March 2019 Issue – Volume 43 • Number 3
On 01st Mar 2019
Articles in March 2019
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.
Shakira’s Brendan Buckley
“A bassist friend of mine recently told me that I play drums like a conductor,” says Buckley.
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…
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…
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…
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…
DW — Collector’s Series Pure Almond Snare
Almond is a difficult timber to work with, especially for drums, because the trees are thin and they rarely grow above 30 feet.
Dennis Chambers
The legendary fusion drummer is still setting stages afire with his scorching chops and unshakable groove.
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…
Agean — R Series Low Noise Cymbals
Agean offers the unique R series cymbals, which are designed for low-volume practice and gigging situations.
Craviotto Drum Company
Craviotto is also expanding its focus to include handcrafting more drums from exotic and rare wood species for its Private Reserve collection.
Lone Star Percussion, Dallas, Texas
Lone Star Percussion made it possible for percussionists all over the United States to get their musical supplies in just a few days, and at discount prices.
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…
Blondie’s Clem Burke
About the Playing It’s about ninety minutes before Blondie’s set at the Sea.Hear.Now festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey. It’s a beautiful early fall afternoon, and being at the Jersey Shore has put Garden State native Clem Burke in a…
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.
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…
Yamaha — Crosstown Advanced Lightweight Hardware
They’re just as sturdy as steel, single-braced options, yet taken together have over ten pounds less heft.
“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…
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…
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…
