June 2022 – Volume 46 • Number 6

Canopus Jonathan Pinson Signature Snare Drum

As an in-demand player, Jonathan Pinson needed a snare that suited his approach to jazz, while also being versatile enough to adapt to any musical situation. The result from his collaboration with Canopus drums is a practical, versatile, and vintage…

Hayley Brownell

Making it to the world stage as a musician can be one of the most difficult things to do. Despite the challenge, there is a common theme among those who have successfully reached for the stars and landed. Hard work,…

Peter Erskine-Lauren Ellis: Women in Drumming, Mentorship

This month’s Jazz Insights column focuses on my former USC student and teaching assistant Lauren Ellis. Her bio informs us that, “Lauren is a drummer, composer, and educator from Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand. There, she studied at the Te Kōki…

Karol G’s Giulliana Merello

When I met Giulliana Merello I didn’t know what to expect. In front of me sat a brilliant young woman who had one of the biggest drumming gigs in the world playing with superstar Karol G. I didn’t know what…

Todd Sucherman’s Pearl Masterworks series Styx touring kit

The kit shown here is a Pearl Masterworks series outfit that Todd Sucherman used with Styx over 10 years of touring. It features a stunning Bubinga wood finish- with bass drum heads to match. The bass drum heads that match…

A Salute to Women in Drumming

While we were planning this month’s Salute to Women in Drumming issue, I happened to be talking with Peter Erskine. We talked about the fact that singling out women drummers could be counter-intuitive, and segregating people by anything other than…

June 2022 - Volume 46 • Number 6

Latin Percussion Expands Carlos Santana Signature Series, The Alex González Signature Cowbell

Latin Percussion (LP) is proud to announce another milestone collaboration with multi Grammy Award winner and philanthropist, Carlos Santana. The existing line-up of Santana branded drums and collectables now features Africa Speaks and Black Magic instruments to further complement the…

Tracktion Presents Chop Suey A New Kick Drum Plugin

Tracktion Corporation is proud to present Chop Suey, the new kick drum plugin from Dawesome and the renowned techno producer Björn Torwellen. Watch the launch video here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-SfZsc4fCY Sinee and Dawesome is a collaboration between mathematician and AI veteran Peter…

Zildjian Reflexx Pad

Since its initial release, the Reflexx practice pad has made waves in the drumming community. It is helping more drummers integrate conditioning into daily practice than ever before. With such high demand, a relationship with Zildjian seems like a natural…

Behind the Legends

The Modern Drummer LEGENDS books are a rare opportunity for a drummer to talk about and examine his entire drumming career. Kenny Aronoff has been covered quite thoroughly in his many past Modern Drummer feature interviews. In those interviews he…

Ed Sheeran, Olivia Rodrigo And Wolf Alice Tours Use Porter & Davies

Porter & Davies are delighted to welcome more drummers to their ever growing family. Drummers that are using their Silent Tactile Monitors include new additions: Joel Amey of Wolf Alice, Jack Lawrence-Brown with White Lies, Ashton Irwin of 5 Seconds…

The Alex González Signature Cowbell

Latin Percussion is delighted to partner with Maná drummer Alex Gonzalez to introduce our newest cowbell to its range of world class percussion instruments. Made in the USA, the Alex González Signature Cowbell is an 8” mountable cowbell with a…

Vic Firth Introduces new stick and Rute Models

Nate Smith Signature Stick Nate Smith is renowned globally by drummers for his unique pocket, versatility, musicality, and infectious energy he brings to the drum set wherever he goes. His new signature series drumstick from Vic Firth feels like an…

Karen Carpenter: Close To Her Drums

Karen Carpenter’s intuitive choice of instruments was drums, but she had to break down a few invisible walls, crack a few glass ceilings, and crash a few cymbals along the way. However, by the height of her career with her…

Jordan West

Jordan West is a talented musician who is harnessing the power of creative midi controllers and electronic drums to help elevate and support the artists she tours and records with. Her videos that showcase live looping and hybrid drumming are…

Alejandro Sanz’s HELEN DE LA ROSA

Playing with legends, virtuosos, and top touring musicians is unattainable for many, but for Helen De La Rosa, it is as natural as day and night. Helen has gone beyond playing it safe, her career is anchored in perseverance and…

ProMark Drumsticks Partners with Anika Nilles to Launch Signature Stick

ProMark Drumsticks is thrilled to announce the launch of the Anika Nilles Signature Stick, available now. The Anika Nilles Signature Stick is made from hickory with an acorn wood tip. It measures .545”/ 13.8mm in diameter and 16” / 406.4mm…

Sabian Anthology Cymbals

The new Sabian HHX Anthology series was designed to deliver the full spectrum of both ride and crash in each cymbal, without compromising sound or feel. Sabian and Jojo Mayer’s goal behind Anthology was to allow the individual to designate…

Wiktoria Bialic: Taking Over the Scene from Every Angle

Wiktoria Bialic fell in love with music at a young age - the key word being music! She played violin until she discovered her connection to rhythm, after which she gravitated towards percussion. After 12 years of education in classical…