
Jeff Hamilton

The Percussive Arts Society held its annual international convention this past November 14–17 at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis.

For 50 years—with relatively brief interruptions—Woody Herman has led one of the greatest of all big bands. And not surprisingly, he’s had some of the greatest drummers driving his band.

Jeff Hamilton knows that he’s lucky. Either as a band member or a sub, he’s worked in such coveted situations as the Woody Herman big band, the Monty Alexander trio, the Count Basie Orchestra (in November, 1984, after Basie’s death), and the L.A. 4. He’s even led his own band, …

RECORDINGS Photo by John Dankwardt Dan Pugach Nonet Plus One Playful throwback jazz nudged beyond nostalgia by its drummer/leader. The primary factor that seems to separate the Dan Pugach Nonet (“nonet” in this context refers to a nine-piece collective) from so much contemporary jazz is Pugach’s grasp that jazz—and its …

His early obsession with jazz might have been out of step with the rock ’n’ roll dreams of most kids his age.

As the most visible drummer on network TV for three decades, he helped America understand what big band drumming was all about. But there was more to his story—much more.

Steve Jordan, Jeff Davis, Chad Szeliga, Christoph Schneider, Edgar Livengood, Eric Bobo, John Eriksson, Jose Medeles, Jeff Hamilton, Scott Devours, Jorden Burns

Stanton Moore, George Kollias, Calvin Rodgers, Will Calhoun, Jeff Hamilton, Debbi Peterson, Kevin Rice, Pete Wilhoit, Anthony Citrinite, Brian Downey, Max Roach, Jason Gianni

Glenn Kotche, Neil Peart, Jim Keltner, Greg Saunier, Kim Plainfield, Seven Antonopoulos, Robin Diaz, Sam Loeffler, Shawn Glyde, Christian Welter, Chris Pennie, Yogi Horton, Roy Mayorga, Jack DeJohnette, Gavin Harrison, Jeff Hamilton, Stanton Moore

Stephen Perkins, Chris McHugh, Jeff Hamilton, Adam Carson, Mark Guiliana, Paul Motian, Scott Rockenfield, Abe Fogel, Thomas Pridgen, Trevor Friedrich, Jack DeJohnette, Brian Tichy, Myles Heskett, Tony Williams, Jason McGerr, Butch Miles, Ed Shaughnessy, Bruce Gary

Dave Grohl, Ralph MacDonald, Dave King, Rich Beddoe, Diana Krall, Matt Sorum, Susie Ibarra, Jason McGerr, Troy Luccketta, Dana Hammond, Steve Goulding, Andrea Centazzo, Walfredo Reyes Jr., Jeff Hamilton, Terry Bozzio

Morgan Rose, Ed Toth, Sherrie Maricle, Charles Collins, Earl Young, Chad Sexton, Zach Danziger, John Stanier, Evan Stone, Steve Fidyk, John Bonham, Art Blakey, Josh Freese, Tony Royster Jr., Jeff Hamilton

Brad Wilk, Al Foster, Ged Lynch, Mike Wengren, Chad Smith, Stewart Copeland, Terri Lyne Carrington, Nick Tosco, Mike Clark, Rick Woolstenhulme, Jerry Leoni, Viola Smith, Armand Zildjian, Abe Laboriel Jr., Jeff Hamilton, Chad Wackerman

Mike Bordin, Simon Phillips, Billy Cobham, Jerry Marotta, Peter Erskine, Carmine Appice, Ed Thigpen, Jeff Hamilton, Kenneth Schalk, Paul John Jr., Adrian Passarelli, Lynn Coulter, Grant Collins, Jose Pasillas, Danny Carey, Kenny Aronoff, Billy Kilson

Dave Weckl, Ginger Fish, Max Roach, Virgil Donati, Han Bennink, Zakir Hussain, Jack Gavin, Kevin Miller, Scott Rockenfield, Jon Christensen, Mark Zonder, Carlomango Araya, Paul Clarvis, Ron Spagnardi, Ed Breckenfeld, John Riley, Jennie Hoeft, Michael Miller, T. Bruce Wittet, Jeff Hamilton, Alan White, Zach Danziger

