May 2012 Issue – Volume 37 • Number 5
On 01st May 2012
Articles in May 2012
Earth, Wind & Fire's Ralph Johnson
In the ’70s, chart-dominating hits like “Shining Star,” “Let’s Groove,” and “September” made Earth, Wind & Fire a household name. Forty years later, the band’s appeal to audiences of every kind only seems to grow. Here, EWF’s longtime drummer/percussionist/vocalist…
Vinny Appice Leaving His Mark
Even appearing on national television with an ex-Beatle—as a teenager, no less—couldn’t have prepared him for the rock ’n’ roll glory that lay just around the corner. Thirty-five years later, the quintessential journeyman is embarking on a new adventure. Practice,…
The CRASH Course to Success Part 2: Relationships
This article focuses on the second portion of my CRASH (“commitment, relationships, attitude, skill, and hunger”) concept. We’re going to look at how relationships apply to our drumming, our onstage interactions, and our overall musical career. Here’s an interesting fact:…
Paul Motian 1931-2011
On a dark night at the Village Vanguard, the audience snakes slowly down the long staircase and settles in at tiny tables, squeezed together nice and tight. In such close quarters, strangers exchange greetings, knees bumping. Soon the house…
Brush Workshop Part 4: Rudiments
Almost every drummer practices the rudiments—with sticks. If you’re serious about learning how to use brushes, why not also practice the rudiments with them? This article deals with just that. I guarantee that with some practice, you will be able…
BILL COBHAM: The Power Player
Billy Cobham is widely regarded as the premier drummer of jazz-rock fusion’s golden era—and he remains a dynamic and revered player to this day. Whether it’s his astoundingly intense and dense work on Mahavishnu Orchestra tunes like “One Word,” his…
The Spivack/Wilson Approach to Technique Part 4: Advanced Concepts
As you’ve seen throughout this series of articles, technique is built on learning a series of small, progressive steps that become more and more complex. First we discussed how to hold the sticks and how to make the basic wrist-turn…
