August 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 8
Articles in August 2018
What’s Your Favorite Hip-Hop or R&B Drumming Performance?
Acoustic drumming generally isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when considering modern hip-hop and R&B album production. But when we took to Facebook and Instagram to ask readers about their favorite hip-hop and R&B drumming performances, plenty of…
Mark Sheppard of Robyn Hitchcock and His L.A. Squires
It’s a balmy January evening, and at the back of an Italian restaurant nestled in a southern California strip mall, Mark Sheppard is telling the story of how he came to be the drummer with the psychedelic pop institution the…
Drum Wisdom: Dana Hall
The drummer, composer, and director of jazz studies and ethnomusicology at DePaul University is all about seeking out true sources.
Ryan Pope on the Get Up Kids’ Kicker
Wild drum tones, energetic grooves, and signature hooks fuel the eminent group’s first release in seven years.
What You Need to Know About Snare Drum Heads
We began our deep dive into drumheads with a survey of the assorted types—and their sounds/applications—that are available for the bass drum (June 2018). This month we’re examining the different makes and models for the snare drum, which is arguably…
Noble & Cooley - Walnut Classic Drumset
A new horizontal-ply shell construction from the original American boutique builder.
John “Jabo” Starks and Roy Burns Pass, Guitar Center Names Donny Gruendler Vice President of Music Education, and More Industry Happenings
Photo of John "Jabo" Starks by Paul La Raia. John “Jabo” Starks and Roy Burns Pass As this month’s issue went into production, Modern Drummer was saddened to hear about the passing of the funk legend John “Jabo” Starks and…
Antonio Sanchez, McClenty Hunter Jr., and Duduka da Fonseca take the reins, a trio of albums featuring Vinnie Colaiuta, and more!
RECORDINGS Taking the Reins Photo by Elisa Caldana Antonio Sanchez Channels of Energy The innovative musician veers in yet another direction. Following on the heels of his Grammy-nominated drums-meets-electronics tour de force, Bad Hombre, the amazing Antonio Sanchez takes a…
Drumset Ergonomics - Part 2: Seat Height
This month we’re going to explore the critically important relationship between the drum throne and the human body. Selecting an appropriate throne height is one of the most overlooked steps of setting up a drumset, yet it could have the…
Pete Lockett
Pete Lockett has traveled the globe countless times in search of new sounds and ethnic styles to interpret. The latest example of his approach is Boom!, a collaboration with Luis Conte where the two master percussionists seamlessly meld Indian, Cuban,…
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's Eric Moore and Michael Cavanagh
Last month we interviewed drummer Marian Li-Pino of the SoCal indie-surf rock band La Luz, who recently toured Australia alongside that country’s progressive psych ensemble King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Marian, the good sport that she is, agreed to put on her journalist cap and report back on what drives this unlikely double-drummer-powered group.
Multilayered Polyrhythms - Rhythmic Puzzles for Your Mind and Body
Last month we concluded our two-part introduction to polyrhythms with an example that combined multiple polyrhythms within one phrase. In this lesson, we’ll continue layering multiple polyrhythms to take the previous ideas to an even deeper level. These exercises will…
Zildjian - A Series 18" Uptown Ride and 12" New Beat Hi-Hats
Quick, articulate, and bright sounds for compact setups and electronic/fusion situations.
New Gear from Sonor, Vater, Paiste, Trakke, Yamaha, Roland, Gon Bops and Mapex!
Sonor AQ2 Series Drums These 7-ply maple kits feature newly designed lugs and are available in 22" Stage, 20" Studio, Martini, Safari, and Bop configurations. The drums share fittings and finishes, offering the flexibility to mix and match within the…