June 2017 Issue – Volume 41 • Number 6

Split Hybrid

Kit of the Month Split Hybrid This hybrid electronic/acoustic drumset comes to us from the New York City–based drummer Howard Alper, who explains that the ability to combine traditional acoustic drums with loops and samples enables unique solo performances on…

Nord Drum - 3P Multipad

Product Close-Up Nord 3P Multipad A powerful percussion-modeling synthesizer with nearly limitless sonic potential. These days, Swedish company Nord is most known for its distinctive red-colored keyboards. But the company’s founders, Hans Nordelius and Mikael Carlsson, originally collaborated in 1983…

1,000 Ways to Practice a Single Page - Part 4: Orchestrated Flams on the Drumset

https://vimeo.com/214572182 Strictly Technique 1,000 Ways to Practice a Single Page Part 4: Orchestrated Flams on the Drumset by Libor Hadrava Last month we learned how to interpret a single page of rhythms using flams. In this lesson we’ll apply this…

Hybrid Setups: Pros? Cons?

Readers' Platform Hybrid Setups: Pros? Cons? In recent years, electronic/acoustic hybrid setups have seen a relatively rapid rise in popularity. And it’s easy to see why, considering the dominance of produced sounds and tones in modern popular music and the…

Vic Firth - Modern Jazz Collection

https://vimeo.com/210265794 Product Close-Up Vic Firth Modern Jazz Collection A quintet of versatile sticks beta-tested by some of today’s top improvising artists. Since its inception, Vic Firth has relied on input and feedback from its endorsing artists when considering adding new…

Marcus Baylor takes the reins, Bowie memoir, and more

Critique Recordings The Baylor Project The JourneyA former Yellowjacket and his creative/life partner drop a funky and finely detailed collection that isn’t shy to show a little tenderness or to head down lots of creative avenues. As the album-opening “Block…

Poison’s Rikki Rockett

Features Poison’s Rikki Rockett Story by Patrick Berkery Photos by Alex Solca In July of 2015, Rikki Rockett, the happy-go-lucky drummer for one of the most notorious bands to emerge from the Sunset Strip in the ’80s, was diagnosed with…

Bucks County - Semi-Solid Mahogany/Poplar Drumset

https://vimeo.com/209236900 Product Close-Up Bucks County Semi-Solid Mahogany/Poplar Drumset Combining the strength and dependability of ply drums with the enhanced tonal quality of solid shells. Unhappy with the quality of drums that were available to him at the time, lifelong woodworker…

Groove Construction - Part 13: Left-Handed Split Grooves

https://vimeo.com/214560953 Rock 'N' Jazz Clinic Groove Construction Part 13: Left-Handed Split Grooves by Jost Nickel In this workshop we’re expanding a groove concept that I introduced in the January 2017 issue, in which we split the right hand between two…

Zildjian - K Custom Special Dry Series

Product Close-Up Zildjian K Custom Special Dry Series The orginal dark, dry cymbals return with an expanded palette. Zildjian originally released a limited range of Special Dry series cymbals in 2003, and many drummers flocked to them for their unique…

Chicago II

Dapper Dan - Seraphine as he appeared in the pull-out poster included in Chicago II Encore Chicago II by Patrick Berkery “If you think Chicago is your mom’s band, then, man, I want to party with your mom!” So said…

Russ Titelman

Photo by Matty Amendola Features Russ Titelman The man at the helm of classic tracks like Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love” and Randy Newman’s “Rednecks,” and Eric Clapton’s Unplugged and Journeyman albums, takes us inside the making of a hit. by…

Medeski, Martin and Wood’s Billy Martin

Gearing Up Medeski, Martin and Wood’s Billy Martin Interview by Dave Previ Photos by Paul LaRaia We recently visited MMW co-founder Billy Martin at his home studio, which is a custom-built shed on the drummer’s New Jersey property that he…

Dr. Dog's Eric Slick goes solo, Josh Eppard tours with Coheed and Cambria, and more

News Out Now Eric Slick on Palisades On April 21, Eric Slick, the drummer for the ’60s-influenced indie-rock band Dr. Dog, released his debut solo album, Palisades. Although he also recruited drummer Ricardo Lagomasino to contribute, Slick plays the majority…

June 2017 Issue – Volume 41 • Number 6

Hone Your Human GPS - Setting Goals, Defining Problems, and Devising Solutions

Concepts Hone Your Human GPS Setting Goals, Defining Problems, and Devising Solutions by Mark Schulman I’ve researched how people define GPS as it relates to the human condition, and I think best-selling author Jim Samuels’ philosophy is the simplest and…

Alphonse Mouzon

In Memoriam Alphonse Mouzon At the very end of last year the drumming world said its final goodbyes to the influential jazz-rock drummer Alphonse Mouzon. Although he was not quite as recognizable among the wider drumming audience as pioneering players…

Playing Melodically - Part 1: “Billie’s Bounce”

https://vimeo.com/214234350 Jazz Drummer's Workshop Playing Melodically Part 1: “Billie’s Bounce” by Peter Erskine In this new series I hope to present my thoughts and pass along some experience and insights on playing jazz. Many of the upcoming topics will be…

Stanton Moore Drum Academy

Inside Methods Stanton Moore Drum Academy by Stephen Bidwell New Orleans groove juggernaut Stanton Moore has been one busy timekeeper, working seemingly nonstop since his main project, Galactic, took off around twenty years ago. Moore is involved in myriad projects,…