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November 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 11

RECORDINGS Nerve After the Flare JOJO MAYER returns to the acoustic jazz format he cut his teeth on. Nerve, Jojo Mayer’s drum ’n’ bass ’n’ everything else collective, has been pushing the boundaries of electronic music for more than a decade, so it’s a wonder to hear their new material with a totally acoustic setup of piano, upright bass, and Mayer’s unaffected, beautifully organic drumkit at the forefront. Check out Mayer’s bouncy brushes in “A2,” featuring an undeniable groove established between his hands and kick drum that gets the head bobbing. There are tracks with dramatic mallet swells (“A5”), pieces that showcase Mayer’s excellent cymbal touch and swing (“B2”), and a lovely solo drum workout that sounds like Art Blakey if he lived in Brooklyn today (“A6”). Mayer spent years developing his jazz chops, so After the Flare is less of a stretch than a rekindling. And the remarkable recording is […]
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Articles in November 2018

Jan Delay’s Jost Nickel

Just when you think there’s nothing new under the drumming sun, someone like this veteran German player comes along and sheds new light on the craft. The fact that he plays with such blistering technique and sophisticated musicality only makes him that much more compelling.

By Ken Micallef
Sep 28, 2018

Buddy Rich - “Stars and Stripes Forever”

By 1929, a twelve-year-old Buddy Rich was already a seasoned performer, having been an integral part of his parents’ vaudeville act since he was eighteen months old. According to Mel Tormé’s biography of Rich, Traps: The Drum Wonder, with the…

by Eric Fischer
Sep 28, 2018

What’s Your Favorite Buddy Rich Performance?

In this month’s Jazz Drummer’s Workshop, the author and educator Eric Fischer analyzes one of Buddy Rich’s earliest surviving recordings. We reached out to our readers and social media followers to find out what other performances from throughout the legendary…

Modern Drummer
Sep 28, 2018

New Gear from Tama, Roland, Simon Phillips Jazz Drums, CEntrance, and Alesis!

Tama Superstar Hyper-Drive Duo Drumkit Series This new drumkit features the Duo drum, which can perform as a conventional floor tom or as an extra-deep snare. The 10x14 drum is mounted on floor tom legs and fitted with a conventional…

Modern Drummer
Sep 28, 2018

Jay-Z’s Eric “Boots” Greene

He’s developed some of the nastiest funk and fusion chops. And he thinks and plays like a producer. So it’s no wonder that he flourishes on the world’s biggest stages—and in the modern studio environment.

by Robin Tolleson
Sep 28, 2018
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ToneAlly - Percussion Teaching Tool

Sharpen your stick heights and angles with this unique tactile practice device.

by Nick Amoroso
Sep 28, 2018

Evans UV1 Bass Drum Heads

A durable ultraviolet-cured coated option for three of the company’s most popular models.

by Michael Dawson
Sep 28, 2018

Jon Hiseman & Gene Stone

The seminal architect of British jazz-rock made the most of his own indiosyncracies. “When people ask me what I play, the usual answer is ‘the drums’ because that is the instrument, but what I would like to say is, ‘I…

by Martin Patmos
Sep 28, 2018

Jason Bowld with Bullet for My Valentine

The British rock and session veteran joins the seasoned heavy-metal aces on their defining new album and supporting worldwide trek.

Article by Ben Meyer | Photo by Ryan Chang
Sep 28, 2018

Keith Urban’s Seth Rausch

Seth Rausch, who’s currently touring with country superstar Keith Urban, met with MD to talk about his extensive setup that includes custom pieces, a bespoke snare, and a secondary electronic cocktail kit. The multitude of components was ideal for Urban’s…

Interview by Brandy Laurel McKenzie | Photos by Sean O’Halloran
Sep 28, 2018

Flam Ostinatos - A Creative Approach to a Drumming Staple

In the context of contemporary hybrid rudiments, the flam has been used in different ways to create some new and exciting patterns. Inspired by some of these modern hybrid combinations, I’ve come up with a concept to add yet another…

by Luis Ricardo Méndez
Sep 28, 2018

Dean Butterworth on Good Charlotte’s Generation Rx

The pop-punk mainstays deliver again with powerful hooks and purposeful songs charged by their versatile ace behind the skins.

Article by Willie Rose | Photo by Ryan Watanabe
Sep 28, 2018
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Drumset Ergonomics - Part 5: Positioning the Hi-Hat, Ride, and Rack Toms

https://vimeo.com/281286833 Welcome back! The final two articles in this series will focus on the placement of primary and secondary suspended instruments, with an emphasis on preserving shoulder health. Primary suspended instruments are the ones we play most often (hi-hat, ride,…

by Brandon Green
Sep 28, 2018

Sticking Patterns for Odd Groupings

Getting Comfortable with Fives and Sevens

by Aaron Edgar
Sep 28, 2018

Roland - TM-6 Pro Trigger Module and RT-30 Triggers

A professional-grade, feature-laden system for blending electronics with acoustics.

by Michael Dawson
Sep 28, 2018

Hidden Treasures

Photo by Jeff Smith Hello, everyone in MD land. I hope your summer went well. There were so many classic and new bands out on the road; hopefully you got to enjoy a few of those live shows. And hopefully…

by Billy Amendola
Sep 28, 2018

Who's Playing What, Beat Hunger Benefit, and More

Richie Gajate-Garcia Receives Honorary Doctorate from Lincoln College This past May 5, the percussionist, educator, and author Richie Gajate-Garcia received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois, in recognition of his contributions to the areas…

Modern Drummer
Sep 28, 2018

Fear, Ego, and Overplaying

The Driving Forces Behind Forcing Chops

by Dave Stark
Sep 28, 2018
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Legado Cymbals - Heritage, 79V, Luxo Raw, and Caspian Series

A newcomer in the handmade-cymbal market keeps a keen eye on the tastes and budgets of everyday working drummers.

by Michael Dawson
Sep 28, 2018

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