News
Keep up to date with the drum world via news items, interviews, lists, and more
Rock ’N’ Roll Original W.S. Holland Passes
W.S. Holland with Carl Perkins Modern Drummer was saddened to hear of the passing of W.S. Holland on September 23, at the age of eighty-five. Holland was one of the architects of rock ’n’ roll, first with Carl Perkins, and…
Upcoming Oz Noy Album, Snapdragon, Will Feature Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Dennis Chambers: Video
Guitarist Oz Noy’s upcoming album, Snapdragon, which comes out on November 6, will feature three of the greatest fusion drummers of all time: Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Dennis Chambers. A slew of other recognizable names also appear: bassists John…
Triple Percussion Team of Chad Taylor, Mikel Patrick Avery, and John Herndon Power Rob Mazurek’s Dimensional Stardust
Rob Mazurek’s upcoming album with Exploding Star Orchestra, Dimensional Stardust, which is due November 20 on International Anthem/Nonesuch Records, is bolstered by a rhythm section featuring a trio of cutting-edge drummers: Chad Taylor, Mikel Patrick Avery, and John Herndon. All three drummers are heavy…
Nasheet Waits Joins New England Conservatory Jazz Studies Faculty
New England Conservatory’s Jazz Studies Department has hired renowned drummer, composer, and educator Nasheet Waits to join the jazz faculty beginning in the 2020-21 academic year. In addition to his work as a leader, Waits is widely known for his…
Exclusive: “My Father’s Eyes” Lyric Video by Pedrito Martinez Featuring Eric Clapton
We are happy to premiere the lyric video for “My Father’s Eyes” performed by Pedrito Martinez with Eric Clapton. In July of 2018, Martinez entered a small studio in a beautiful neighborhood in London to record vocals and guitar with Eric Clapton on…
Tabla Master Zakir Hussain Joins Julian Lage and Charles Lloyd for Healdsburg Jazz Live Stream
On Saturday, September 26, Healdsburg Jazz presents the world premiere of Charles Lloyd, Zakir Hussain, and Julian Lage playing together as a trio, to be streamed live around the world. Each musician will be driving to the intimate wine country…
JR Robinson and Future Youth Records Team Up to Help Youth Create World Peace Day Album
This past Monday, September 21, Future Youth Records, a nonprofit record label based in California that works with youth to create and distribute music promoting social justice—and that is spearheaded by a group of professional drummers—released their first Think Peace…
In Tribute to a Tribute: Reflections on the Modern Drummer Festival 2020
by Fred W. Gretsch This past Saturday, September 12 saw the return of one of drumming’s great events: The Modern Drummer Festival. Not held since 2011, this year’s Festival marked the 20th in its iconic history. Of course, given the…
Dafnis Prieto “Amanecer Contigo” Video Premiere
Dafnis Prieto, who will be featured in an upcoming issue of Modern Drummer, has allowed us to premiere a performance video of “Amanecer Contigo,” the leadoff track of his new album, Transparency. The album comes out on Friday, October 2,…
The Beatles to Release Official Book and Documentary Examining Their Infamous Let It Be Sessions
On August 31Callaway Arts & Entertainment and Apple Corps Ltd. are publishing The Beatles: Get Back, the first official standalone book to be released by the Beatles since The Beatles Anthology. The 240-page hardcover tells the story of the Beatles’…
Rat Scabies on the Upcoming Album by Professor and the Madman
Rat Scabies came to prominence with the Damned, the first British punk band to release a single (“New Rose,” October 1976), put out a full-length album (Damned Damned Damned, February 1977), and tour the U.S. (spring of ’77). Rat left…
Drummers on Record: Danny Gottlieb, Pedrito Martinez, Linda Pitmon
Mark Egan and Danny Gottlieb Electric Blue (Danny Gottlieb) Bassist Mark Egan and drummer Danny Gottlieb, who share a nearly fifty-year working relationship, are releasing their first-ever duo recording, Electric Blue, featuring just drums and bass. Egan and Gottlieb spent…
Remembering Quiet Riot Drummer Frankie Banali
“My passion in continuing Quiet Riot has everything to do with the fact that drumming is what I’ve always wanted to do,” Quiet Riot’s Frankie Banali told Modern Drummer in a 2015 interview. “I worked very hard and struggled a…
Ofri Nehemya on Omer Avital and Qantar’s New York Paradox
Bassist Omer Avital’s group, Qantar, offers a wealth of chops, but the premium is on soul and excitement. The Brooklyn quintet—including pianist Eden Ladin, drummer Ofri Nehemya, and dual saxophonists Alexander Levin and Asaf Yuria—are all Israeli expatriates wholly in…
