March 2021 – Volume 45 • Number 3
On 26th Feb 2021
A Profile in Courage
For this month’s From the Past article, my focus is on the great Chick Webb, an astoundingly fine player and bandleader from the mid 1920s and ’30s. Chick was a special person who had to overcome significant adversity in his life, namely a severe physical handicap. Yet he managed to forge on to not only drive what was arguably the best band of the era, but he also discovered world-class jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, and he was a source of inspiration for subsequent drumming superstars, including Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich.
As I was gathering data on Chick Webb for this article, I rediscovered a classic Modern Drummer article from the July 1977 issue that was authored by Robert Hillary. Robert captured everything I would want to say about Chick, so it seems only fair to reprint Robert’s article here for your enjoyment.
Unfortunately, there’s very little audio or video content available of Chick, but there is a YouTube clip entitled “Extremely Rare Footage of Chick Webb and Gene Krupa,” which is narrated by Louie Bellson. That video, plus Robert Hillary’s fine early Modern Drummer article, do well to celebrate this great drummer.
Articles in March 2021
Table of Time
A Classic Exercise for Dexterity and Control This month’s Strictly Technique column features an excerpt from legendary jazz drummer/educator Joe Morello’s classic book Master Studies, called “Table of Time.” This exercise will help your development of the single-stroke roll, and…
Malletech - SP2 and SP3 Scholastic Packs
Build a proper stick/mallet collection with theseselections of core essentials. Malletech is one of the most respected and creative keyboard instrument and mallet manufacturers in the world. It is owned and operated by marimba virtuoso Leigh Howard Stevens. Stevens not…
Creative Fills
Stepping Up Without Stepping On the Song “When doing fills around the drumset, the most important thing is the inner clock and that you’re relaxed,” says legendary session drummer John “JR” Robinson while filming a course for DrumChannel.com. “But also,…
Quiet Riot’s Frankie Banali
(November 14, 1951–August 20, 2020) Frankie Banali was born in Queens, New York, to Italian immigrants Jack and Martha Banali. In 1975, he moved to Los Angeles, where he spent years honing his craft with many bands on the local…
Gene Hoglan
The Man, the Machine, the Atomic Clock Gene Hoglan has been raising the bar in extreme metal drumming for decades. The list of iconic metal bands he’s played with is ridiculous: Death, Strapping Young Lad, Testament, Dark Angel, Old Man’s…
Donn Bennett’s Drum Vault
The Bun E. Carlos Collection A few of Bun E.’s Ludwig bass drums. Over the last three decades, Bun E. Carlos assembled one of the largest and most renowned collections of Ludwig drums in the world, with over 200 snares…
Practice Like a Pro
How to Maximize Your Time Behind the Kit The purpose of the article is to share some helpful practice tips that I’ve picked up over the years. These ideas work amazingly well when you’re learning new material for a gig.…
JR Robinson
Always Ahead of the Curve and Deep Inside the Pocket These days, with all the insanity surrounding us and COVID-19 impacting every facet of our lives, it’s a wonder how anyone can keep focus on creative pursuits. Not only maintaining…
CRITIQUE
RECORDINGS Oz Noy Snapdragon The exploratory guitarist and composer calls upon three drumming legends to cultivate this colorful crop of groovy, multicultural material. This smorgasbord of styles and sounds on Oz Noy’s Snapdragon—jazz, R&B, funk, rock, Latin, boogaloo—provides a bounty…
From the Archives - Elvin Jones
The December 1984 Interview What would Elvin Jones’ drums say if they could talk? How would they describe their relationship with Elvin? Would they speak fondly of the times they have been caressed by their master—the times he has used…
Gretsch, 64 Audio, DW, Malletech, Dust Palace, Craviotto
Gretsch Renown 57 Silver Oyster Pearl Drumset In 2011, Gretsch introduced the special-edition Renown 57 drumset, which had a unique look borrowed from classic car colors and the chevron logo. Ten years later, the company revived the series for a…
Van Halen’s Alex Van Halen
For over forty-five years, Alex Van Halen’s brilliant, forceful, grooving, and melodic drumming has been the driving force behind one of the truly great rock bands that ever existed. His bash has graced so many classic Van Halen radio staples,…
Trixon: Reborn!
This vintage white marine pearl Trixon kit comes to us from Chicago-based reader Jim Murray, who explains that the set was custom-built for him by superior craftsman Bain Creasy, of Huntington, WV, who has been restoring drums for over fifty…
Vinnie Colaiuta on Bromberg Plays Hendrix, Session Work, Retirement, and More
Legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix passed away fifty years ago. This seems unimaginable, as his music, message, and influence are just as powerful and relevant today as they were during his few short years leading a musical revolution for freedom of…
ASBA - Rive Gauche Shell Pack and 6.5x14 Snare
The Legendary French Brand Makes a Brilliant Resurgence Maison ASBA was founded in 1927 near Paris, France, by Alfred Boudard, a musician and inventor. ASBA is an acronym for Alfred and Simone Boudard Accessories. The company initially focused on instrument…
I’ve learned probably the most from bass players -Tony Williams
Drummers have to work closely with bassists, and I’ve been trying to understand bass players. It’s not just playing your instrument, getting off on how good you are alone. It’s also seeing how well you can apply yourself to other…
Scott Kettner
Photo by: Carolina Mama The NYC-based drummer/percussionist has made the best of the craziness of 2020, releasing a new album with his band Nation Beat (The Royal Chase), publishing a new method book on samba drumming (Maracatu for Drumset and…
Reset, Reflect, and Revive
Welcome to the March 2021 issue of Modern Drummer. Historically, this is the issue that we create and ship to the annual Winter NAMM Show. Like pretty much every live event planned for 2020 and beyond, however, the in-person 2021…
What are your drumming resolutions for 2021?
Develop my feel, deepen my pocket, and continue composing.Andrew Romanowski This year I hope to finally finish writing my first book!Andy Thurston Better timingandredurandofficial To make way more drums and to supply as many artists with drums as possiblepauledrums Practice…
