
Brian Blade

Celebrate Your Choices for the Extraordinary Drummers of the Past Year It’s that time again for the Modern Drummer staff to thank the community for making possible our annual Readers Poll. Your enthusiasm for all things drumming, your knowledge of drum culture, and your well-considered votes are what have steered …

RECORDINGS Chick Corea Trio Trilogy 2 Jeff Denson Between Two Worlds Two new releases feature a fiery and involved Brian Blade. Chick Corea formed and documented his incredible trio with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Brian Blade several years ago, and now the group returns with Trilogy 2, a new …

We recently checked in with our readers and social media followers to find out which jazz records from the 1990s featured their favorite drumming performances. Here are some of the responses. Kenny Garrett’s album Songbook [1997] would be the one for me. This record has memorable original tunes by Garrett …

Max Weinberg, Jay Weinberg, Michael Giles, Steve Gorman, Blake Dixon, Michael “Leroy” Bram, Obed Calvaire, Gregg Bissonette, Russ Miller, Chris Frantz, Josh Freese, E.J. Strickland, Brian Blade, Mark Zonder

Brian Blade, Lenny White, Ringo Starr, Wuv, Roy Burns, Buddy Miles, Simon Phillips, Brian Reitzell, Ryan MacMillan, Chad Szeliga, Rexsell Hardy Jr., Chris “Gartdrumm” Gartmann

Jimmy Chamberlin, Stanton Moore, Rod Morgenstein, Mike Portnoy, Bashiri Johnson, Brian Blade, Trilok Gurtu, Joey Jordison, John “Bermuda” Schwartz, Devon Glenn, Aled Richards, Ted Kirkpatrick, Zac Hanson, Mike Portnoy, Danny Carey, Dave Weckl, Omar Hakim

Brian Blade, Jim Donovan, Jim DiSpirito, Dony Wynn, Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste, Ginger Fish, Jimmy Crawford, Tony Williams, Ted Reed, King Coffey, Sly Dunbar, Tony Braunagel, Peter Furler, John Fishman, Michael Schrieve, Mike Bordin, Kenny Aronoff,
Posted: April 25, 2019

Bernard Fowler of the Rolling Stones
Talking About New Album, Percussionists/Drummers, and Gear Hello everyone in Modern Drummer land! Inside Out is the name of my new LP and it’s a reinterpretation of songs written by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger for the Rolling Stones. As I was finishing up my last LP, The Bura, I …
Posted: January 10, 2019

Darren Beckett of Brandon Flowers in On The Beat
Hello Modern Drummer readers, I’m honored to be featured in my first “On The Beat!”
Posted: May 15, 2018

