March 2020 Issue – Volume 44 • Number 3
Articles in March 2020
Steve Hackett’s Craig Blundell
We recently caught up with Steve Hackett’s touring drummer, Craig Blundell, at the historic Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles. “The rig I had was a similar kit to this, with two kicks and a gong drum,” he says. “When Mapex…
Gary Husband’s Drum Videocasts
The veteran fusion drummer’s new online tutorial is most concerned with opening doors to self-expression. "Drumming is, and should be, a constantly evolving art form,” says Gary Husband. “And I feel we all carry the responsibility to at least strive…
Tama S.L.P. New-Vintage Hickory Drumset
A classic bebop-style setup with modern-leaning tone and appointments. I recently got to test drive the newest addition to Tama’s Sound Lab Project (S.L.P.) line of drumsets: the New-Vintage Hickory. The three-piece shell pack comprises fairly thin hickory shells in…
“Rhythm Basics” Expanded
Part 1: How to Build Advanced Hand Technique Based on Simple Patterns This is the first lesson in a three-part series that is to be used in conjunction with the “Rhythm Basics” educational pack we produced for the SYNKD customizable…
Ash Doodkorte with Voyager
Photo by Thedore Swaddling The veteran Australian progressive band is aptly named, exploring musical worlds beyond the expected. They even shared one notable gig with bona fide astronauts. Though the Australian quintet Voyager has been a staple of European progressive-rock…
dialtune Cable-Tuning Snare Drum
Independently adjust top and bottom heads using a dial for lightning-fast tuning. There’s often a fine line between innovation and gimmickry. The latter is often thrilling and captivating at first glance, but inevitably there are one or more shortcomings that…
Treasured Tracks
What’s your favorite Manu Katché performance? His drum break in “Come Talk to Me” on Secret World Live totally opened my mind ten years ago. Richie Henry “The Wild Wild Sea” by Sting. The man paints a portrait in that…
Zildjian K Cluster Crashes
Strategically hammered for more explosive, trashy tones without veering all the way into special effects. The Zildjian cymbal catalog can be split into two lanes: A and K. The A lane comprises all the subseries that were born from the…
Georgia’s Seeking Thrills
Georgia performing for Vevo DSCVR, shot by Jack Alexander. The multitalented Brit may take a one-woman-band approach onstage, but her new album is a decidedly all-in affair, inspiring legions to think, feel, and dance in equal measure. North Londoner Georgia…
Yesod Williams of Pepper
There are a million and one things that can go awry while on tour, from the mundane to the absurd to the downright dangerous. But things that happen off the road can be equally consequential. The drummer with the…
New Gear From Gretsch, Evans, Tama, Yamaha, Canopus, and Rogers
Gretsch Brooklyn Standard Snare Designed in collaboration with Mike Johnston, this 5.5x14, 6-ply, North American maple/poplar shell with double 45-degree bearing edges is said to produce a snappy, crisp sound with sensitivity. Features include extra-wide 42-strand chrome-plated wires and 302…
Sunshine and Love
Hi, everyone. It’s that time again: the start of a new year, when many of you will be in sunny Anaheim, California, attending the annual National Association of Music Merchants winter convention. The NAMM Show is where dealers, manufacturers, and…
The Classic Recordings of Ginger Baker, Part 1
Today Ginger Baker is as well known for his volatile personality as he is for his contributions to the evolution of our instrument. But if it wasn’t for those musical contributions—which began before the birth of classic rock and continued…
Craviotto Heritage Series Snare
Top-notch, collector-level quality for the working drummer. The Craviotto brand hardly needs an introduction to snare drum fans. The company has long been associated with craftsmanship, tone, and collectability, even to those of us who haven’t seen or played one…
Metric Modulation
Moving Beyond What’s commonly called “implied metric modulation” refers to the auditory illusion that takes place when you apply patterns typically played in one subdivision (for example, 16th notes) within another subdivision (such as triplets). This makes the pattern sound…
New Releases by Chick Corea, Jeff Denson, Car Bomb, and More
RECORDINGS Chick Corea Trio Trilogy 2 Jeff Denson Between Two Worlds Two new releases feature a fiery and involved Brian Blade. Chick Corea formed and documented his incredible trio with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Brian Blade several years ago,…
Chris Johnson
The first-call R&B and pop drummer has climbed the ladder methodically, and with no small amount of flair. With a couple insider's-view projects on the horizon, it's a good time to check in with him about the skills he puts…
Heracio "El Negro" Hernandez
The revered Latin-jazz drummer, who turned concepts like left-foot clave into drumming staples, is back with an expansive new audio-visual package. Horacio “El Negro” Hernández is one of the busiest, most accomplished, and most popular drummers in the world, renowned…
2112 Percussion, Raleigh, North Carolina
The 2112 staff, from left: Chris Henderson, Kevin Rader-Rodenbaugh, Peter Albrecht, Cameron Brown, Jörg Eichfuss, Tony Williams If you need to get a hold of the guy in charge of 2112 Percussion in Raleigh, North Carolina, just ask for Tony…