February 2025 – Volume 49 • Number 02
On 01st Feb 2025
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Articles in February 2025
Roy and Zakir
At the very end of 2024 the music world lost two legendary drummers, Roy Haynes and Zakir Hussain. I am fortunate enough to have known, spent time with, and interviewed both men. Roy Haynes was my first and strongest jazz…
Drumming and Love, Love and Drumming
This month’s Kit of the Month comes to us from Daniel Wagoner of Browns Summit, North Carolina. Daniel commissioned Varus Drums to build this unique kit for his wife as a 50th Birthday Gift. They had originally met because Daniel…
Brush Playing, Not Air Conditioning Part 2
“And the seasons, they go round and roundAnd the painted ponies go up and downWe’re captive on the carousel of timeWe can’t return, we can only lookBehind, from where we cameAnd go round and round and round, in the circle…
DW COLLECTOR'S PURE CHERRY EXPANSION PACK, NEW SHURE SMART MICROPHONE
DW Collector’s Pure Cherry Shell Expansion Pack Now Available DW Soundworks™ has added the DW Collector’s Series® Pure Cherry Shell expansion pack to its growing range of drum samples. Cherry is a very musical wood that produces brighter attack, melodic clarity, and slightly darker…
Ludwig Universal Model Snare Drums—Six Sweet Cherry Plies
Let’s take a Modern Drummer Product Close-Up look at the newest version of an iconic classic snare drum from yesteryear. But first, let’s take a quick look back in time. The Ludwig “Universal” Model Snare Drums were first introduced in…
Earthworks Audio DK6 Drum Mic Kit
Earthworks audio has earned its reputation for producing high-precision pro-grade mics and equipment. I have seen their products in-use on several major tours while filming rundowns for Modern Drummer. In July of 2024, Earthworks unveiled the DK6 Drum Mic Kit.…
KickPort 2- Bass Drum Enhancer
Although the KickPort by KickPort International has been on the market for years, I thought it would be worthwhile to take a fresh look at its latest version, especially since Modern Drummer hasn’t previously reviewed it. For this Product Close-Up,…
Steven Doar, Holly Madge, Aicha Djidjelli, Aleksandra Suklar, Buzz Allan Recording Dune Part 2 and Taking Hans Zimmer Live to the Next Level
This month Modern Drummer is honored for the opportunity to interview the entire Hans Zimmer Live touring percussion section of Steven Doar, Holly Madge, Aicha Djidjelli, and Aleksandra Suklar. Who with Buzz Allan, (who does not tour with the percussion…
HOW MARK SCHULMAN OVERCAME HEARING LOSS TO REDEFINE HIS CAREER
If you like music and you haven’t seen Mark Schulman play live by now, I don’t know who you have been watching. Mark Schulman has been a road warrior drummer for 32 years, touring with P!nk, Billy Idol, Foreigner, Stevie…
The Versatile Virtuoso: Joe Dyson’s Journey Through Jazz
Joe Dyson is a name that resonates deeply within the jazz community, even if he doesn’t have one particular band to call home. Instead, Joe has built his reputation playing with a veritable who’s who of jazz greats, moving seamlessly…
Boston's "Foreplay/Long Time" drummer Sib Hashian
Written in 1969 by Tom Scholz, “Foreplay/Long Time” was the first song recorded by Boston. Initially recorded with the band’s original drummer, Jim Masdea, the studio insisted on replacing him, leading Tom to recruit Sib Hashian. For the recording, Sib was tasked…
Five Drumming FLOW Hacks You Can Use TODAY
I believe getting into flow is one of the main reasons we drum. This is where that feeling of the drums playing you comes from. We all have those days that feel like the furthest thing from flow, it’s when…
Encyclopedia of Double Bass Drumming: Linear Cross-Rhythm Combinations
In the new and revised edition of the Encyclopedia of Double Bass Drumming, Bobby 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 ternary…
Master Studies II: Eighth Note and Triplet Combinations
As a follow-up to Joe Morello’s legendary Master Studies book, he released Master Studies II in 2006. Joe was a masterful teacher and helped many great drummers with their musicality, technique, and touch. Joe was also masterful at creating exercises,…
Understanding the Language of MusicChord Progressions 101
Modern Drummer founder Ron Spagnardi wrote an excellent book called Understanding the Language of Music, a Drummer’s Guide to Theory and Harmony. This book spells out the basics of theory and harmony in a very easy to understand way. It…
Todd Sucherman's Entire Pearl Styx Kit
After 53 years, 17 albums and countless world tours, Styx is rocking harder than ever and playing over 100 shows every year. They’ve sold 54 million records and are the only band to ever release four consecutive triple-platinum albums. Todd…
Out Now February 2025
Modern Drummer is spotlighting new recordings that have the drums at the center of their sound. These recordings might be drummer-led, or just include high-quality, special, or unique drumming and musical performances from the drummer and/or musicians in the band. This…
Hand-Picked Vinyl February 2025
As the music world continues to see a resurgence in Vinyl (LP’s,) Vinyl Me Please (VMP) is curating and producing some of the best vinyl remasters and pressings around. They are scouring the history of recorded music for forgotten gems…
Nik Hughes' Bush Touring Kit
Drums: DW Design Series Gloss White Finish – 18x22 Kick drum, 9x12 Rack Tom, 14x16 Floor Tom, 16x18 Floor Tom Snares: 6.5x14 DW Bell Brass snare drum, 5.5x14 Maple snare drum Gloss White finish. Heads: Evans – Toms: clear G2’s on top Clear…
Roy Owen Haynes 1925-2024
Roy Haynes was one of the most influential drummers ever. His identifiable sound, vocabulary, sense of swing, musicality, innovation, and unbridled creativity permeated every bandstand and recording that he graced with his magical drumming. To see Roy Haynes was always…
Zakir Hussain 1951-2024
Ustad Zakir Hussain Allarakha Qureshi was the greatest and most well-known tabla player in the world. He won Grammy’s, and was recognized by the United States, Indian, and Japanese governments for his artistic contributions to the world. His collaborations and…