On The Beat with Adrian Varady of Guitarist and Composer Andreas Varady: Talks Gear, Influences, and New Album
Hello MD! My name is Adrian Varady and I play with my dad and brother. I’m fifteen years old.
Posted: March 31, 2017
Jeff Friedl On Tour With A Perfect Circle
Devo, Puscifer, and Ashes Divide drummer Jeff Friedl is backing the hard rock supergroup A Perfect Circle on its first U.S. tour in six years, with dates booked through early May.
Posted: September 20, 2016
On the Beat With Robby Cosenza of Vandaveer: Talks Influences and Studio Sessions
Wow, MD—it’s an honor! I’m a touring musician (Vandaveer, Horse Feathers, and Small Batch, among others) and the session drummer at Shangri-la Productions with producer Duane Lundy in Lexington, Kentucky.
Posted: August 1, 2016
On the Beat With Ivar Loe Bjornstad of the Hedvig Mollestad Trio: 6 Tips on Practicing and Playing
Hi MD! My name is Ivar Loe Bjoernstad and I’d like to share a few words about some things I consider important.
Posted: June 9, 2015
Dave Elitch
Antemasque’s Drummer on Education, Listening Skills, and Knowing Who You Are.
Posted: March 24, 2014
Initial Lineup Announced for 2014 Blue Note Jazz Festival
With over 150 performances at more than fifteen venues throughout New York City, the 2014 Blue Note Jazz Festival will be held Sunday, June 1 through Monday, June 30. Ticket information and a current schedule of events and locations are available on the official website, www.BlueNoteJazzFestival.com….
Posted: August 29, 2013
In the Studio: Seeing Sounds, Part 4: Classic Jazz (October 2013 Issue)
Click here to check out part 4 of our In the Studio series, “Seeing Sounds,” which covers classic jazz drum tones.
Posted: May 24, 2013
Mack Longpre of Chloe Charles
Greetings from Toronto! My name is Mack Longpre. I’m a twenty-four-year-old drummer and baseball enthusiast who holds Tim Horton’s coffee and baked goods close to my heart. I’d love to take this opportunity to share a bit about myself and to talk about the people who have helped, taught, and …
Posted: April 30, 2013
June 2013 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Joey Waronker
See what’s in the June 2013 Issue of Modern Drummer Magazine! Featuring Joey Waronker.
Posted: January 28, 2013
NAMM 2013 in Photos
It’s that time of year again, when the makers of dreams—or at least the equipment that helps them come true—show off the latest and greatest gear that will be available in the upcoming months. What’s the catch? Not everyone is invited! Never fear, the Modern Drummer editors have it covered. …
Posted: October 17, 2012
Canopus Ash Standard Drumset
Click here to check out Canopus’s new Ash Standard drumset.
Posted: August 15, 2012
Nate Smith
As a member of Dave Holland’s big band, quintet, and octet, Nate Smith holds, well, three of the most cherished gigs in jazz. Holland, a revered bass player who started his own musical quest with Miles Davis in the ’60s, has nurtured many a drummer in his high-octane ensembles, and …
Posted: April 19, 2012
Phil “NaturalPhil??? Johnson
A few months back Michael and I finally had time to jam out in one of the studio sessions I had planned. We mesh really well together and are musically in sync, so when we get together it just works. I love classical styles and blurring it with contemporary music, …
Posted: July 5, 2011
Joao Lencastre
My name is Joao Lencastre and I was born in Lisbon, Portugal. I started to play the drums at the age of thirteen. Since I started playing I’ve been collaborating with many different groups in all styles of music, including metal, reggae, Afrobeat, electronic, big band, alternative rock, and all …
Posted: July 1, 2011
MD Readers Poll 2011 Results
Welcome once again to the MD Readers Poll, where the greatest drummers on the planet are honored by the most educated drum fans around. Let’s get right to it: the envelope, please….
Posted: October 10, 2010

Now, what's on the MD editors' musical minds this month…
by Associate Editor Michael Parillo I’m going to focus on live music this time, because I was lucky enough to see two wonderful bands and two amazing drummers in NYC last month. First up was BRIAN BLADE and the Fellowship at the Village Vanguard. Whoa! Blade got right down to …
Posted: October 10, 2010
Now, what’s on the MD editors’ musical minds this month…
by Associate Editor Michael Parillo I’m going to focus on live music this time, because I was lucky enough to see two wonderful bands and two amazing drummers in NYC last month. First up was BRIAN BLADE and the Fellowship at the Village Vanguard. Whoa! Blade got right down to …
Posted: May 20, 2008
Brian Blade: Always Be Reacting
Brian Blade has performed and recorded with some of the greatest musicians of this or any era….
Posted: April 25, 2008
Marcus Baylor of The Yellowjackets
Hello, MD family! 2008 has been a blessed and busy year, with more great things to come! My name is Marcus Baylor, and I am the drummer with The Yellowjackets.
Posted: April 10, 2008
Tony Nesbitt-Larking with The Most Serene Republic
With our new CD, Population, hot off the press, and with the backing of Yaris and Arts & Crafts, we hit the road last October for a two-month mega-tour across Canada and the US.
Posted: January 16, 2008
Best Of ’07
I’m convinced that, ten years from now, we’re going to look back at 2007 as an unusually fertile time in music and in drumming.
Posted: January 11, 2008
Johnny Vidacovich
Johnny Vidacovich is one of a rare breed of musicians whose individual sound is so unique, it’s instantly identifiable….
Posted: May 1, 2006
Prairie Prince: An Interview
Prairie Prince was born on May 7, 1950 in Charlotte, North Carolina and has been a founding member of art-rock band The Tubes since 1969. He was also a major player in getting the band Journey off the ground, and over the years he’s worked with Brian Eno, Jefferson Airplane, …
Posted: May 12, 2004
Elvin Jones
On the eve of his seventy-fifth birthday, Elvin Ray Jones exhibits the relaxed demeanor and lean physique of a weathered–but still dangerous–championship athlete. When he smiles, which is often, he still looks like he’s twenty-five. His sense of humor is sharp, his intellect acute. And as anyone who has seen …