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.
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…
Tony Williams
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", "it's different." If those…
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
South Of The Border - Reggae
The Caribbean Islands have long been a source of diverse and interesting music coupled with exciting rhythms. Although the Latin sounds of Cuba and Puerto Rico have been recognized for some time, the music of the English-speaking island of Jamaica…
From The Past: Big Sid Catlett
Sid Catlett, to those unfamiliar with the name, was considered one of the greatest jazz drummers of the 30's and early 40's, and is still recognized as one of the most significant forces in the evolution of the art of…
On The Clinic Trail With Roy Burns
After a lifetime of vast musical experience, Roy now devotes most of his time in the capacity of clinician for the Rogers Drum Company, a job which takes him to cities all across the country. He's very much in demand…
