single pedal several years ago so drummers could sit at the kit with a more natural outward-turned foot position without having to…
Crack The Sky's Joey D'AmicoFebruary 2019
His musical road hasn’t always been smoothly paved—or paved at all.