November 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 11
Articles in November 2018
Nick Mason
Pink Floyd’s drummer surprises onstage and on record by revisiting the past but keeping an ear to the future.
Jake Morris
Thirty years after he cofounded the influential and inscrutable indie-rock band Pavement, Stephen Malkmus is among the most confident and compelling bandleader/songwriters of his generation. And in this drummer, he has a musician who only accentuates his greatest assets.
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.
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.
8 Reasons to Love Whitesnake
(Above: When Deep Purple went on hiatus in 1979, drummer Ian Paice helped Whitesnake achieve mass popularity.) Whitesnake formed soon after the dissolution of the Mark IV lineup of Deep Purple, when singer David Coverdale combined his love of blues, rock,…
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…
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…
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,…
Ddrum - Dios Series Snares
A well-conceived trio of deep wood and metal models designed to deliver distinct but useful tones.
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.
Roland - TM-6 Pro Trigger Module and RT-30 Triggers
A professional-grade, feature-laden system for blending electronics with acoustics.
ToneAlly - Percussion Teaching Tool
Sharpen your stick heights and angles with this unique tactile practice device.
Evans UV1 Bass Drum Heads
A durable ultraviolet-cured coated option for three of the company’s most popular models.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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.
Angel Olsen’s Josh Jaeger
After five years of steady touring and recording with the indie-folk singer-songwriter Angel Olsen—including a fifteen-month tour cycle behind 2016’s My Woman—Josh Jaeger is shifting gears. With Olsen using 2018 to focus on solo shows and writing for a new…
Sam Lay
The legendary drummer with Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, and Paul Butterfield has been inducted into the Blues and Jazz Halls of Fame, was present for two of the most important chapters in Bob…
New Releases From Jojo Mayer's Nerve, Finally George with Todd Sucherman, and more
RECORDINGS Photo by Ben O’Brien 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…
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…
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…
Drums of the Tombs
The musician, composer, and producer Tom Holkenborg, who performs under the stage name Junkie XL, custom ordered this month’s featured kit to use while creating the score to the 2018 action film Tomb Raider. To match the movie’s Pacific-island setting,…