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January 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 1

When he took over the drum chair with Dweezil Zappa more than four years ago, Southern California–based drummer Ryan Brown had to expand his setup in order to accommodate all of the sounds required in the extensive catalog that the guitarist was pulling from, which comprises mostly compositions by his father, Frank.
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Articles in January 2018

“A Little Better All the Time”

This month’s featured kit comes to us from Edward McCarthy of West Springfield, Massachusetts, who recently purchased this vintage 1970s Ludwig set. McCarthy explains that the drums, which were originally covered in a wine-red wrap, had seen better days. But…

Modern Drummer
Nov 30, 2017

Accented Three-Note Groupings

Unique Variations and Phrases

by Rick Gratton
Nov 30, 2017

Drum Design Knowledge, Part 3: The Snare Bed

We need to be experts at our jobs, and knowing our tools is a part of that. I always put together my rig for tours or gigs, and then take suggestions from my tech on how to make the setup…

by Russ Miller
Nov 20, 2017

Ibeyi

These dynamic siblings derive much inspiration from their ancestry. But the direction of their art is undeniably full speed ahead.

by Robin Tolleson
Nov 30, 2017

Jon Epcar

Jon Epcar’s master plan didn’t involve drumming on Broadway. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Epcar went to a high school with a strong music program that included graduates like saxophonist Kamasi Washington. So the drummer got the bug and…

Story by Ilya Stemkovsky | Photos by John Fell
Nov 30, 2017
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Chris Cohen

Chris Cohen describes himself as a member of the Portastudio generation. It’s a classification he’s coined to describe musicians, now in their late thirties and early forties, who cut their teeth in production with Tascam’s legendary Porta One tape machine.…

Story by Keith Carne | Photo by Dominick Mastrangelo
Nov 30, 2017

Linear Drumming Fundamentals

Defining the Concept

by Joel Rothman
Nov 30, 2017

Hi-Hat Accents - Adding Melody to Your Grooves

https://vimeo.com/243360989 In this lesson we’ll embellish 16th-note grooves with hi-hat accents. In Exercises 1–4, accents are placed on the main hi-hat in the first measure, and in the second measure the right-handed accents are moved to the ride or an…

Article by Powell Randolph | Photo by Ken Howie
Nov 30, 2017

Absolute Music

Bournemouth, England

Interview by Patrick Berkery
Nov 30, 2017

Jaimoe

The 2017 deaths of Allman Brothers Band drummer Butch Trucks and singer/keyboardist Gregg Allman hit the rock world pretty damn hard. But few could have felt the loss more than the man who was there from the very beginning.

Story by Robin Tolleson | Photo by Kirk West
Nov 30, 2017

Live Vibes

Having somewhat recently moved to northern New Jersey, I’ve been enjoying the opportunity to check out some of the jazz clubs that have long defined New York City culture. Although some of the more prominent venues have moved from their…

by Willie Rose
Nov 30, 2017

What Album Features Your Favorite Drum Tone?

Drummers have long lauded and attempted to duplicate certain distinct tones from records that span a variety of decades and genres. John Bonham’s powerful, booming tone with Led Zeppelin, Elvin Jones’ thunderous onrush with John Coltrane, and Stewart Copeland’s dry…

Modern Drummer
Nov 30, 2017
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Paul Koehler With Silverstein

Hot off the release of a new record, the heavy hitter propels his tireless rock band around the world with a never-stop attitude.

Story by Willie Rose | Photo by Daniel Hadfield
Nov 30, 2017

Matt Wilson, Stanton Moore, and Brad Dutz Take the Reins

RECORDINGS Entheos Dark Future Embracing a trend that’s become more popular lately, NAVENE KOPERWEIS chose to forgo sample enhancement and heavy quantization on his band’s second full-length release in as many years. Ravenously awaited by Entheos’s quickly expanding fan base,…

Modern Drummer
Nov 30, 2017

Velocity and Energy Shifters

8th-Note Paradiddle Transitions

by Bill Bachman
Nov 30, 2017

Promark - Classic 5A FireGrain Drumsticks

Fire-hardened for increased durability.

by Michael Dawson
Nov 30, 2017

Chad Sexton

Everything about 311 seems epic: their longstanding lineup, their semi-annual concert/celebration, their throngs of dedicated fans—not to mention the grooves of their founding drummer.

Story by Stephen Bidwell | Photo by Iron Mike Savoia
Nov 30, 2017

Rhythmic Conversions, Part 6: Funk Grooves and the Half-Note Triplet

In this lesson we’ll superimpose a new tempo over an existing pulse using a half-note triplet, and we’ll manipulate the subdivision to create funk grooves in the implied pulse. Be sure to practice these patterns with a metronome and work…

by Steve Fidyk
Nov 30, 2017

Dream - Energy Series Additions and Dark Matter Eclipse Ride

Big, all-purpose plates and a clean, quick dual-finish ride.

by Michael Dawson
Nov 30, 2017
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