May 2017 Issue – Volume 41 • Number 5

David Gilmour's Steve DiStanislao

Interview and photos by Sayre Berman Steve DiStanislao is the drummer of choice for legendary artists such as Crosby, Stills and Nash, Kenny Loggins, Don Felder, and his current employer, David Gilmour. “I tour with many different artists, and I…

An Editor's Overview - Influencers

by Willie Rose “If I am an influence, I hope I’m a good one,” said this month’s cover artist, Steve Gadd, in his very first Modern Drummer cover story, in 1978. “I don’t play to be an influence. I feel…

Septuplet Fives - Polyrhythmic Permutation

https://vimeo.com/208718798 Rock Perspectives Septuplet Fives Polyrhythmic Permutation by Aaron Edgar Seven over five can be a challenging polyrhythm to master. We’ll start building this rhythm by playing every fifth septuplet partial in a measure of 5/4. It can take plenty…

Rockin’ at a Snail’s Pace - Variations for Slower Tempos

Basics Rockin’ at a Snail’s Pace Variations for Slower Tempos by Joel Rothman Playing slow tempos can be one of the most difficult things to master. As the distance from one beat to the next increases, the ability to accurately…

Steve Gadd - The Innovator

Jazz fans lucky enough to be in New York City this past November had the opportunity to see three great masters pour out their hearts, extend their technique, and recapture past glories. Pianist Chick Corea, bassist Eddie Gomez, and drummer…

May 2017 Issue – Volume 41 • Number 5

Do I Need an Attorney? Part 2: Navigating Contract Negotiations

Concepts Do I Need an Attorney Part 2: Navigating Contract Negotiations by Russ Miller In last month’s column, we discussed whether or not you should hire a lawyer for your business dealings. This time we dive a bit deeper into…

Groove Construction, Part 12: 16th-Note Metronome Training

https://vimeo.com/208722950 Rock 'n' Jazz Clinic Groove Construction Part 12: 16th-Note Metronome Training by Jost Nickel In this lesson we’ll work on perceiving a metronome on various 16th-note partials. These exercises will improve your ability to hear different rhythms before you…

Aleks Girshevich

Up & Coming Aleks Girshevich A twelve-year-old reaches into the “El Negro” clave bag, and more than holds his own on a disc featuring Eddie Gomez. by Ilya Stemkovsky Most twelve-year-olds are busy trying to beat that hot new combat…

Beyond the Noteheads - Part 3: Varying Your Transcriptions

Jazz Drummer's Workshop Beyond the Noteheads Part 3: Varying Your Transcriptions by Steve Fidyk This month we’ll apply variations to some of the transcribed phrases from Part 2 of this series (March 2017). This process truly has no limits. I…

Ziv Ravitz

Features Ziv Ravitz The Urgency of Now Story by Jeff Potter Photos by Bastien Burger “It’s hard to define what jazz is these days,” Ziv Ravitz says. “In the end, it’s the spirit of everything being possible.” A drummer of…

The 2016 Hollywood Custom and Vintage Drum Show

Danny Seraphine Backbeats The 2016 Hollywood Custom and Vintage Drum Show Story and photos by Bob Campbell This past October 8, the 2016 Hollywood Custom and Vintage Drum Show packed the Glendale Civic Auditorium in Glendale, California, with gear, drumming…

Kit of the Month - Compact Clubber

Kit of the Month Compact Clubber This light, tight, and customized setup comes from Steve Fruda, from Norwalk, Connecticut, who decided to downsize after a few seasons of nonstop wedding gigs with his New York City–based band, the Elements. The…

1,000 Ways to Practice a Single Page, Part 3: Incorporating Flams

https://vimeo.com/208716618 Strictly Technique 1,000 Ways to Practice a Single Page Part 3: Incorporating Flams by Libor Hadrava Last month we applied a set of written rhythms to the drumset by accenting the figures within continual 16th notes and experimenting with…

A&F Drum Co. - 4x14 Raw Brass Snare

  Product Close-Up A&F Drum Co. 4x14 Raw Brass Snare A contemporary take on iconic turn-of-the-century drums. There’s a new player on the high-end drum scene. The Antoun and Family Drum Company was founded in 2012 in Austin, Texas, and…

Gibaltar - G Drive Stealth Pedals

Product Close-Up Gibraltar G Drive Stealth Pedals Simple, smooth, and powerful options in a sleek black design. In addition to continuously redefining what can be done with drum racks, Gibraltar has a solid reputation for producing simple, functional, and affordable…

Evans - UV1 Drumheads

https://vimeo.com/202236606 Product Close-Up Evans UV1 Drumheads A new silkscreened coating cured with ultraviolet light for increased consistency and durability. Evans’ research team spent several years experimenting with new ways to improve upon one of its most widely used products—the single-ply…

Sunhouse - Sensory Percussion Electronic System

Product Close-Up Sunhouse Sensory Percussion Electronic System Innovative technology that combines the natural expressivity of acoustic drums with the limitless power of software. The goal for Sunhouse’s super-advanced Sensory Percussion system is to, as much as possible, remove machinery from…

Simon Kirke

Features Simon Kirke The Free and Bad Company cofounder releases a solo album that reaffirms his place in the top tier of rock drumming, as well as his stature as a solo artist to be reckoned with. Story by Bob…

Mastodon's Brann Dailor

As you read this, Mastodon’s brand-new album is dropping all over the world. As usual, fans will get exactly what they expect—plus a little something new. Story by David Ciauro Photos by Jimmy Hubbard Mastodon’s discography follows a linear pattern,…