January 2019 Issue – Volume 43 • Number 1
Articles in January 2019
Gang of Four’s Solid Gold
One of the downsides of making a groundbreaking, influential album is that your other records often get overlooked. So it goes with Leeds, U.K., post-punk trailblazers Gang of Four. While the band’s 1979 debut LP, Entertainment!, is rightfully hailed as…
Bobby Sanabria
Inspiration is as important as information to this famed performer and educator. His latest project provides heaps of both, as it reimagines a great American musical tale.
Voices Refined
In conversation, this month’s cover artist, Arejay Hale, exudes excitement. That should come as no surprise if you’ve ever seen him play with Halestorm, the rock group he started as a youngster. But as I listened back to our conversation…
New Releases from Bill Stewart, Gerry Gibbs, and more!
RECORDINGS Spin Cycle Assorted Colors A group that’s greater than the sum of their top-notch parts. Spin Cycle is led by drummer Scott Neumann and sax player Tom Christensen, and features guitarist Pete McCann and bassist Phil Palombi. Each has…
A Custom Cocktail
John Cutbill, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, wanted a kit that was portable and had a small footprint, although he didn’t want to sacrifice the functionality and sound of a typical full-size drumset. So he sketched an initial design of…
Milford Graves
A new documentary on the drummer artfully reveals a player and educator who’s long been uneasy with typical learning methods. But his commitment to musical communication and self-actualization has resulted in his being considered one of the most revered musical voices of our time.
Halestorm's Arejay Hale Modern Rock Trailblazers
More than twenty years into their career, the modern rock trailblazers Halestorm continue to scale the genre’s highest peaks. And on the band’s latest release, their energetic drummer and founding member got a chance to fully explore his true voice…
Turkish Cymbals - Chris Wabich Travel Set
A simple three-piece configuration designed to provide classic tones that’ll fit in a carry-on bag.
J. J. Johnson and Tyler Greenwell on Everything’s OK by Whose Hat Is This?
The Tedeschi Trucks Band’s killer double-drummers slay on their second completely improvised side-project release.
New Gear from Gretsch, Vic Firth, Porter & Davies, and Croaker!
Gretsch New Nitron Laminate and Lacquer Finishes Several durable Nitron laminates and lacquer finishes have been added to Gretsch’s Renown, Catalina, and Energy series. The Catalina Club four-piece jazz configuration is now available in Blue Satin Flame laminate, Renown kits…
The Patti Smith Group's “Because the Night”
The saying “It takes a village” certainly applies to the Patti Smith Group’s breakthrough single “Because the Night.” Bruce Springsteen wrote the song around the time of his 1978 album Darkness on the Edge of Town. Jimmy Iovine, who engineered…
Tama - S.L.P. Series Drumsets
The acclaimed and affordable snare line expands with versatile full kits.
The 2018 DCI World Championship Results
Some of drumming’s best young rudimental talents compete for the ultimate title.