October 2019 Issue – Volume 43 • Number 10
Articles in October 2019
Remembering Hal Blaine
He helped pave the way for every great studio musician who came out of L.A., and his influence extends to this very day.
A Restored Gretsch Steal
This beautifully restored vintage project was from older Gretsch shells to create a road-worn-looking vintage kit that has that oft-referred-to “Great Gretsch Sound.”
Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters’ John Blease: Fearless with Intention
He’s played with likes of Seal, Ben Folds, the BBC Big Band, Sheryl Crow, and Ellie Goulding. But landing a gig with rock ’n’ roll legend Robert Plant nearly says it all.
Advanced Techniques for Jazz Soloing
For four years I’d been studying intensely with Dom Famularo, who suddenly said during one of my lessons, “Steph, you’re now ready for Jim.”
What's Your Favorite Hal Blaine Track?
Readers weigh on their favorite Hal Blaine tracks.
Woodland Percussion
Woodland Percussion originated as a summer project for company founder and mechanical engineer Allan Fausnaught. The goal was to build a snare entirely from scratch.
JD Beck
Mentored by Dallas-area drummers like Robert “Sput” Searight, Mike Mitchell, and Cleon Edwards, JD Beck has crafted a style of crooked beats and patterns mixed with over-the-barline fluidity.
Bruce Rowland
Bruce Rowland racked up numerous recording and touring credits through his extensive work in the pop, folk, blues-rock, and rock worlds.
1969: The Shock of the New
As artists developed increasingly ambitious musical concepts, the challenges for instrument designers, engineers, composers, and instrumentalists increased as well.
Talking About Our Generations
A teaser of the momentous drumming from 1969 that our October issue explores—and a chat with the Flaming Lips' Steven Drozd about some of his favorite music from the era.
Inverted Paradiddle-Diddles
Rudiments can essentially be described as groupings of single and double strokes in different configurations and rhythms.
New Releases by Santana, Oz Noy, Grupo Fantasma, and More!
New Releases From Santana, Oz Noy, Betty Carter, Grupo Fantasma and more.
The 5/4 Half-Time Shuffle
For those of you who’ve never heard the coveted half-time shuffle, which is also commonly referred to as the Purdie shuffle,...
Sam Durkes on Ezra Furman’s Twelve Nudes
Throughout the album drummer Sam Durkes drives Ezra Furman’s distorted up-tempo fervor with a surprising avoidance of cymbals.
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin II was released on October 22, 1969. Although initially panned by some critics, the album became the band’s first number-one album.
Ringo Starr's Maple Ludwig Hollywood Drumkit
As an iconic piece of rock ’n’ roll history, this kit has since been archived, documented, and refurbished, and it currently resides in custom road cases.
Zimbabwean “Tuku” Music
Combining the traditional Jit, Tsotsa, and other rhythms of Zimbabwe, the late Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi’s style could only be defined as distinctly his own.
George Way Drums
Ronn Dunnett acquired the rights to the brand and set out to revive the company by building and expanding upon the innovations that Way created many years ago.