April 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 4

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…

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…

Reading Syncopated Rhythms

Getting Familiar With Offbeats

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…

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…

Roland - SPD::ONE Electro, Percussion, and WAV Pads

Simple, single-trigger pads with just enough options to keep things interesting.

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…

Organic Odd-Time Patterns

A Smooth Method for Uncommon Phrases

New Gear from CRX, Ahead, Cympad, Tama, Yamaha, Evans and REpercussion!

CRX AIR Series These low-volume cymbals are recommended for studios, schools, and practice rooms. Models include 13" and 14" hi-hats, a 20" ride, a 16" crash, and an 18" crash-ride. List prices range from $109.99 to $169.99. The AIR-SET1 includes…

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.

Doc Sweeney - Blue Tiger Drumset

Steam-bent ash shells with a striking finish to match their big, biting tones.

The Drum Orb

The California-based inventor, musician, and performance artist William Close brings us a unique spherical percussion instrument dubbed the Drum Orb. The work is ten feet in diameter, and during performances it’s suspended fifteen feet in the air by a steel…

Playing on the Upbeat

Twenty Funky Phrases and Variations

April 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 4

Lia Braswell of A Place to Bury Strangers

The Heart of the Matter Some musicians are too cool for school. They’re unfazed by auditions, uninterested in getting close to new bandmates. They may never miss a beat, but you don’t get the feeling that they’re ever going to…

P.O.D.’s Noah “Wuv” Bernardo

“I’ve been with Pearl since 1997,” says Noah “Wuv” Bernardo. “This was my first acrylic kit, so I didn’t know how it was going to sound. But in the venues we’re playing, once we miked them up, I knew they’d…

Developing the Single-Stroke Roll

A Fresh Routine for Facility

Yamaha Drums Fiftieth-Anniversary Celebration

The renowned manufacturer takes over Hollywood with a day of performances, gear demos, and honorary guests.

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…

Uptempo Studies - Part 1: Whole Notes and Half Notes

In this series, we’ll focus on exercises that develop flexibility and endurance when playing fast tempos (300 bpm and up). To efficiently play at these speeds, it’s essential to stay relaxed. To gain the confidence and language necessary to handle…