March 2012 Issue – Volume 37 • Number 3

Tony Mason - NYC Pocket Master

Photo by Michael Rosati A revered New York cat quietly plies his trade and builds a résumé to die for. New York native Tony Mason, one of NYC’s most in-demand drummers, has a reputation built on his fierce backbeat, soulful…

Gregory Hutchinson

Hutch might just be the jazz drummer’s jazz drummer—historically astute and futuristically minded, with the kind of technique, soul, and sophistication that today’s most important artists treasure. Hands On With Hutch is Gregory Hutchinson’s DVD treatise on everything required to…

The CRASH Course to Success Part 1: Commitment

What does it take to succeed as a working drummer? Commitment. Commitment is the word for the first letter in an acronym I created, CRASH, to illustrate concepts people can use to attract success to their lives. (The remaining concepts,…

Mike Mangini - Living The Dream

By creating layers of complex rhythms that complement Dream Theater’s epic arrangements, “the new guy” is ushering in a bold and exciting era for the band, its fans, and progressive rock music itself. When the shocking news broke that Dream…

March 2012 Issue – Volume 37 • Number 3

Focus on the Hi-Hat The Classic Swing Sound

Before small groups reigned supreme and the ride cymbal became king, the beacon in jazz timekeeping was the hi-hat. Jo Jones with Count Basie and Ray McKinley with Glenn Miller were masters of the hi-hat. Both players could swing an…

Art Blakey: The Mentor

We all know those iconic black-and-white images: Blakey at the kit, sweat beads on his forehead, a flash in the eyes, and that mouth agape—sometimes with the tongue flat out—in pure elation. And that’s also how he sounded.   Sure,…