Will Kennedy, Stefanie Eulinberg, Paul Doucette, Jeff Hamilton, Al 3, Dave Buckner, Richie Hayward, Tony Fagenson, Vinnie Amico, Cody Dickinson, Vinnie Colaiuta, Akira Jimbo, Ian Paice, Butch Trucks, Andrew Barr, Eric Kalb, Michael Travis, Joe Russo
Harvey Mason, Barrett Miller, Dave Weckl, Terry Bozzio, Will Kennedy, Eddie Bayers, Carey, Jo Jo Mayer, Jeff Hamilton, Glen Velez, Philly Joe Jones, Pete Sandoval, Dan Rieser, Kenny Aronoff, Harvey Sorgen , Ian Wallace, Petur Smith, Billy Lee Lewis, Rod Morgenstein
Horacio “el Negro” Hernandez, Jeff Hamilton, Zachary Alford, Robin Goodridge, Tony Coleman, Joey DeFrancesco, Bill Saragosa, Paul Fox, Michael Shrieve, Fred Young, Donny Brown, Carl Palmer, Stephen Perkins, David Garibaldi

Roy Haynes, Lewis Nash, Ted Parsons, Gene Lake, Jay Schellen, Steve Gorman, Eddie Hedges, Chris McCann, Biff Adam, Jeff Hamilton, Matt Cameron

Billy Cobham, Tico Torres, Jeff Hamilton, Vinny Appice, Pete Magadini, Ed Soph, Gary Chaffee
Posted: October 13, 2022

Drumming’s Biggest Names To Play LIVE Tribute to Their Big Band Heroes
Seven All-Star Drummers Including Peter Erskine, Dennis Chambers, Russ Miller and Steve Smith will Perform October 20 and 21 HITKOR (www.hitkor.com) today announced its first-ever charity event which will take place over two days in mid-October. “A Salute to the Big Band Greats” will feature performances from all-star drummers Peter …
Posted: April 20, 2017
Stephen Morris Named 2017 Yamaha Young Performing Artist
Yamaha Artist Services Indianapolis, in conjunction with the Band and Orchestral division of Yamaha Corporation of America, has announced the winners of the 2017 Yamaha Young Performing Artists (YYPA) Competition, which include jazz drummer, composer, and educator Stephen Morris of Aliso Viejo, Ohio. The YYPA program has honored promising eighteen- …
Posted: September 6, 2016
On the Beat With Terry Bozzio: Talks Artistry, Music, and 2016 Tour
Hello my dear drum brothers! Some of you may not know who I am or what I’ve done for the past few years, or may not follow me because I don’t fit into the popular music scene much these days. Many of you younger drummers may not even know who …
Posted: April 25, 2016
Thomas Lang Presents Fifth Annual Big Drum Bonanza
Drummer/producer Thomas Lang (stOrk/Paul Gilbert) has announced that Big Drum Bonanza 2016 (BDB2016) will take place June 28 to July 2 at the Palm Garden Hotel in Thousand Oaks, California. Drummers of all ages, levels, and styles are invited to join Thomas Lang and his special guest instructors, including world-renowned …
Posted: March 31, 2016

