We lost one of our best vintage drum friends right before Christmas. Tony Lewis was one of the most well respected and knowledgable guys in the vintage drum community.
Read morePaul Wertico's "Turn The Beat Around" now available from Alfred Music
“I wrote this book to help drummers explore an alternative way of thinking and grooving, and the book is for all drummers, since it runs the gamut from simple to complex, regardless of their musical style”.
Read moreNot So Modern Drummer Sales acquires distribution of Eccentric Systems Drum Company products
George Lawrence of Not So Modern Drummer and Lucas Jacobson of Eccentric Systems Drum Company entered into an agreement on November 26th for Not So Modern Drummer to handle sales, marketing and U.S. manufacturing/assembly of the Eccentric Systems products. Eccentric was founded by Lucas Jacobson, engineer, and inventor of the eccentric cam for the DW5000 bass drum pedals and designer of the DW9000 bass drum pedals and hi-hat pedals. Lucas later patented and manufactured his own products. The most well known Eccentric product is the Quick Torque Cam, an add-on to bass drum pedals that increases the drummer's comfort, control and speed.
Read moreThe DrumWrapper is back. Taking orders now.
The DrumWrapper, our exclusive drum covering laminate roller and press manual machine for drum manufacturers, custom drum builders, drum repair shops, and hobbyists is back in production.
Read moreLenny White Announces IYOUWE Musical Collective
"When I listened to the radio growing up, I heard all kinds of music. I came to realize that my music had no boundaries… and that is our mission. IYOUWE is a musical collective created by Lenny White to promote real music in an ever-changing cultural terrain."
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Grady Tate, prodigious jazz drummer and noted vocalist, dies at 85
Grady Tate, a crisp, swinging drummer who also enjoyed crossover success as a vocalist in a prolific recording career spanning more than 50 years, died on Sunday night at his home in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan. He was 85. His death was confirmed to NPR by Wendy Oxenhorn, executive director of the Jazz Foundation of America, which provides a range of assistance to musicians. No cause was given.Tate was one of the most versatile and in-demand jazz drummers of the '60s and '70s, appearing on hundreds of albums. His first major appointment was with the Quincy Jones Orchestra in '62. Among the artists Tate backed were saxophonists Stan Getzand Stanley Turrentine, composer-orchestrators Oliver Nelson and Lalo Schifrin, and organists Shirley Scott and Jimmy Smith.
Read moreFelicia and the Rat
Illustrator, composer, drummer and story teller Mauro Magellan publishes a wonderful children's musical story book and companion videos about a lowly Rat who wants to play drums for the Elite Cats! Perfect Christmas gift for kids. Suitable for adults too! In hardcover and softcover with free MP3 down loads. Order Here
Read moreBill Bruford releases definitive boxed set "Bruford 1977-1980: Seemed Like A Lifetime Ago"
Drum legend and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bill Bruford, best known for his work with YES, King Crimson, Genesis and his prolific solo career, is releasing the definitive boxed set “Bruford 1977-1980: Seems Like A Lifetime Ago.” Scheduled for release on Winterfold Records on October 28th, pre-orders are now being taken for the Limited Edition 8-disc set, which features unreleased, remixed or remastered material & a signed certificate.
Read moreOmar Hakim has been named the new chair of the Percussion Department at Berklee College of Music
Omar Hakim, a master drummer who has played on countless hits, from David Bowie's "Let's Dance" to Daft Punk's "Get Lucky," has been named the new chair of the Percussion Department at Berklee College of Music. Hakim is one of the most influential and sought-after drummers of the past 40 years. Renowned for his versatility, Hakim has hundreds of albums to his credit, collaborating with scores of prominent artists, including Miles Davis, Madonna, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey, Chaka Khan, D’Angelo, and the late Bowie, who described him as "a fascinating drummer, with impeccable timing" and "always fresh in his approach." Hakim succeeds John Ramsay, who served as Berklee's percussion chair since 2008.
Read moreAndy Doerschuck, DRUM! Magazine Founding Editor, Announces Retirement
Andy Doerschuck, DRUM! Magazine Founding Editor, Announces Retirement
Read moreReview: Canopus shows prototype of Zelkova drum set at Summer NAMM
The set was a four piece bebop size kit - 14 x 18 bass drum, 8 x 12 mounted tom, 14 x 14 floor tom and a Zelkova snare drum. It was tuned extremely high, in the jazz and bebop range. It sounded beautiful. Extremely clear tones.
Read moreReview - New BopWorks drum stick models
Bopworks has two new stick models you are going to want to check out. Bopworks' largest stick ever at 16 1/4", the Rhythm and Groovz, has a 5B style thickness (.590) on the shaft. The long 7" taper starts halfway down the stick and ends in a medium smallish, yet tip. This new model gives you a larger stick feel with great cymbal control. The Memphis R&B model features a taper slightly longer than 5 of its 16 inches overall length combined with a 5A diameter of .570. Lots of "heft in the hand" to go along with the long taper.
