March 2019 Issue – Volume 43 • Number 3

Industry Happenings

George Strait Drummer Michael Kennedy Passes He backed the country superstar for more than thirty years. Michael Kennedy, the longtime drummer with George Strait and the Ace in the Hole Band, passed away last August 31 at the age of…

Gretsch — Brooklyn Series Micro Kit

It’s a testament to Gretsch’s world-renowned craftsmanship when a tiny setup like this can be coaxed to produce such deep tones.

Yamaha — Crosstown Advanced Lightweight Hardware

They’re just as sturdy as steel, single-braced options, yet taken together have over ten pounds less heft.

What You Need to Know About...Plywood Snare Drums

It’s been said many times over the years, by top drummers and producers alike, that the most sonically significant component of the drumset is the snare drum. This is why recording studios and cartage companies often boast extensive collections comprising…

Larry Lelli of the Broadway Musical Come from Away

Come from Away, which was nominated for seven Tony awards in 2017, is one of Broadway’s most popular shows. In-house contractor for the drum chair Larry Lelli tells us how his sonic decisions make an impact on the audience. “We…

David Bowie’s Never Let Me Down 2018

David Bowie so despised his 1987 studio album, Never Let Me Down, that he didn’t play a single song from it live after wrapping the tour behind it. And on the rare occasions when he discussed the record publicly, he…

A Compact Flyer

The Iceland–based drummer Jón Óskar Jónsson uses this month’s featured setup with singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Sóley. Jonsson played this compact C&C kit on a summer 2017 tour with the artist, who he’s been performing with since 2010. “It’s a…

It Was Twenty Years Ago....

You can keep up with what’s going on at NAMM by checking in at moderndrummer.com and at our social-media pages.

March 2019 Issue – Volume 43 • Number 3

Contemporary Coordination Exercises

8 Challenging Independence Ideas The exercises in this month’s lesson are meant to challenge your concentration, coordination, and independence. Traditionally, each voice of the drumset plays a specific role. In a typical jazz context, usually the snare and bass comp…

Vic Firth — PureGrit and DoubleGlaze Drumsticks and VicWax Stick Wax

Specialty finishes and a tacky applique to enhance grip for sweaty or dry hands. For many drummers, Vic Firth’s traditional matte finish is a perfect middle point between the thicker, glossier coating found on old-school-style drumsticks and the coarser texture…

Dennis Chambers’ Half-Time Shuffle

The Fusion Legend’s Take on a Steely Dan Classic If you’re not familiar with the Steely Dan album Alive in America, I’d highly encourage you to get a copy. The release, which was recorded during the group’s 1993 and 1994…

Shakira’s Brendan Buckley

“A bassist friend of mine recently told me that I play drums like a conductor,” says Buckley.

New Gear from Mapex, Ahead, Alesis, Tama, Soundbrenner, Mr. Muff, and Innovative Percussion

Mapex Black Panther Design Lab Drumkits The Black Panther Design Lab Versatus drumset features hybrid maple and mahogany shells. Plies get progressively thicker, depths graduate by .5", bearing edges change, and the size of the SAS reinforcement rings are modified…

What’s Your Favorite Dennis Chambers Performance?

This month, as we catch up with the fusion and jazz great Dennis Chambers, we check in with our readers and social media followers to find out what their favorite albums or performances are from the MD Hall of Famer’s…

Eights and Sixes, Part 1

Hand Exercises for Rhythmic Accuracy This month we’re going to kick off a new series on 8th-note and 16th-note-triplet (sextuplet) groupings. Both of these rhythms are common, yet there’s a lot to explore under their surface as we manipulate them…

Jake Bundrick with Mayday Parade

Jake Bundrick with Mayday Parade The group’s longtime drummer hits the road for a European trek in support of the band’s latest release. This past June 15, the alternative pop-punk group Mayday Parade released Sunnyland, the band’s sixth full-length since…

“Golden Measures” and Fibonacci Rhythms

Exploring Mathematics in Music The Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers that commonly begins with 0 and 1, and every following number of the sequence represents the sum of the previous two. If starting with 0 and 1, the…

Hunt Sales

Photo by Todd V. Wolfson Hunt Sales on Get Your Shit Together The rock ’n’ roll survivor opens up about his brutally honest solo debut. Since beginning his career in the mid ‘60s with his brother Tony in the group…