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.
Robert "Sput" Searight
Snarky Puppy’s soul sender has seen tears of joy in the eyes of fans who’ve been starving for the band’s adventurous spirit, meticulous arrangements, and generous vibe. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Catching Up With Rod Morgenstein
“The concept of jam band totally applies,” the famed drummer with fusion greats Dixie Dregs says of his latest album with Jazz Is Dead, “meaning go for it, challenge yourself, and don’t be afraid to take chances.” TO READ THE…
John Legend and Jill Scott’s Rashid Williams
Rashid Williams has always been attracted to powerful people. When he was seven years old and attending church in Jersey City, New Jersey, the drummer with the best groove nabbed the drum chair, whether it was Rashid or the other…
Spock’s Beard’s Jimmy Keegan
Fueling the Flame Story by Will Romano Photos by Alex Solca When frontman and main songwriter Neal Morse left Spock’s Beard in 2002, drummer Nick D’Virgilio assumed the lead role, pulling triple duty as singer, drummer, and guitarist for studio…
BASICS - The Tap Nine
The traditional nine-stroke roll consists of four alternating double strokes followed by a single stroke. It can be played open (clearly articulated) or closed (buzzed). This is a popular rudiment in marching and concert percussion idioms, and I’ve found a…
ROCK 'N' JAZZ CLINIC - Groove Construction Part 1: Snare Displacement
In the first part of this series, we’ll create new grooves by displacing the snare drum. Our basic pattern consists of 8th notes on the hi-hat, snare on beats 2 and 4, and a specific bass drum phrase. Here’s the…
STRICTLY TECHNIQUE - One-Sided Hairtas, Grandmas, and Grandpas
This month we’re going to look at three unusual rudiments: one-sided hairtas, grandmas, and grandpas. These three closely related rudiments are especially useful for drumset fills when playing the accents on toms or cymbals and the unaccented notes on the…
CONCEPTS - The Business of Gigging
This month’s topic, so eloquently summarized by Henry Ford, has been on my mind for a few months. I went to see the Rush R40 tour this past July. I’ve seen Rush many times over the years, but I knew…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Natal - Arcadia Series
The last time we checked out Natal, we talked about their vision to offer a range of high-level drumsets. Each kit comes with the same high-quality components, but it was the species of wood that differentiated each model. The company…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Sabian - HH Remastered Cymbals
For the past couple years, Canadian cymbal company Sabian has been revamping its manufacturing to put greater focus on the old-world hand-hammered stage of its process. We saw the initial results of those efforts with the introduction of the gnarly,…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Van Kleef - Snare Drums
Van Kleef Custom Drums is owned and operated by Alan van Kleef, a UK-based musician-turned-builder who started his career in the ’90s as a live drum & bass performer and studio owner. His workshop is in Sheffield, which is the…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Cymbal Packs
So you’ve never considered a cymbal pack before and generally like to purchase cymbals one at a time based on what your needs are at the moment? That’s totally understandable. But could there be some great advantages to buying a…
Catching Up With... Albert “Tootie” Heath
Catching Up With… Albert “Tootie” Heath The essence of jazz is evident on his latest, Philadelphia Beat—and that means swinging and searching. by Ken Micallef “Art Blakey always said, ‘It’s not what you play in between, it’s how you start…
Catching Up With... Mickey Curry
Catching Up With… Mickey Curry It’s thirty years and counting, tracking and touring with hitmaker Bryan Adams. by Bob Girouard By his own admission, Mickey Curry’s career has been close to idyllic. The New Haven native’s résumé is, to say…
