September 2023 – Volume 47 • Number 9
On 31st Aug 2023
Articles in September 2023
African and American Combinations
The next step in our African-American journey is to combine the long-three polyrhythm in bikutsi with mangambe and shuffle-funk elements. Let’s begin by playing the mangambe right-hand pattern on the cymbal and the six over four polyrhythm with the foot…
Vic Firth Terra™ Series
Vic Firth’s new series of drumsticks celebrates the natural beauty our earth gifts us in each drumstick we make. Using a proprietary staining process, the unique and beautiful grains are exposed so that no two pairs are alike. Crafted from…
Max Weinberg: Back on E Street
Photo by Anthony Scanga To some, he’s “Mighty” Max, the longtime drummer of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. To other, perhaps younger fans, he’s familiar as the bandleader and comic foil to Conan O’ Brien, when the latter hosted NBC-TV’s…
Sick New World Fest in Las Vegas A Rhythmic Extravaganza
Las Vegas recently witnessed a musical explosion like never before as the Sick New World Fest took over the city. This high-octane festival became the talk of the town, bringing together drummers and music lovers from all corners of the…
The Encyclopedia of Double Bass Drumming: Feet Only—Triplets
In the new and revised edition of the Encyclopedia of Double Bass Drumming, Bobby Rondinelli includes nine new double bass drumming chapters. The new and expanded edition covers contemporary techniques such as bass drum double strokes, feet-only exercises, binary and…
Pearl and Drummer Dennis Chambers Create New 10-over 8 Signature Snare.
To be truly great, one must evolve over time. Drumming legend Dennis Chambers took this to heart when considering the transformation of his snare drum sound. Designed for sonic evolution, the new Pearl Dennis Chambers Signature Snare drum employs the…
Jay Weinberg and Max Weinberg: Like Son, Like Father
Photo by Rob DeMartin This month, Modern Drummer is honored to celebrate an MD cover that appeared 14 years ago. That was when Bruce Springsteen chose (E Street Band’s longtime drummer) Max Weinberg’s son Jay Weinberg to replace Max for…
The Bass Drum Owners Manual: Applying the Heel Up Technique to Grooves
This month Modern Drummer will continue to include excerpts from Michael Packer’s essential book on bass drum control and technique The Bass Drum Owners Manual: Applying the Moeller Technique to the Bass Drum. As you will see, this is a…
Vinnie Paul Replica Pearl “Damage Plan Kit”
This month’s Eye Candy kit is a Pearl set that was custom created by John Douglas. This is a replica of Vinnie Paul’s Damage Plan kit. The kit features two 24 x 26 bass drums, 14 x 14 and 15…
“Chapinism” to Jazz Solos: Solo applications from Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Vol 1 Coordinated Independence
I had the chance to study with the great Jim Chapin during the last four years of his life. Jim passed away at 90 years of age on Independence Day (July 4, 2009). Ironically, he has been referred to as…
Step Up and Raise Your Standards!
Getting to your next level of excellence comes in evolutions, not revolutions. We all share the battle of fighting self-sabotage from our “shadow selves.” This lesser part of us survives by running to the light of ease and safety. Fighting…
Old and New September 2023
Firstly, NO, I’m not calling anyone “old!” However, it is possible that no issue of Modern Drummer portrays the idea and the relationship of old and new, better than this month’s issue. What more can be said about Max and…
Brent Fitz: His Inspiring Journey
Photo by Ilya Mirman As the rhythmic backbone of some of rock music’s biggest acts, Brent Fitz has established himself as one of the most talented and versatile drummers in the industry. From his thunderous beats to his intricate piano…
Two 1930s Slingerland Green Trap Kits
Here’s a little history of how Slingerland got into the drum business. In the 1920’s the banjo was very popular in music of day. Up until 1927 Slingerland was a banjo company. Ludwig had been a drum company since 1909.…
Dave Sundeen’s Custom Kit
This month’s Kit of the Month comes from Dave Sundeen from Random Lake, Wisconsin. He is the drummer for the Milwaukee based bands Shelly Mack and The ReUnion and Sucker Punch. This is a custom made kit that was built…
Latin Percussion Launches New Range of Frame Drums
Latin Percussion continues to develop their collection of world percussion instruments with the introduction of a new range of Frame Drums to include the Tar and Bendir. Based on some of the most ancient musical instruments the new Tar and…
Jay Weinberg Knot Just A New Generation
Photo by Anthony Scanga Whether you are a fan of Slipknot or not; if you think that you know drummer Jay Weinberg? I guarantee you that you don’t! At the age of 32, his life (so far) reads like a…
Ron Spagnardi 1943-2003 Remembered After Twenty Years
It was twenty years ago this month that Modern Drummer Founder and Publisher Ron Spagnardi succumbed from his battle with cancer. Although Ron wasn’t comfortable with the term “visionary,” that’s exactly what he was. Every drummer around the world owes…
Roland Zenology Pro
For decades, Roland sounds have had a massive influence on music. Our legendary instruments have defined genres like techno, house, rap, trap, and hip hop, and deeply influenced pop, rock, and film music. This long legacy has culminated in the…
