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.
Russ Kunkel: On Call
Russ Kunkel is a familiar name on the Los Angeles session scene. He has played drums for some of the most well-known artists in the music business. As pulse maker of the rock-jazz quartet, The Section, Kunkel's breezy jazz-flavored playing…
Rock Perspectives: Ride Rhythm Independence
Traditionally, drummers have used the bass and snare drum to execute independent yet interacting rhythms. The ride rhythm, whether played on the ride cymbal or hi-hat, usually was a repetitive steady rhythm, filling in holes and making everything jell. TO…
Drums: On Stage
Has Buddy Rich embarked on a new career in symphonic music? Not really. But he is giving it a try, playing with local symphony orchestras throughout the country. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Complete Percussionist The Beginning Timpanist
Because the timpani are among the "musical" percussion instruments they present special problems for both the beginner and his teacher. The intent of this article is to offer some practical suggestions which will render the teaching of this instrument less…
Butch Miles: Drivin' The Basie Rhythm Machine
It would probably be difficult to name a big band that swings and pulsates more than the dynamic Count Basie Orchestra. For over forty years. Basie has kept his aggregation alive and swinging with his inimitable brand of big band…
Show And Studio Backing Singers
Singers (particularly those with longstanding reputations) are very important to every practical musician in that they have the power to provide jobs for us. And the jobs can be plentiful and pleasant if we take the time to understand our…
Drum Soloist - Steve Gadd: Aja-Steely Dan
Steely Dan's Aja TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - Stick Control Revisited Drumset Applications
This month’s Jazz Drummer’s Workshop features some of my favorite applications of the classic George Lawrence Stone book Stick Control. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Strictly Technique - A Musical Approach To The Single Stroke Roll
The single stroke roll has always presented some interesting points for discussion. The most common method for teaching and practicing this rudiment has basically been alternating sticking, tarting slowly and gradually accelerating to top speed, with no inherent regard for…
Mel Lewis - Straight Ahead
The Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra has been going strong for some thirteen years now, consistent poll winners, and the hit of almost every jazz festival they perform at. All the more reason for my shock when drummer co-leader Mel Lewis…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop Metric Modulation
Among the many lessons to be learned from the playing of Max Roach is the concept of musicality in drumming. This is shown no more clearly than in his solo work, particularly in the fact that Max has almost always…
Teachers Forum - Forming An Approach
A crucial point is the bridge between the subject matter, the student, and the method. The link between the three must be strong if the method and the subject matter are to serve the essential needs of the student. TO…
Strictly Technique Paradiddles For Three Drums
This article is intended to give jazz and rock drummers a means of exploiting to the fullest degree the application of paradiddles around the standard 3 drum outfit: snare, small tom-tom and large tom-tom. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE…
On The Job - Organ And Drum: Making It Work - Making It Swing
For approximately a ten-year period (about 1957-67) bands comprised of tenor sax/organ/drums, guitar/tenor sax/organ/drums, organ/drums, etc. abounded both in the night club and recording arenas. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
