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November 2020 Issue – Volume 44 • Number 11

Drummer Ben Bigelow had two of his musical passions in mind when he designed this ultra-modern hybrid setup. “I’m a big fan of jazz and ambient music,” says drummer Ben Bigelow, “and this kit is an attempt to blend the two styles. I’ve always loved how drummers such as Paul Motian create texture and ambience with their brushwork, so I mostly play brushes with this kit—though with sticks, it’s killer for drum ’n’ bass.” Bigelow’s hybrid electronic/acoustic kit consists of a Roland KD-120 electronic bass drum pad (triggering many different sounds), a 6.5×14 Recco snare circa the 1950s, a Roland VH-12 electronic hi-hat (usually triggering 808 hats), two Zildjian K Constantinople Sound Lab Prototype cymbals (a 21″ Flat ride from 2019 and a 22″ Medium Thin Low ride from 2006), and a Roland TD-20 drum module. The unique aspect of the setup is that although it has minimal pieces, the […]
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Articles in November 2020

Nick D’Virgilio - An Invisible Touch

The prog-drumming vet may have recently scored a sweet new corporate gig, but he hasn’t stopped making music by any means—in fact, he’s cleverly put the two aspects of his life together, in the process making his career troubles disappear.…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

March 1983

I was with Keith Moon the night before he died. We went to the premiere of a Buddy Holly film. There was a reception and we were talking with Paul McCartney and he said, “I’ve got this idea and I…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

Joe Wong

The multimedia renaissance man accesses all the experiences he’s had for his solo debut. MD readers who have seen the name Joe Wong in the credits of Netflix shows like Russian Doll or Master of None may have wondered, is…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

Get on the Good Foot! Part 1

Hi-Hat Comping Riffs in 4/4 Jazz drummers depend on the hi-hat to help propel the band and provide strength to the weak beats of 2 and 4. When played in sync with the ride cymbal, a dynamically controlled hi-hat pulse…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

“Sticks & Wires”

An extensive two-hour course on drum miking by top session/touring drummer Blair Sinta that covers everything from bare-bones one-mic setups to more intricate applications. After graduating from the famed music program at University of North Texas in 1995, Blair Sinta…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020
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Aynsley Dunbar

John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and Jeff Beck in the 1960s. Frank Zappa, David Bowie, and Journey in the 1970s. Starship and Whitesnake in the ’80s. Any rock aficionado will recognize the legendary status of these artists. The connection between them? This…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

9 Reasons to Love Narada Michael Walden

One of the most successful record producers of the recent past is also among classic fusion’s most blazing drummers. Parallel with his ’70s career as successful producer and solo R&B artist, Narada Michael Walden was arguably the most emotional fusion…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

Zildjian, Atlantic Technology, LP, Vidami, Tama and more

Zildjian Planet Z Cymbals Crafted from brass, Planet Z cymbals are said to be bright and cutting, with a more controlled and focused sound. They are available in a 10" splash, a 16" crash, an 18" crash ride, a 20"…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

Stick Technique Revisited

Part 5: The Moeller Whip Stroke The Moeller whip stroke is named after Sanford “Gus” Moeller, a famous teacher from the early 1900s who became known for teaching a whipping motion used by Civil War drummers. In recent years, “Moeller”…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

Zigaboo Modeliste on “Cissy Strut”

The Meters’ Funk Master Shares the Essence to Nailing This Timeless Two-Hand Hi-Hat Groove “‘Cissy Strut’ is a song that was written by Leo Nocentelli, and he was very good at writing rhythms,” said Zigaboo Modeliste in an online course…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

Gruv Gear - Stadium and QUIVR Gig Bags

Supreme quality and contemporary design with a multitude of features for the modern touring musician. Many of today’s drummers are not only required to bring acoustic drums, cymbals, hardware, and sticks to the gig, but they also have to cart…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

In the Studio With Kenny Chesney’s Sean Paddock

When drummer Sean Paddock isn’t out playing stadium shows with country superstar Kenny Chesney, he’s in his newly built riverfront home studio making music. Paddock had a small area allocated for recording in his previous house, but moving to a…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020
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Turkish Cymbals - Cappadocia Series

Dry and funky, just like the region for which they’re named. Turkish Cymbals is—not surprisingly—a Turkish company that fabricates a wide array of contemporary and traditional-sounding cymbals utilizing a combination of ancient and modern processes. Each instrument starts from a…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

Resurrection Drums

Hollywood, Florida Resurrection Drums was founded in 1982. Originally located in a warehouse by the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in Broward County, Florida, the company literally focused on resurrecting quality used drums. In 1983 Resurrection moved to a location in…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

Critique

RECORDINGS Theraphosa Transcendence Yet another debut from an international heavy-rock band that slays. A product of Paris’s ever-more-prolific metal scene, Theraphosa named themselves after one of the most “metal” inspirations we’ve seen recently: the largest genus of spider in the…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

Identity Crisis…Embraced

“What do you do?” That’s such a common question, and one that’s often asked innocuously whenever I meet someone for the first time. But more and more, I’m having trouble answering as simply as I should. Am I a drummer?…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

Barrett Deems

The Self-Proclaimed “World’s Fastest Drummer” This month I’d like to talk about the great Barrett Deems. Barrett wasn’t as much of a household name in the big band world as Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, or Louie Bellson, but he was…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

Kevin Parker’s Approach to Tame Impala’s Drum Production

In the new age of music, very few artists, producers, or performers can truly stand out and make an impact with what they do and the emotions they divulge. Packing a powerful psychedelic space-pop sound, Tame Impala has united and…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

Tony Allen

A Tribute to the King of Afrobeat Drumming Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen’s contribution to modern music runs as deep as his groove. As the creator of an entirely new drumming style, his contributions are profound, and his influence has reached…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020
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The Earth Is a Drum

A Grammy-winning, world-traveling producer makes the case for looking beyond technology and academia for rhythmic and musical inspiration. A sage, veteran live-sound engineer in San Francisco used to joke that he could already tell how much a drummer was going…

Modern Drummer
Oct 1, 2020

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