I’m literally happy to be sitting in the jazz-drumming-column chair for Modern Drummer. It’s a well-worn seat that I’ve occupied from time to time over the years. If I stand accused of being too wordy, well, then I plead “guilty as charged.” It’s a tricky business putting licks into words. My first column for this year chronicled my sense of a change in my own playing—an arrival of sorts. I wrote it as a letter to my university students at the Thornton School of Music. I also sent it to my oldest and closest friend from high school. Here is his reply: “I’ve just read your mail to your students. Thanks for sending it to me. I paid attention in your letter—knowing ‘a thing’ had happened. That was super clear. Speaking this to your students is courageous and real and it is inspirational. What happened. No question mark. I’ll take […]

February 2022 Issue