April 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 4
Articles in April 2018
How Do You Develop a Unique Voice on the Drums?
Developing your own voice on the kit is a constant endeavor. Considering varied musical influences, teacher feedback, and an abundance of available educational material—among other factors—the question arises of how best to sit down in the shed and focus on…
Tim Alexander of Primus
On getting back behind the drums after suffering a heart attack. It was a lot of just Will I be able to do this? The heart attack happened in July of 2014. We had shows booked for the next month…
Crucial Jazz Drumming Recordings, Part 2
Last October we presented fifty albums that show how incredibly far jazz drumming has come since it first appeared on record a century ago. This month we bring you twenty-five more titles as we work toward a clean hundred. The…
Mind Matters - The Power of “No”
Q: My lead guitarist is finding fault with the drum parts I write. When we first attempt a new tune, he often rolls his eyes, makes a face, and stops the song. He’ll either start offering suggestions or ask to…
Katy Perry’s Tony Royster Jr.
He grabbed headlines as one of the most talked-about drumming prodigies in the history of the instrument, playing alongside musical icons three times his age and establishing a reputation for blistering clinic appearances. In his first MD interview in years,…
Sabian - FRX Series Cymbals
Pro-quality, b20-bronze cymbals designed for lower-volume situations.
Bobby Sanabria, Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste, Roger Taylor, Florian Alexandru-Zorn, Clem Burke, and more!
Jazz Education Network Names Bobby Sanabria 2018 Recipient of LeJENds of Latin Jazz Award Bandleader, drummer/percussionist, educator, and seven-time Grammy nominee Bobby Sanabria has been named the 2018 recipient of the Jazz Education Network’s LeJENds of Latin Jazz award. The…
Grizzly Bear's Chris Bear
It turns out that any name similarities between Grizzly Bear and its drummer are purely coincidental. Musically, the seamless match is more like fate.
Karl Brazil With James Blunt
The U.K. touring and studio vet flawlessly supports the pop singer-songwriter’s flowing and dynamic set with ease on an international arena tour.
The Grateful Dead’s Europe ’72
The Grateful Dead’s traveling party on 1972’s European tour numbered fifty strong, and they took advantage of every opportunity to pull off prankster hijinx in the stodgy Old World. There are stories about band members racing cars through Parisian traffic…
Roland - SPD::ONE Electro, Percussion, and WAV Pads
Simple, single-trigger pads with just enough options to keep things interesting.
Words Count
As drummers we’ve long battled identity issues that never seem to go away, no matter how far we advance our art. For years the famed drummer Bill Bruford has pointed out a certain “pitched-instrument bias” on the part of the…
Brad Wilk of Prophets of Rage
Touring with an act that’s a household name comes with its perks, not the least of which is playing your own kit every night. Brad Wilk’s needs on the road with Prophets of Rage—the supergroup composed of members of Rage…
Canopus - 6x10 and 10x14 Harvey Mason Signature Snares
A duo of top-shelf wood-shell drums to fill out the upper and lower registers of the sonic spectrum.
Doc Sweeney - Blue Tiger Drumset
Steam-bent ash shells with a striking finish to match their big, biting tones.
Yamaha Drums Fiftieth-Anniversary Celebration
The renowned manufacturer takes over Hollywood with a day of performances, gear demos, and honorary guests.