April 2021 – Volume 45 • Number 4

Jeff Porcaro

It’s About Time Initially, we were scheduling a short review of long-time MD contributor Robyn Flans’ book on Jeff Porcaro, It’s About Time: Jeff Porcaro, The Man and His Music. Then, we thought about it for a second. This is…

Paradiddle Combinations

We’re taking a little trip into the past to revisit a fantastic paradiddle lesson from Joe Morello’s essential book, Master Studies II . The following exercises are great for developing control. Practice each one slowly at first, and remain relaxed…

RECORDINGS

Jochen Rueckert Stars and Garters Forty-four-year-old German-born drummer/composer Jochen Rueckert has released five swinging and visceral jazz records—all with top New York City players, and all tinged with the drummer’s left-of-center approach. Stars and Garters—which refers to awards and medals—is…

Sheila E - Modern Drummer, July 1991

A lot of percussionists—and drummers, too—have that problem of overplaying. The way you overcome it is by developing discipline. I learned all about discipline when I became a session player. I’d go into the studio and the producer would say,…

Ed Shaughnessy

September 1992 For those fortunate enough to have grown up somewhere between 1965 and 1991, whose parents allowed them to stay up until 11:30 at least to hear the famous downbeat to Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, drummer Ed Shaughnessy had…

Fred Armisen

The Multitasking Marvel ofLate Night with Seth Meyers If Fred Armisen was “just” the band leader, drummer, and former guitarist of The 8G Band on Late Night with Seth Meyers, it would be a pretty monumental accomplishment. But Armisen is…

Matt Chamberlain

Changing Things Up with Bob Dylan After joining Bob Dylan’s band in 2019, and playing on his latest album, Rough and Rowdy Ways, Matt Chamberlain was supposed to be spending much of 2020 on the road with the legendary singer-songwriter.…

April 2021 - Volume 45 • Number 4

Donn Bennett’s Drum Vault

Tico Torres’ 1984 Bon Jovi Pearl Drumset By 1984, Tico Torres and his band Bon Jovi had worked their way through the ranks of the New Jersey bar scene, had recorded their first album, and were opening for established acts…

Milford Graves 1941-2021

John Zorn once called Milford Graves a “20th-century shaman.” It wasn’t just because the pioneering free-jazz drummer created an extremely personal approach to drumming that included ferocious explosions of churning beats across his entire kit, complementary vocalizations, and mid-performance narratives.…

How It Feels to Be Something On

Sunny Day Real Estate From the cover art alone, you get the sense that something was burning at Sunny Day Real Estate’s core when they released How It Feels to Be Something On in September 1998. The sun image on…

Who Are the Hippest Drummers to Watch in 2021?

We reached out on our socials to see which drummers the Modern Drummer community is most excited about this year. Here are some of your thoughts… It looks like Daru Jones is the right answer. — Sam Brewer Ruy Adrián…

Hendrix Drums - Player’s Stave Series 6.5x14 Rock Maple Snare

The big, beefy sound you’d expect from a thick shell and then some. Hendrix is a Houston, Texas-based company specializing in crafting premium stave and ply-shell drums that provide professional-grade sound and performance at working drummer prices. The flagship line,…

Applying Musical Concepts to the Drumset

By Thomas Lang. Presented by Drum Channel. In order to take what you are practicing and apply it musically to the drumset, you have to develop facility, technique, and independence first. Then, you can transition to playing more freely—almost like…

Zildjian, Latin Percussion, GrooveTech, DW and more

Zildjian Armand’s Personal Collection In celebration of what would have been Armand Zildjian’s 100th birthday, Zildjian is releasing vintage cymbals from the Zildjian family vault for the first time. This release features 200 hand-selected vintage 20" cymbals from Armand’s collection.…

Mono - 24" Cymbal Bag

Simple, comfortable, and durable—everything you need to transport your prized pies with ease. For most of us drummer, a cymbal bag is a necessary piece of gear but one of simple utilitarian nature. Most of us skimp out and go…

Eric Leiderman

Late Night with Seth Meyers Producer Puts Drums Up Front Why is the TV producer from Late Night with Seth Meyers featured on the cover of Modern Drummer, you ask? Eric Leiderman was a drummer first, and he has been…

C&C Custom Drums - Maple/Gum Series

A timeless classic shell formula tailor-made for the stage or studio C&C Custom Drums is a custom drum shop based in Gladstone, Missouri. Despite claiming to be a small company, they boast an impressive and growing roster of endorsees from…

Give the Drummer Some!

Hi, everyone! Welcome to the April 2021 issue of MD. I was hoping by the time I would be writing this editorial we’d be back to some sort of normalcy. Unfortunately, such is not the case yet. Fortunately, day-by-day, it’s…

“Rocking with a Radio King”

Calgary teen isn’t precious about gigging with his 1960 Slingerland kit. Taylor Miles is just 15 years old, but he has already earned veteran status with his band, Exit Division. The Calgary, Alberta, alternate-rock group has played tons of gigs…