May 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Andrés Forero of Hamilton
(Available digitally March 31, 2016; in print April 1, 2016) Print Copy ○ iTunes ○ Amazon ○ GooglePlay ○ Subscribe On the Cover Andrés Forero “Andrés Forero is one of the most creative and versatile players of our time, and his participation in Hamilton solidifies his stature as one of …
Posted: March 31, 2016
May 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Andrés Forero of Hamilton
(Available digitally March 31, 2016; in print April 1, 2016) Print Copy ○ iTunes ○ Amazon ○ GooglePlay ○ Subscribe On the Cover Andrés Forero “Andrés Forero is one of the most creative and versatile players of our time, and his participation in Hamilton solidifies his stature as one of …
Posted: January 29, 2016
Jeff Hamilton: Swinging Support
Here the on-the-move drummer talks with MD Online about his new record and shares his wisdom on swing mastery….
Posted: November 2, 2015
Dom Famularo’s Teachers List
Over the course of his forty-year career traveling the globe to teach, perform, and conduct clinics, Dom Famularo has interacted with some of the finest drummers and drum instructors in the world. The following list contains many of those names, organized by country/continent. If you’re looking for top-notch drum instruction, …
Posted: May 11, 2015
Modern Drummer Education Team Weighs In On: Learning Other Instruments
We asked the members of the Modern Drummer Education Team if they felt that it’s important for drummers to learn to play other instruments (piano, bass, guitar, etc.), or should they focus on honing their craft at the kit exclusively? Here’s what they had to say….
Posted: May 4, 2015
Thomas Lang Announces Big Drum Bonanza 2015
Drummer/producer Thomas Lang (stOrk/Paul Gilbert), has announced the Big Drum Bonanza 2015 (#BDB2015), which will take place July 1 through 5 at the Palm Garden Hotel in Thousand Oaks, California.
Posted: February 5, 2015
News: Crescent Cymbals Acquired by Sabian
Effective January 31, 2015, Sabin has acquired Crescent Cymbals…
Posted: April 23, 2014
Thomas Lang Announces Big Drum Bonanza 2014
Drummer/producer Thomas Lang (stOrk/Paul Gilbert) has announced that the Big Drum Bonanza 2014 will take place July 2–6 at the Palm Garden Hotel in Thousand Oaks, California. Drummers of all ages, levels, and styles are invited to join Lang and other special guest instructors, including Chris Coleman (Stevie Wonder), Matt …
Posted: April 16, 2014
KoSA Percussion Workshops
The 2014 South Florida Percussion Workshop/KoSA Miami will take place…
Posted: March 26, 2014
May 2014 Issue of Modern Drummer Featuring Jim Riley
See what’s in the May 2014 issue of Modern Drummer Magazine featuring drummer Jim Riley…
Posted: November 4, 2013
Max Kuehn of Fidlar
Hey, dudes! My name is Max Kuehn, and I’m the drummer of Fidlar, from Los Angeles, California. We are currently on a North American tour with our buddies the Orwells….
Posted: July 2, 2012
Stanton Moore, Jeff Hamilton, and Partners Launch Crescent Cymbal Company
Stanton Moore has announced the launch of a new cymbal company, Crescent…..
Posted: May 31, 2012
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Teaching Feel
We asked the MD Education Team if feel could be taught. See what they had to say….
Posted: March 30, 2012
New Gear For 2012! Highlights From Winter NAMM (A–D)
New Gear For 2012! Highlights From Winter NAMM (A–D) Here are some of the coolest new products coming down the pipeline for 2012, all of which were on display at the annual Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, this past January.
Posted: March 19, 2012
Tim Walsh of the Stepkids
I’m Tim Walsh of the Stepkids, and I’m excited to be on here and hope to add to the wealth of knowledge that is MD’s awesome thirty-five-year history…
Posted: February 22, 2012
Feb Web Update News
Vinnie Colaiuta, Jeff Hamilton, and Karriem Riggins are on Paul McCartney’s latest, Kisses on the Bottom. Riggins performed with the former Beatle at the Grammys, as did McCartney regular Abe Laboriel. For more, visit www.paulmccartney.com. Speaking of the Grammys, Low Millions drummer/producer Erik Eldenius was in the house band again …
Posted: September 21, 2011
September Web Update News
Mark Schulman has been touring with Foreigner all summer and is also on the band’s three-disc set Feels Like the First Time, containing two audio CDs and a live concert DVD. For more, visit www.foreigneronline.com. Also check out Mark’s article “Easy Drum Charts” in the October issue of MD, out …
Posted: September 2, 2011
Drummer/Teacher Nucleo Vega
My name is Nuc, and I’m a drummer, educator, and Mel Bay author in the Washington, D.C., area. I’m working on a project that involves drum melody…
Posted: October 6, 2009
David Ashkenazy
I’m a drummer and professional musician, originally hailing from Southern California, and now successfully transplanted and living in Brooklyn NY…
Posted: October 15, 2006
Jeff Hamilton: Swinging to Success
Few jazz drummers have had careers as rewarding and successful as Jeff Hamilton’s. And with several new releases and projects in the works–and an MD Readers Poll win–2006 may be one of his finest years yet.
Posted: January 26, 2023

John DeChristopher Live From My Drum Room With Paul Francis
John’s guest is independent, master cymbal maker, Paul Francis. John and Paul discuss their long history and share stories of their time working together at Zildjian, including remembering their friend and mentor, the great Armand Zildjian. Paul talks about his early years of developing cymbal ideas with legendary drummers like …
Posted: January 5, 2023

Holiday Special
A special Holiday episode of “Live From My Drum Room” with John’s old friends dropping by to spread some Holiday Cheer! Steve Gadd, David Garibaldi, Jack Bruno, Eddie Tuduri, Steve Smith, Todd Sucherman, Jeff Hamilton, Gregg Bissonette, Anton Fig, Joe Franco, Dave Mattacks, Rob Wallis and Robyn Flans all stopped …
Posted: July 21, 2022

Episode 80: John DeChristopher Live From My Drum Room With Jeff Hamilton
John’s guest is the legendary Jeff Hamilton! In this episode Jeff talks about his early drumming influences, attending Indiana University and studying with the great John Von Ohlen, joining Woody Herman’s band in 1977 at age 23, and being invited by Ray Brown to join The L.A. Four in 1978 …