Bopworks is THE vintage stick company specializing in authentic reproductions of vintage stick models of famous jazz era artists and standard stick sizes from past eras. With their two newest offerings, BopWorks has applied some of the design elements of those vintage sticks into longer and thicker modern sizes. Paying homage to the R&B and soul music eras of the sixties, these sticks have very modern, standard size handles but utilize the longer taper and smaller bead that give the vintage models their great bounce and cymbal sound.
The main characteristic of both of these models is the amount of "flex" in the business end of the stick. If you are a 5A or 5B player who thinks it necessary to go to a skinnier or lighter model for softer playing, these might be the perfect alternative; a stick that has the same thickness in the grip area that you are used to but with a taper that starts further back on the stick - giving you a "skinny front end". Basically a 5A or 5B with more bounce at the tip. AND the smaller BopWorks tips are famous for the woody sound that they draw from thinner ride cymbals.
BopWorks sticks are made of quality hickory, are pitch paired, and are finished with a high quality, light varnish. They can be ordered directly from the website, from their dealer network, AND now can be ordered from Not So Modern Drummer in the the online store.
Below is a comparison image chart of BopWorks models.
In Memoriam - Remembering John Blackwell Jr.
Former long-time Prince Drummer, John Blackwell Jr. passed away of cancer on July 4, 2017 – He was 43 years old.
His wife Yaritza conveyed the following message soon after his passing. "My husband incredible drummer John Blackwell Jr. passed the way peacefully in my company today. Thanks God for his life and thanks everyone for their support."John Blackwell’s death has prompted a large number of accolades from fellow drummers, and many others in the music industry world-wide.
Read moreRemembering Mickey Roker 1932-2017
MICKEY ROKER (1932 - 2017)
Philadelphia native, Mickey Roker lost his battle with cancer and diabetes at the age of 84. Granville William Roker, Jr. was born in Miami, Florida on September 3, 1932. The hard driving drummer with a heart of gold is now in Jazz Heaven. His over forty-year reign on the music scene is legendary.
Mickey worked with some of the finest musicians in the business…Including Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Milt Jackson, Sonny Rollins, Stanley Turrentine, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Nancy Wilson, Lee Morgan and numerous others.
Read more2017 Connecticut Vintage and Custom Drum Show Report
Rick Smith’s annual vintage and custom drum show at The Sphinx Shriners Center in Newington , Connecticut was another huge success. On Sunday, April 23, 2017, a very large crowd of drummers and percussion enthusiasts were enjoying the standing room only clinics in the large auditorium by Joe Corsello, Adam Nussbaum, and Mark Schulman. While many others were busy checking out the two floors of over 40 dealers in the adjacent building.
Read moreStewart Copeland's Original Police Tama Drum Kit Auction May 20th Times Square
Up for auction this Saturday is Stewart Copeland's original TAMA drum kit, veteran of the first two Police albums and hundreds of shows, and which can be heard on iconic hits such as “Roxanne", "Message in a Bottle" and "Walking on the Moon".
By far the most personally significant instrument of Copeland’s career, the drum kit was also the heart of his home studio before and after The Police, and appears in his numerous side projects as well as the soundtrack to Francis Ford Coppola’s cult 1983 film Rumble Fish.
The sale takes place at The Hard Rock Cafe New York in Times Square on Saturday 20th May 2017.
The current record for drums at auction is $2.1million for Ringo Starr’s early Ludwig kit in 2015.
For more information and for online bidding go to http://bit.ly/TheBlueKit or go see see the historic kit in person in New York on the 20th.
Todd Sucherman Clinic, Nashville TN, April 20, 2017
Remo + Peter Erskine Felt Tone Heads
Peter Erskine on why he uses the Powerstroke 3 Felt Tone Drumhead The Powerstroke® P3 Felt Tone™ Bass Drumheads incorporate the traditional style of dampening a bass drum with a strip of felt into an easy to install all inclusive Drumhead.
Peter Erskine on why he uses the Powerstroke 3 Felt Tone Drumhead The Powerstroke® P3 Felt Tone™ Bass Drumheads incorporate the traditional style of dampening a bass drum with a strip of felt into an easy to install all inclusive Drumhead.
Read moreLes Demerle schedule update: Chicago Drum Show & Amelia Island Jazz Festival
I will be exhibiting and also giving lessons in booth 175 on the second level of the 2017 Chicago Drum Show, May 20 & 21.
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RIP Barry "Frosty" Smith
Barry “Frosty” Smith died unexpectedly last night at home, but he’ll live on forever when locals discuss Austin’s greatest drummers. In truth, there’s little debate of Smith’s placement on that list.
Smith experienced a fatal episode in his backyard on Wednesday evening, according to friends. He’d suffered a stroke and a heart attack in 2015, which limited his ability to perform.