August 2023 – Volume 47 • Number 8
Articles in August 2023
Just Duet
The greatest joy in education comes when the student teaches the teacher. Jake Reed and Ryan Shaw (who is highlighted in Jake’s guest column) both studied with me at USC. They not only do me and the Thornton School of…
Danny Schreiber of Quor
The prog-metal band Quor has been together since 2013, and their newest member is drummer Danny Schreiber. The band just got back from a Japanese tour which found them playing at the Osaka club called Hokage’, as well as Babel…
Triplets with Flams
In previous months we have learned about an often-ignored sound of drumming called Flat Flams. Then we learned about Joe Morello’s creative way of combining eighth notes with Flams.This month we will continue with a study of playing triplets with…
Explosive CONFIDENCE Through Drumming
Where does true confidence come from? It’s found in the evidence of actions when you faced your dragons, and came out the other side. It’s not just thinking, but KNOWING. Everyday, we earn another 1%, but we don’t always see…
Louie Palmer: From London to L.A. with fire!
Photo by Marcus Wolf When you scroll through social media pages you see many different posts from various guys, and you might stop for only a few seconds on one who caught your attention. But sometimes, you might spend more…
Latin Percussion Rhythm Rods New Tools for the Toolbox
The other half of my LP box had a nice assortment of Rhythm Rods. LP sent over three different pairs: Synthetic Lightweight and Heavyweight models, and the Natural Rhythm Rods. I tried these alternative implements on just about everything I…
OUT NOW! New Recordings in the August 2023 Issue
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 a high-quality, special, or a unique drumming and musical performance from the drummer and/or musicians in…
Groove Concepts for Fusion-Funk Music
I began playing with the Carl Mayotte Fusion Quintet in 2018. We have recorded four albums since 2018 and have had the chance to release a play along series for drum and bass with Hudson Music in 2023. Creating the…
DW’s Alex Gonzalez Collectors Series Icon Snare Drum: Iconic drummer, Iconic Snare Drum
Drum Workshop sent Modern Drummer over one of their newest Collector Series Icon snare drums for a look-see. The Alex Gonzalez DW Collector’s Series ICON snare drum was created as a tribute to Latin Pop icons Mana and their legendary…
Embrace Change
In proofing this month’s Modern Drummer, I saw a theme. It was an unconscious theme, but a theme none-the-less. Changes. It’s not just a great Yes song, a timeless David Bowie song, or a classic Buddy Miles song. Nor is…
2023 Chicago Drum Show: The Drummers Family Reunion!
The Chicago Drum Show, now in its 32nd year, returned to the Kane County Fairgrounds on May 20 & 21, 2023. The show was a rousing success with an attendance of around 1500 visitors and over 180 booths. Attendees came…
Laura Donelan of Music Pro Insurance
Many musicians don’t know that specialized musical instrument insurance exists. If they do know about it, they probably assume it’s going to cost an arm and leg. And if someone knows about it, and is interested, they probably assume that…
Patience Pays Off!
This month’s Modern Drummer Kit of the Month comes from Diogo Veiga of Sao Paulo, Brazil. His kit is a Pearl Export kit with added 8” and 10” toms. At first, Diogo remembers that the Exports were only available with…
Joe Farnsworth: Playing from the Past, and for the Future
Photo by William Brown I tell drum students this all of the time. If you become a music major in college, pay as much attention to your peers as you do to your teachers. You can learn as much (and…
Sam Smith, The 1975, Interpol, Black Crowes, Blur, and Placebo Drummers Use Porter & Davies
Photo by David Phillips The silent tactile monitors made by Porter & Davies (P&D) are used around the globe by many top professional drummers. Joining the growing P&D family are Jonathan ‘Ginger’ Hamilton (Sam Smith), George Daniel (The 1975), Sam…
ProMark Drumsticks Releases Innovative New Nylon Brushes
D’Addario is proud to introduce new ProMark Nylon Brushes, the next phase in drumstick innovation. Designed to deliver the control of a stick and the tone of a brush, ProMark Nylon Brushes have a soft-touch handle, complete with internal counterweights,…
Latin Percussion Single Brass Timbales Versatility and Choices
Latin Percussion (LP) has been around for decades. I am literally still using LP cowbells I bought back in the 1970’s. (No, I’m not that old, I just started young!) LP is not only known for making outstanding cowbells but…
HalBlaine’s 1950s Rogers “Constellation” Drum Set
The set that started it all… By now, studio drummer Hal Blaine’s legend is pretty well known. He is widely considered the most recorded musician of all time. His extraordinarily prolific career spanned four decades from the the 1950s through…
The Encyclopedia of Double Bass Drumming: Binary Fills
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…