Wooding drums were produced by Hollywood Meazzi in Italy. Meazzi made several lines of high-quality drums during the 1960’s and 1970’s. At one point, their endorsee roster included Max Roach, who had his own signature kit. Jack DeJohnette and Billy Cobham also had Meazzi kits.
Read moreOccam Was Onto Something (w Simon Phillips videos)
(editor’s note; It is clear from this image that William of Ockham invented the traditional grip 1000 years ago)
Micro Practice
We do ‘micro practice’ all the time. We work on a single thing: single strokes, double strokes, lines from Stick Control and the like. Why? Because it works. Reducing our focus to a single item reaps big rewards. When learning a new figure, I will often take a 2-beat or even a 1-beat section and work on it exclusively. Then, when I tackle the whole thing, I’ve got a good handle on each part.
Playing Time vs Playing Within The Time
My first introduction to Tony Williams was the Miles Davis album 'Miles in Europe.' Inconceivable to me that Tony was keeping time. He was playing his 'parts' (yes, plural) 'within' the time. (And killing it!) Elvin Jones with John Coltrane? More plural 'parts' within the time. (And more killing!) Max Roach played pstterns and melodies. Jimmy Cobb often played straight quarter notes on the cymbal. To me, that was his part in the music. And so on.....
Read more1929- L&L Super-Sensitives--family portrait
Family portrait time here at Curotto Acres. Ludwig & Ludwig Super-Sensitives were around from 1929 to 1935-36. They do not appear in a Ludwig catalog past 1935 but I have heard of a few wood examples from the early 1940s.
Read moreStaccato kit in Bop Sizes ; rare?
I recently bougth a Staccato kit in bop-sizes. I've researched the he** out of this but cant find much. Reach out to the family of Pete T, with no Lucky, and wrote to Micha in Germany as he is supposed to be a wizard. No luck there either.
Read more“Feel Good” Aspects Of Playing Drums
When I was a kid, after hours trying to develop an open double stroke roll, I got a great feeling when suddenly discovering I achieved the ability to play clean, even, and fast double strokes with its resulting machine gun effect. The same holds true for many other aspects of learning to play my instruments.
Read more'Mike Clark Plays Herbie Hancock' - Album Review
In honoring his former boss, Mike wanted to focus on Herbie Hancock’s Blue Note period rather than the later funky stuff that Mike Clark is best known for.
Read moreLudwig Re-issued Snare Drums
I have 3 re-issued Ludwig snare drums in my collection. The first one is the 6.5 x 14 Black Beauty snare that was re-issued for Ludwig’s 100 year Anniversary in 2009. Although the shell wasn’t modelled after the original Black Beauty snares from the past, it was beautifully and skillfully hand engraved by John Aldridge. I purchased one of the last of the limited 100 that John engraved.
Read moreFamous Drums - It's a Family Affair
This month I want to write about my step son, Evan Thomas, and my son, Paul. Both are drummers and both are very handy and skilled craftsmen.
Read moreWIN a free pair of Crocken Moeller drum sticks
To win a pair of the Moeller Drum Sticks, or your choice of any of John Crocken’s stick models, send an email to…
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