July 2023 – Volume 47 • Number 7
Articles in July 2023
Snare Drum Duets: Duet 6
As an ongoing tribute to Ron Spagnardi who founded Modern Drummer Publications in 1977 and was an excellent drum teacher and author in his own right, Modern Drummer has been including some of the articles, exercises, and pieces that Ron…
The Encyclopedia of Double Bass Drumming: Binary Beats
In the new and revised edition of the Encyclopedia of Double Bass Drumming, Bobby includes nine new double bass drumming chapters. The new and expanded edition covers contemporary techniques such as bass drum double strokes, feet-only exercises, binary and ternary…
Vince Wilburn Jr. and M.E.B. - Going to Miles Davis University
For everyone who might not know, Vince Wilburn Jr. is Miles Davis’ nephew and he recorded and toured with Miles for several years. He played drums on the recordings Man with the Horn, You’re Under Arrest, the new box set…
Keeping Score
Music should not be a contest. The great Hungarian composer Bela Bartok is quoted as having said that competitions should be for horses, not musicians. He refused to sit on competition juries because he didn’t want the decisions on his…
The Bass Drum Owners Manual: Playing the Hi-Hat
This month Modern Drummer will continue to include excerpts from Michael Packer’s essential book on bass drum control and technique The Bass Drum Owners Manual: Applying the Moeller Technique to the Bass Drum. As you will see, this is a…
Walter G. Howe’s 1930’s Leedy Black Onyx Trap Set with Sentinel Silhouette Head
Northup Drums Museum is proud to present a time capsule drum kit that has everything including star power from the 1930’s! Let’s learn about this beautiful kit and it’s famous owner. Walter G. Howe of Boston, Massachusetts was a Leedy…
Latin Percussion Introduces New Rhythm Rods andSingle Brass Timbales
New synthetic and natural Rhythm Rods Latin Percussion (LP) is proud to launch its new range of synthetic and natural Rhythm Rods. The new rods, hybrids of regular sticks and brushes, offer drummers and percussionists greater versatility and a wider…
Gretsch Drums Premiere The Round Badge Stories New Documentary
A Celebration of ‘That Great Gretsch Sound’ Gretsch Drums are proud to premiere The Round Badge Stories, a new documentary exploring the heritage, uniqueness and mystique of ‘That Great Gretsch Sound.’ Watch the video at gretschdrums.com/the-round-badge-stories. Produced as part of…
Bill Stewart’s Phrasing in Five
I’ve been a big Bill Stewart fan for quite some time now. Ever since I heard him on his first solo outing, I’ve always looked forward to the various records to which he would collaborate. One of Bill’s best collaborations…
OUT NOW! New Recordings in the July 2023 Issue
Modern Drummer is spotlighting certain new recordings that have the drums at the center of their sound. These recordings might be drummer-led, or just include a high-quality, special, or unique drumming and musical performance from the drummer and/or musicians in…
Jimmy Chamberlin: The Why of Drumming
Neither Jimmy Chamberlin nor the Smashing Pumpkins need an introduction. They are both creative and intelligent entities with a limitless scope, and the Pumpkins’ ambitious new release Atum, proves this yet again. Jimmy’s creative enthusiasm for all things drumming is…
Gretsch USA Custom Ridgeland Snare Drums That NEW Great Gretsch Sound
The Gretsch badge says “Drum Makers Since 1883.” OK, that’s something that gets my attention. They Started in Brooklyn but have been making drums in Ridgeland, South Carolina since the mid 1980’s and continue to make good on “That Great…
Gil Moore’s 1970s Tama Imperialstar Triumph Tour Kit
Shown here is the 1970s era Tama Imperialstar kit, finished in a black gloss PVC wrap, that Gil Moore used in the early days of Triumph’s touring success. The kit features shells made of Luan (also known as Philippine Mahogany.)…
Why is One Never Enough?
As a self-confessed “snare drum junkie,” I often wonder why owning one snare drum is just never enough. As a fan of 1920s Ludwig two-piece Nickel Over Brass (NOB), Black Beauty’s, and Slingerland Radio King’s, why can’t I just stop…
John DeChristopher: A Life in the Drum Business
John DeChristopher is one of the most respected people in the drum business. He helped create the modern version of artist relations with his work with Simmons Drums, Drum Workshop, and Zildjian. His life in the drum industry parallels the…
How To Deal with Nervousness
“The struggle ends when the gratitude begins.”-Neale Donald Walsch The RLG mantra will empower you to channel new levels of energy and creativity when it counts. Performance anxiety can get in the way of big moments when all we want…
PDP Concept Series LTD Mapa Burl 4-Piece Shell Pack & Matching Snare Drum A limited-edition gem, perfect for play and display
This year, Pacific Drums and Percussion (PDP) introduced a stunning Mapa Burl drum kit & matching snare drum. These limited production drums have a look that stands out among the other PDP drum kit offerings. In our exclusive product close-up…
Exercises in African-American Funk: “Mangambe, Bikutsi, and the Shuffle”
In Modern Drummer’s ongoing introduction to Jonathan Joseph’s book Exercises in African American Funk: Mangambe, Bikutsi, and the Shuffle; This month we will continue with Jonathan’s explanation of a unique African groove called Bikutsi. Bikutsi is a musical genre from…
A Dutch Beauty
Dutch drummer Bas Prins has invited Modern Drummer and our readers to enjoy some pictures of his beautiful Ayotte kit. Bas uses a special “one of a kind” 10” Keplinger snare. with his kit. Also pictured are an assortment of…