January 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 1

New Gear from Promark, ATV, Cymbomute, Sabian and drumdots!

Promark Matthew Strauss Signature Sticks This signature stick series is the first in the Promark catalog to use persimmon, a preferred wood type among concert percussionists for its strength, comfortable weight, and density. The .670"x17" General Concert Stick features a…

One Beat Better - Timbre Jam

A practice pad or a woodblock? You decide!

What Album Features Your Favorite Drum Tone?

Drummers have long lauded and attempted to duplicate certain distinct tones from records that span a variety of decades and genres. John Bonham’s powerful, booming tone with Led Zeppelin, Elvin Jones’ thunderous onrush with John Coltrane, and Stewart Copeland’s dry…

Drum Design Knowledge, Part 3: The Snare Bed

We need to be experts at our jobs, and knowing our tools is a part of that. I always put together my rig for tours or gigs, and then take suggestions from my tech on how to make the setup…

Paul Koehler With Silverstein

Hot off the release of a new record, the heavy hitter propels his tireless rock band around the world with a never-stop attitude.

Focusrite - Scarlett 18i20 Audio Interface and OctoPre Dynamic Mic-Pre Expansion Unit

A clean and simple sixteen-channel recording setup that sounds great and won’t break the bank.

Dweezil Zappa’s Ryan Brown

When he took over the drum chair with Dweezil Zappa more than four years ago, Southern California–based drummer Ryan Brown had to expand his setup in order to accommodate all of the sounds required in the extensive catalog that the…

Hi-Hat Accents - Adding Melody to Your Grooves

https://vimeo.com/243360989 In this lesson we’ll embellish 16th-note grooves with hi-hat accents. In Exercises 1–4, accents are placed on the main hi-hat in the first measure, and in the second measure the right-handed accents are moved to the ride or an…

Rhythmic Conversions, Part 6: Funk Grooves and the Half-Note Triplet

In this lesson we’ll superimpose a new tempo over an existing pulse using a half-note triplet, and we’ll manipulate the subdivision to create funk grooves in the implied pulse. Be sure to practice these patterns with a metronome and work…

Ibeyi

These dynamic siblings derive much inspiration from their ancestry. But the direction of their art is undeniably full speed ahead.

Jaimoe

The 2017 deaths of Allman Brothers Band drummer Butch Trucks and singer/keyboardist Gregg Allman hit the rock world pretty damn hard. But few could have felt the loss more than the man who was there from the very beginning.

Jon Epcar

Jon Epcar’s master plan didn’t involve drumming on Broadway. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Epcar went to a high school with a strong music program that included graduates like saxophonist Kamasi Washington. So the drummer got the bug and…

Accented Three-Note Groupings

Unique Variations and Phrases

Matt Wilson, Stanton Moore, and Brad Dutz Take the Reins

RECORDINGS Entheos Dark Future Embracing a trend that’s become more popular lately, NAVENE KOPERWEIS chose to forgo sample enhancement and heavy quantization on his band’s second full-length release in as many years. Ravenously awaited by Entheos’s quickly expanding fan base,…

Malachi DeLorenzo on Langhorne Slim’s Lost at Last, Vol. 1

A drummer and producer talks about the subtle, refined, and contemplated figures and tones that bedeck an indie/folk singer-songwriter’s latest release.

January 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 1

Create Your Own Success

Before, During, and After the “Big Gig”

Dream - Energy Series Additions and Dark Matter Eclipse Ride

Big, all-purpose plates and a clean, quick dual-finish ride.

Live Vibes

Having somewhat recently moved to northern New Jersey, I’ve been enjoying the opportunity to check out some of the jazz clubs that have long defined New York City culture. Although some of the more prominent venues have moved from their…

Promark - Classic 5A FireGrain Drumsticks

Fire-hardened for increased durability.